“Khudai Ehtemam-e-Khushk-o-Tar Hai” is a thought-provoking Urdu Rubai by Allama Muhammad Iqbal from Bal-e-Jibreel. In this short but deep quatrain, Iqbal explores the paradox of existence, comparing the administrative “headache” of governing the universe with the profound “heartache” of true spiritual servitude (Bandagi).
خدائی اہتمامِ خشک و تر ہے
خداوندا! خدائی دردِ سر ہے
Khudai Ehtemam-e-Khushk-o-Tar Hai
Khudawanda! Khudai Dard-e-Sar Hai
خدائی تو پوری کائنات (خشک و تر) کا انتظام سنبھالنا ہے
اے میرے رب! یہ خدائی (کائنات کو چلانا) ایک طرح کا دردِ سر ہے
Divinity is the management of all that exists (land and sea);
O Lord! Governing the universe is but a “headache” (a massive task).
ولیکن بندگی، استغفراللہ!
یہ دردِ سر نہیں، دردِ جگر ہے
Walekin Bandagi, Astaghfirullah!
Yeh Dard-e-Sar Nahin, Dard-e-Jigar Hai
لیکن تیری بندگی کرنا (توبہ ہے!)
یہ محض دماغی بوجھ (دردِ سر) نہیں، بلکہ دل کی تڑپ (دردِ جگر) ہے
But being a servant (Bondage)—I seek refuge in Allah!
It is not a pain of the head (reason), but a pain of the liver (deep passion/soul).
Philosophical Insight
In this Rubai, Iqbal uses a daring poetic style to highlight the intensity of Bandagi (true servitude). While governing the world is an administrative task (Dard-e-Sar), being a true lover and servant of God requires Dard-e-Jigar—the burning passion and emotional suffering that refines the human soul.
Glossary & Word Meanings
- Ehtemam-e-Khushk-o-Tar: Managing the dry (land) and the wet (sea); the entire universe.
- Dard-e-Sar: Headache; used here to mean a complex administrative burden.
- Bandagi: Servitude / Devotion / Worship.
- Dard-e-Jigar: Pain of the liver; in Eastern poetry, this refers to deep emotional longing or spiritual passion.
- Astaghfirullah: I seek forgiveness from Allah (used here to express the overwhelming weight of the realization).
The Poet of the East:
Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal (علامہ محمد اقبال)
Discover the profound Urdu and Persian wisdom of:
Bang-e-Dara |
Bal-e-Jibril |
Zarb-e-Kaleem |
Asrar-e-Khudi
Explore the Kulliyat-e-Iqbal Digital Archive →