Oh God, this world of passing is beautiful, but why are the men of pure heart, the skilled, and the talented, so miserable?

This poignant couplet, penned by Allama Iqbal, is a lament to the divine. The poet acknowledges that the world (Jahan-e-guzraan) is beautiful, but questions why the noble, pure, and skilled men (mardan-e-safa-kes o hunarmand) are so miserable or disheartened. It’s a profound reflection on the paradox of existence—why beauty coexists with such inner sorrow. Iqbal asks us to look beyond the surface to understand the struggle of the soul.