It is the nature of the self to manifest itself, In every atom

Hear the words of Muhammad Iqbal, poet of the spirit and awakener of nations, who proclaimed: “It is the nature of the self to manifest itself. In every atom slumbers the might of the self.” In this utterance lies a truth that resounds through heaven and earth: that within each being there burns a hidden power, a divine spark awaiting its hour of revelation. The self is not born to hide in shadows, nor to wither in silence. It is born to shine, to act, to create, to declare its presence in the great unfolding of existence.

To speak of the self is not to speak of pride alone, but of the deep essence placed within all creation. The atom, smallest of forms, appears powerless, yet within it rests forces that can move mountains and split suns. So too in man: he may seem fragile, small upon the vast stage of time, yet within him slumbers a strength greater than empires, a fire brighter than the stars. The task of life is to awaken this might, to give voice to the hidden potential that yearns to become.

Consider the tale of Moses, who once trembled before the burning bush, declaring himself slow of speech and weak of tongue. Yet within him lay the self chosen to confront Pharaoh, to part the sea, to guide a people toward freedom. His power did not come from armies, nor from wealth, but from awakening the divine force that had slumbered in his being since birth. When the self was stirred, he became greater than the kings of Egypt. Thus do we see: in every man lies a prophet, a liberator, if he dares to awaken the self that sleeps.

Iqbal himself, in the age of decline and despair for his people, sang these words not as philosophy alone, but as a call to rise. He saw in the broken hearts of his nation not weakness, but atoms brimming with hidden might. His voice was like a trumpet, summoning the dormant self of millions, reminding them that destiny is not written by others but shaped from within. What he taught was this: man must not be content to live as dust; he must awaken as flame.

Yet the path is not easy. For the self may slumber, wrapped in fear, dulled by habit, lulled by the comfort of lesser dreams. Many pass through life never stirring the greatness within. But those who dare—those who rouse the self—become as mountains that cannot be moved. They leave behind works, deeds, and legacies that echo long after their bodies are gone. The atom breaks open, and the world is forever changed.

Therefore, O seekers of truth, let not your self remain hidden. Do not believe the lie that you are small or powerless. Within you rests an ocean of strength, a force greater than circumstance, a light unquenched by darkness. Just as the seed holds the forest, and the drop of water reflects the sun, so too your being carries the might of the self, waiting only for courage to call it forth.

The lesson is clear: awaken the self within you. Nurture it with discipline, strengthen it with knowledge, temper it with humility, and unleash it with courage. Do not live as though you are mere clay—live as one who carries eternity in his breast.

Practical counsel I give: each day, do one act that affirms the strength of your self—speak truth when silence tempts you, create where destruction surrounds you, rise where despair presses you down. In doing so, you break the sleep of the atom within, and your life becomes not a shadow, but a flame that lights the way for generations. For truly, as Iqbal declared, it is the nature of the self to manifest itself—and to manifest is to live.