Unconcealed secret of Khudi* is to declare La Ilaha Ill lal lah

Khudi is sword, its grinding stone La Ilaha Ill lal lah


Expanse of Allama Dr. Mohammad Iqbal's poetry combines a wide variety of thought that serves to be the beacon of light for a diverse cross section of society. Be they believers of Wahdat-al-Wojood or Wahdat-al-Shahood, people of political or apolitical following, clergymen or statesmen, priests or freedom fighters, academicians or students, or peasants or landlords, Iqbal’s thought gives voice to their conscience.

Of all the fine philosophical thoughts that Iqbal gave, “Khudi” has come to be known as the pride of his philosophy. Khudi, to Iqbal, is the inseparable soul and spirit of humanity. It is this very concept which when awakened in someone, not only does it revolutionise the person but through this it provides the human society with the true essence and meaning of existence. Iqbal comprehended well that Allah had created man and blessed him with Khudi so that he is fit for the role of being His vicegerent. Allah created man to be superior thus angels were commanded to prostrate before him. This act not only honoured the humanity but also portrayed the rank of human before Allah. Man’s dignity and honour was eternally guarded when Allah ordered him to bow and prostrate in front of no one but Him. His self respect was guarded by ordering him to bow to God only so that he might not be placing his sacred forehead on every doorstep. In this way human was equipped with the protective shield of Khudi. It is noteworthy here that God does not declare “Shirk” as loathsome act because a partner is associated with Him rather Allah deplores polytheism (shirk) because human was made superior creature, yet he prefers an inferior existence as being worthy of worship. And thus Iblees’ (Satan) arrogance led him astray, when he objected to the lofty status accorded to man and disobeyed Allah, by openly declaring enmity with man. He coaxed human with deviousness and betrayed human in such a way that man once forgot his status and claimed to be God and at the other instance prostrated before his own fabricated idols.

Allah has sent Prophets and Messengers to guard and remind human about “Khudi”, his dignity, self realization and self respect. This periodic and progressive taming was completed by the last messenger of God, Mohammad (SAWAW). After clearly conveying the recognition of right and wrong, God arranged for the protection of this divine message by appointing infallible leaders one after another. After completion of this process in the form of Islam and departure of the last prophet, world once again came short of recognizing the true leaders and those who stood with the truth were hardly any. Thus religion came in the fire line of tyrant leaders and ignorant masses. Islam not only lost its axis but adopted such path whose destination instead of God was long desires and the disaster at the end. The so-called Islam, brought up in the laps of profane governments defamed the face of humanity. History for foremost time witnessed the oppression and barbarism in the name of Islam. Holy fire that got put off with the birth of Prophet(s) got itself ignited in the houses of Muslims, courtesy of incapable leaders. Thus only the tasta of Islam left which was just a bunch of rituals where Pilgrimage, Prayer, Fasting, Azadari and Eid were nothing more than a few habits. There was a famine of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil in the society. Islam had been transformed into a dress which could be changed according to mood. The dodgy scholars further aggravated the situation by doing conjecture in the name of Ijtehad and modification in the name of interpretation. This is how Islam kept on selling like a priceless commodity and a slave in the houses of own and others. Glorious honour and dignity of Islam and Muslims was thus lost.

In spite all, the eternal Truth provided with the abundant resources of righteousness through His just and genuine representatives who satiated the insatiable thirst for the knowledge, of all the people as per their capacities. Iqbal was successful enough to identify and reach to these divinely guided sources of light and direction. Iqbal is one of the shining stars among the lovers of these true representatives of Allah – the Ahl ul Bayt (as). Sources that are the key to the existence and Allah’s proof. Universality of Iqbal’s philosophy guides those in need of awakening, secret to his own vision is reflected

If you fulfilled the covenant with Mohammad(s) then I (God) am yours

This world is nothing; Loah and Qalam then are yours!

