Oh, poor treasury of the Sultan, and the khanqah of the faqir, are the thrones and the prayer mats merely the wonders of the Almighty?

This profound couplet by Allama Iqbal draws a powerful contrast between temporal power and spiritual truth. The 'Sultan's palace' represents worldly grandeur and authority, while the 'Faqir's Khanqah' symbolizes humility and devotion. The poet suggests that true, sustaining divine power (Kamaal-e-Razzaqi) is not found in the opulence of the throne, but in the simple, sacred space—the prayer mat—of the ascetic. It’s a timeless lesson on where true value lies.