The remarkable strength and courage of the eagle have inspired mankind throughout the ages.It was the only bird believed to be capable of staring at the sun, which mythology held to be the light of God. Eagle was the personal emblem of the Caesars who represented supreme authority.
There is no denying the fact that the eagle upholds its grandeur and stateliness even in the modern times. With its acute eyesight, the eagle has come to embody an all-seeing EYE. The eagle is often a solar symbol, and is generally linked to all sky gods. It signifies inspiration, release from bondage, victory, longevity, speed, pride, agility and royalty; it is often an emblem for powerful nations.
Now we come to Iqbal. In his poetry Iqbal has used many symbols among which “Eagle” is a potent and powerful symbol applied in an aptly unique style and prolific fashion.Iqbal is an advocate of the cultivation of strength and deprecates weakness. He is, therefore, keen to select eagle because of its courage, great strength, self-reliance, superb aerial skills and singularity. The eagle does not attempt to live off the efforts of others. It flies high and high and seems to have no concern to build its nest in wild and mountainous country. It is Guardian of liberty, courageous protector of its young ones and fearlessly combats any threat to their safety. It lives an austere life and subsists on live prey. Eagles are too ponderous for effective aerial pursuit but try to surprise and overwhelm their prey on the ground due to their immense sharp-sightedness. In his poetry Shaheen stands for courage and self-respect, purity of soul and character, devotion and dedication, struggle and endurance, prestige and perseverance, self-control and self-reliance.
In Shaheen he envisages the desired attributes of a devoted Muslim or Momin. Therefore when he asks the youth to become a Shaheen, he means the inculcation of these lofty ideals. He is invariably an advocate of the cultivation of strength and deprecates weakness.
A few of his verses demonstrate his views in this connection!
تیرے سامنے آسمان اور بھی ہیں
لہو گرم رکھنے کا ہے اک بہانہ
پرندوں کی دنیا کا درویش ہوں میں
کے شاہین بناتا نہیں آشیانہ
نہیں تیرا نشیمن قصر سلطانی کے گنبد پر
تو شاہین ہے بسیرا کر پہاڑوں کی چٹانوں پر
پرواز ہے دونوں کی اسی ایک فضا میں
کرگس کا جہاں اور ہے ، شاہین کا جہاں اور
ادائیں ہیں ان کی بہت دلبرانہ
حمام و کبوتر کا بھوکا نہیں میں
کہ ہے زندگی باز کی زاہدانہ
بلند بال تھا لیکن نہ جسور و غیور
حکیم ِ سر ِمحبت سے بے نصیب رہا
پھرا فضائوں میں گرگس اگر چہ شاہیں وار
شکار زندہ کی لذت سے بے نصیب رہا
اس فقر سے آدمی میں پیدا
اللہ کی شان ِ بے نیازی
کنجشک و حمام کے لئے موت
ہے اس کا مقام شہبازی
گذر اوقات کر لیتا ہے یہ کوہ بیاباں میں
کہ شاہیں کے لئے ذلت ہے کارِ آشیاں بندی
The above extracts have been taken from an article “Eagle as a symbol in Iqbal’s poetry by Iqbal Ahmed Rashid.
5 comments
naveed ahmad says:
November 21, 2009 at 1:32 pm (UTC 5)
thank you so much for sharing such beautiful lines
Faiza says:
November 21, 2009 at 3:20 pm (UTC 5)
You’re most welcome.
Tayyeba says:
December 3, 2009 at 4:01 pm (UTC 5)
nice sharing…:good:
Faiza says:
December 22, 2009 at 1:36 pm (UTC 5)
Thanks Tayyeba
Haroon Saleem says:
June 15, 2010 at 11:25 pm (UTC 5)
zamana aya hai be hijabi ka aam dedar-e-yaar hoga
sukuut tha parda-dar jis ka wo raaz ab ashkaar hoga
guzar gaya ab wo dour saqi keh chup k peetay they peenay wale
banay ga sara jahan mekhana, har koi badakhwar hoga
diyar-e-maghrib k rehne walon khuda ki basti dukan nahi hai
khara jise tm samjh rahe ho wo ab zar-e-kam ayar hoga
nikal k sehra sey jis ney rooma ki saltanat ko palat diya tha
suna hai ye qudsion se main ne woh sher phir hoshiyar hoga
tmhari tehzeeb apney khanjar sey ap hi khudkushi karegi
jo shakh-e-nazuk pe aashiana baney na paidar hoga
safina-e-barg-e-gul bana leg qafila moor-e-natawan ka
hazar moujon ki ho kashaksh magar ye darya k paar hoga
khuda k aashiq tou hain hazaron banon main phirte hai mare marey
main uska banda banon ga jis ko khuda k bandon sey piyar hoga
main zulmat-e-shab main le k niklonga apney darmanda karwan ko
sharar fashan hogi aah! meri nafas mera shola baar hoga
na pooch [i]iqbal[i/] ka thikana abhi wahi kefiyat hai uski
kahin sar-e-rahguzar baitha sitam kash-e-intezar hoga