Rana Sikandar Hayat draws criticism over misquoted Allama Iqbal verse

LAHORE: Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has drawn criticism on social media after a video clip showed him apparently rephrasing a verse widely quoted as Allama Iqbal’s poetry during an interaction with journalist Hamid Mir.

In the clip, Mir asks Hayat whether he has an interest in Allama Iqbal. The minister replies in the affirmative before attempting to recite what he says is his favourite verse from Iqbal’s poetry.

Hayat begins by referring to doing “big things in this world” before moving to a line about prostration and leaving a mark on the ground.

Social media users criticised the minister for not reciting the verse accurately, with many pointing out that the commonly shared version is: “Kya huwa jo tere maathe pe hain sajdon ke nishaan, koi aisa sajda bhi kar jo zameen par nishaan chor de.”

The clip triggered debate online over public figures’ use of literary references, particularly when invoking Iqbal, whose poetry is frequently cited in Pakistan’s political and public discourse.

Hayat, who serves as Punjab’s minister for school education and also holds the higher education portfolio, had not issued a clarification on the clip at the time of filing this report.