Hamdardi [which translates to sympathy in English] is one of Allama Iqbal’s most famous poems for children, from his book Bang-e-Dara. It is a conversation between a bird and a firefly. The bird is scared to fly at night as it is dark; however, the firefly offers to illuminate the way.
Read Hamdardi below, along with its english translation.
ٹہنی پہ کسی شجر کی تنہا
بلبل تھا کوئی اداس بیٹھا
[Tehni pe kisi shajar ki tanha]
[Bulbul tha koi udaas baiTha]
On the branch of a tree
Was a nightingale sad and lonely
کہتا تھا کہ رات سر پہ آئی
اڑنے چگنے میں دن گزارا
[Kehta tha ke raat sar pe aayi]
[URne chugne mein din guzara]
“The night has drawn near”, he exclaimed
“I passed the day flying around and feeding”
پہنچوں کس طرح آشیاں تک
ہر چیز پہ چھا گیا اندھیرا
[Puhunchoon kis tarah aashiyan tak]
[Har cheez pe chha gaya andhera]
“How will I reach my home?”
“The darkness has covered everything”
سن کر بلبل کی آہ و زاری
جگنو کوئی پاس ہی سے بولا
[Sun kar bulbul ki aah-o-zari]
[Jugnu koi paas hi se bola]
Hearing the nightingale’s sighs and cries
A firefly nearby spoke
حاضر ہوں مدد کو جان و دل سے
کیڑا ہوں اگرچہ میں ذرا سا
[Haazir hoon madad ko jaan-o-dil se]
[KeeRa hoon agarche main zara sa]
“I am here, ready to help with all my heart and soul.”
Though I am but a tiny insect
کیا غم ہے جو رات ہے اندھیری
میں راہ میں روشنی کروں گا
[Kya gham hai jo raat hai andheri]
[Main raah mein roshni karunga]
“What is there to mourn if the night is dark?”
“I shall illuminate the path’
اللہ نے دی ہے مجھ کو مشعل
چمکا کے مجھے دیا بنایا
[Allah ne di hai mujh ko mashal]
[Chamka ke mujhe diya banaya]
God has bestowed me with a torch
And made me into an illuminated lamp
ہیں لوگ وہی جہاں میں اچھے
آتے ہیں جو کام دوسروں کے
[Hain log wohi jahan mein achay]
[Aate hain jo kaam doosron ke]
The virtuous people in this world are those
Who come to others’ help