Alas, the secret of mendicancy lost to you; otherwise, the wealth of the ascetic is the empire of Rome and Sham.

This powerful couplet explores the tension between spiritual simplicity and worldly grandeur. Allama Iqbal suggests that the true wealth of a humble, ascetic life (faqiiri) is its peace and detachment. If that inner secret—the 'raaz'—is lost, then even the vast empires of Rome and Sham, with all their material riches, become meaningless. It's a profound reminder that inner peace is far more valuable than any earthly kingdom.