Above two verses of Iqbal carry more weight than anyone else’s work in this domain. In fact if he had not crafted any poetic work, these two lines were sufficient enough to convey his message. We are right in saying that this is the core reason of Muslim downfall that they did not respect the covenant with the Prophet (s). They did not act what Prophet desired and worshiped the idols of their own views. It is the call of time, that by adopting the path of Prophet Ibrahim (a) we should break these idols so that Islam can be freed from the evil clutches of Satan and travel to the divine destiny. Iqbal said:

Come out from the monastery and follow the path of Shabbir (a)

For monastery only yields the sorrow and sadness

You reflect monasticism in religion and life

This is the last stage of perishing nations

Excellent effort Dear!!

very laudable indeed! the term 'Khudi' used so frequently by Iqbal is indeed an enigma and u have made a grand attempt to explain it for people like me. Could u write down the actual peotry in URDU that u have used in the begining? I would like to memorize the same.

thank you so much indeed but this is not my creation...i have read it on a site and then shared it here.

Khudi ka sirr-e-nihaaN La ilaha il Allah
khudi hai tegh-e-fasaaN La ilaha il Allah


The poem:

Khudi ka sirr-e-nihaaN La ilaha il Allah
khudi hai tegh-e-fasaaN La ilaha il Allah

The secret of the Self is hid, In words "No god but He alone".
The Self is just a dull-edged sword, "No god but He," the grinding stone.

Yeh daur apne 'Braaheem ki talaash mein hai
Sanam-kadah hai jahaaN La ilaha il Allah

An Abraham by the age is sought To break the idols of this Hall:
The avowal of God's Oneness can Make all these idols headlong fall.

Kiya hai tu ne mataa'-e-gharoor ka sauda
fareb-e-sood-o-ziyaaN ! La ilaha il Allah

A bargain you have struck for goods Of life, a step, that smacks conceit,
All save the Call "No god but He" Is merely fraught with fraud and deceit.

Yeh maal o dawlat-e-dunya, yeh ristha o paivand
butaan-e-vehm-o-gumaaN! La ilaha il Allah

The worldly wealth and riches too, Ties of blood and friends a dream
The idols wrought by doubts untrue, All save God's Oneness empty seem.

Khird huwee hai zamaan o makaan ki zunaari
na hai zamaaN, na makaaN! La ilaha il Allah

The mind has worn the holy thread Of Time and Space like pagans all
Though Time and Space both illusive "No god but He" is true withal.

Yeh naghma fasl-e-gul o laaleh ka nahin paband
bahaar ho ke khizaaN, La ilaha il Allah

These melodious songs are not confined To Time when rose and tulip bloom
Whatever the season of year be "No god but He" must ring till doom.

Agarche but hain jama'at ki aasteenoN mein
mujhe hai hukm-e-azaaN, La ilaha il Allah

Many idols are still concealed' In their sleeves by the Faithful Fold,
I am ordained by Mighty God To raise the call and be much bold.


خودی کا سرِ نہاں لا الہ الا اللہ

خودی ہے تیغِ فشاں لا الہ الا اللہ

یہ دور اپنے ابراہیم کی تلاش میں ہے

صنم کدہ ہے جہاں لا الہ الا اللہ

کیا ہے تو نے متاعِ غرور کا سودا

فریب ِ سود و زیاں لا الہ الا اللہ

یہ مال و دولتِ دنیا یہ رشتہ و پیوند

بتانِ وہم و گماں لا الہ الا اللہ

خرد ہوئی ہے زماں و مکاں کی زناری

نہ ہے زماں نہ مکاں لا الہ الا اللہ

یہ نغمہ فصلِ گل و لالہ کا نہیں پابند

بہار ہو کہ خزاں لا الہ الا اللہ

اگرچہ بت ہیں جماعت کی آستینوں میں

مجھے ہے حکمِ اذاں لا الہ الا اللہ
- علامہ محمد اقبال

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Work until your idols become your rivals.

Ho agar khudnagar-o-khudgar-o-khudgir Khuddi.....!
Yeh b mumkin ha k tu mout se b na mar sakey....!

Allama Iqbal

(Translation: If the self is self-reflexive, self-creating and self comprehending...
Its even possible that you will not die from death...)

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“There is no God but You (Allah Almighty), You are far exalted and above all weaknesses, and I was indeed the wrongdoer”. AL-QURAN