Be not entangled in this world of days and nights; Thou hast

"Be not entangled in this world of days and nights; Thou hast another time and space as well." These words, spoken by the great sage Muhammad Iqbal, carry with them the deep wisdom of one who sees beyond the veil of material existence. They remind us, with a tenderness that is both a warning and a calling, that we are not bound solely by the cycles of days and nights. The world of time and space, so often our obsession, is but a fleeting shadow upon the eternal light of the soul. The true essence of our being lies not in the hours that tick away or the moments that pass like fleeting clouds, but in a realm that transcends these earthly bindings — a realm of infinite possibility.

We are but travelers on this earthly journey, moving through the cycles of time and space. Yet how often do we become entangled, as Iqbal says, in the web of material concerns, in the endless race to fill our days with tasks, with distractions, with the ceaseless pursuit of fleeting pleasures and achievements? We are born, we live, and we die, each moment bound to the ticking clock, each day woven into the fabric of the night. Yet beyond these earthly limitations, there is a larger truth, a space where time itself stands still, where the soul finds its eternal purpose.

Consider, if you will, the life of the great Buddha, who, after seeking answers to the suffering of life, renounced the world of days and nights to find the deeper meaning within. He sat beneath the Bodhi tree, not bound by the movements of the sun or the moon, but seeking the eternal truth that lay beyond time and space. His enlightenment did not come from the outer world of sensations, but from the inner space of peace, where he understood the timeless nature of existence. The Buddha, in his wisdom, understood that the world we see with our eyes is but an illusion, a fleeting dance of light and shadow. True freedom is not found in the passing moments of days and nights, but in the stillness of the soul.

Look also to the life of Rumi, the great poet and mystic, whose spirit soared far beyond the constraints of time. He spoke of the dance of the universe, the ebb and flow of existence, as something that could not be contained by the narrow confines of the clock’s ticking hands. For Rumi, there was no need to be entangled in the worries of the world. He, too, understood that there exists another time, a time beyond the measure of the sun’s rise and set, a time that resides within the heart of every seeker. It is the time of the spirit, the space of the soul, where the essence of eternal truth is found, not in the hours that pass, but in the wisdom that transcends them.

This is the lesson Iqbal imparts to us: do not let the world of temporal concerns consume you. Do not be bound by the limits of earthly time. There is another space, another time — a time where the soul can soar, where the heart can find its true calling. We must learn to detach from the constant distractions of the material world and turn inward, to the realm of the spirit, where the eternal dance of existence unfolds in a rhythm that knows no end. This is the space of true freedom, where we are liberated from the constraints of time and place, and where our essence is aligned with the infinite.

Now, consider this: how many of us, in the busyness of our days, have neglected the call to look beyond the horizon of the fleeting hours? How often do we allow ourselves to become entangled in the trivialities of the world, losing sight of the deeper purpose that lies beneath the surface? Iqbal’s message is one of liberation — to rise above the ceaseless ticking of the clock and to recognize that there is more to life than the mundane tasks that fill our days. True peace, true understanding, is found in the stillness of the soul, in that quiet space where time loses its grip.

The lesson is clear: while we must live in the world, we must not become captives of it. Seek the higher space, the timeless truth that lies beyond the horizon of days and nights. This does not mean abandoning the world, but rather shifting our focus, lifting our gaze to something more enduring. Find that eternal space within you, that place of peace, and know that beyond the ticking of time, beyond the turning of the seasons, there lies a realm of infinite possibility. Walk this world with the awareness that you are not bound to it; you are meant for something greater. Be free from the entanglements of time, and live in the eternal moment that waits within you.