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Tarana-e-Milli (Urdu: ترانۂ ملی) or Anthem of the Community is an enthusiastic poem in which Allama Mohammad Iqbal paid tribute to the Muslim Ummah (nation) and said that nationalism in Islam was not recommended. He recognized all Muslims anywhere in the world as part of a single nation, whose leader is Muhammad,the prophet of the Muslims.
Iqbal wrote the poem a few years after writing a poem written in the same meter and rhyme scheme call Tarana-e-Hindi (More commonly known as Sare Jahan Se Accha). In this time, Iqbal's world view had changed dramatically, Tarana-E-Hindi is a patriotic song that glorifies the land of Hindustan (Modern day India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) and the people who live in it; it also suggests that people should not divided by religion and should instead be bonded by a common national identity. Tarana-E-Milli, on the other hand, argues that a global, Islamic community should come above all and even warns against a nationalistic world view. This reflects the dramatic change in Iqbal's views, and his support for the Muslim League and the Pakistan Movement.
Poem
Urdu text
Roman Transliteration
Chin o Arab hamaraa hindostaaN hamaara
Muslim hain hum; watan hai saara jahaaN hamaara
tawheed ki amaanat seenoN meiN hai hamaarey
aasaaN naheeN miTaana naam o nishaaN hamaara
dunyaN ke but-kadoN meiN pahlaa woh ghar KHUDA kaa
hum uskey paasbaaN haiN woh paasbaaN hamaara
tayghon key saaye meiN hum, pal kar jawaaN huwey haiN
khanjar hilaal kaa hai qawmi nishaaN hamaara
maghrib ki waadiyoN meiN guunji azaaN hamaari
thamata na thaa kisee se sayl rawaaN hamaara
baatil se dabney waaley ay aasmaaN nahiN hum
sau baar kar chukaa hai tu imtihaaN hamaara
ay gulsitaan e andalus! woh din haiN yaad tujh ko
thaa teri DaaliyoN par jab aashiyaaN hamaara
ay mawjey dajlah! tu bhi pahchaanti hai hum ko
ab tak hai tera daryaa afsaana khwaaN hamaara
ay arz e paak! teri hurmat pey kaT marey hum
hai khooN teri ragoN meiN ab tak rawaaN hamaara
saalaar e kaarwaaN hai Mir e Hijaz apnaa
is naam se hai baaqi aaraam e jaaN hamaara
Iqbal kaa taraana baang e daraa hai goyaa
hotaa hai jaadah paymaa phir kaarwaaN hamaara
English Translation
Central Asia (Although in modern Urdu Chin means China, Chin referred to Central Asia in Iqbal's time) is ours, Arabia is ours, India is ours
We are Muslims and the whole world is our homeland
The treasure of tawhid is in our hearts,
It is not easy to wipe out our name and mark.
The first house we have liberated from idols is the Ka'abah;
We are its custodians, and It is our protector
We have grown up in the shadows of swords,
Our mascot is the crescent shaped dagger
Our prayer calls have reverberated in the valleys of the west,
The force of our flow could not be stopped by anyone
O the skies! we will not be subdued by falsehood,
You have tried (our steadfasteness) a hundred times!
O, the garden of Andalusia! do you remember those days -
When our abode was the nest on your branches?
O, the waves of Tigris! surely, you recognize us -
Your river tells our tales even to this day
O, the pure land! we have bled and died for your honor,
Our blood flows in your veins until now
The leader of our caravan, is the Prince of Hijaz (Muhammad )
It is his name that keeps our heart in comfort and peace.
Iqbal's song is a clarion call
For the caravan to rise and continue the journey once more