Basic Information about Allama Iqbal:
Dr. Muhammad Iqbal is a well-known poet and also the national poet of Pakistan. Allama Iqbal, a philosopher, lawyer, and politician was born in Punjab, Pakistan. After the completion of his master’s degree, he was appointed as a professor at Govt College. In 1905 he went to Munich, Germany where he took a PhD degree. Iqbal wrote several volumes of poetry in both Urdu and Persian. Iqbal’s poetry is considered revolutionary poetry. Commonly he is known as Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
He was very thoughtful about the conditions of the Muslims and especially he addressed the Muslims of the subcontinent who were under the rule of the British Empire. Obviously, Iqbal was a strong supporter of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s “Two Nation Theory”. He preached this idea in his poems and lectures and he also put it forward in his famous Allahabad Address. Iqbal was such an influential poet that he witnessed Iqbal Day being celebrated during his lifetime in the subcontinent.
Philosophical Position of Allama Iqbal:
Iqbal philosophy vividly portrays his attitude which is no doubt in favor of science. To Iqbal, science is not opposite to Islam because the teachings of science are under the umbrella of the teachings of Islam. Iqbal also focuses in his poems upon Ummah to learn science to improve their lives. He also concentrates that one must unveil the assets which are hidden in the belly of the earth and also get the maximum potential which God has bestowed to improve oneself.
- Science is an instrument for the preservation of Life.
- Science is a means of invigorating the Self.
- Science and art are servants of Life (Iqbal, 1983:26).
In fact, Iqbal focuses on one point the Muslims living in the modern world must learn science to adapt themselves and also must remember past Islamic heritage which they are.
Because of his great knowledge, people began to call him Allama. He was very thoughtful about the conditions of the Muslims and especially he addressed the Muslims of the subcontinent who were under the rule of the British Empire. Obviously, Iqbal was a strong supporter of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s “Two Nation Theory”. He preached this idea in his poems and lectures and he also put it forward in his famous Allahabad Address.
Information about Allama Iqbal’s Publications:
Allama Iqbal wrote his work in three languages; Urdu, English and Persian. His publications are fifteen in total but his Persian publications are seven in number. The rest of his work comprises four publications in Urdu three prose publications in English and one of prose publications in Urdu.
Following are seven Persian Publications:
- Asrar-i-Khudi (Secrets of the Self)
- Rumuz-e-Bekhudi (Secrets of Selflessness)
- Payam-i-Mashriq (The Message of the East)
- Zubur-i-Ajam (Psalms of Persia)
- Javid Nama (Pilgrimage to Eternity)
- Pas Che Bayad Kard Ay Aqwam-e-Sharq (What Must Now be Done O Nations of the East)?
- Armughan-e-Hijaz Farsi (The Gift of the Hijaz – Persian)
Allama Iqbal’s four Urdu Publications are as under:
- Bang-i-Dara (The Clarion Call)
- Bal-i-Jibril (Gabriel’s Wing)
- Zarb-i-Kalim (The Rod of Moses)
- Armughan-e-Hijaz Urdu (The Gift of the Hijaz – Urdu)
Following are three English Publications:
- The Development of Metaphysics in Persia.
- Stray Reflections.
- The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam.
Poetical Position among contemporary:
One of the best aspects of Iqbal’s poetry which earns contemporary value is the elevation of human beings at both individual and collective levels i.e self and selfhood. Another key fact of Iqbal’s poetry is the explanation of the essence of the Islamic concept of Tawhid is human emancipation and human unity and equality among human beings. Iqbal considers the masses to be the backbone of the nation and for the said reason he is considered a social democrat.
At the Haveli of Hakim Syed Aminuddin, he met various famous poets and also began to write his famous poems. Mirza Dagh guided him. Allama Iqbal’s famous poem Koh i Himala was also printed in the magazine Makhzan. There are also various types of themes in Iqbal’s poetry. A random list of themes includes Khudi and Selfhood, Nature, Human Situation and Islam as a living faith. Iqbal places his confidence in human beings that human beings have made in turning the world into a sweet site. In Payam e Mashriq, Iqbal says,
God created the world, but Adam made it better—-
Adam perhaps is God’s co-worker:
Iqbal narrated Khudi as the absolute ego and the ultimate reality whose personal name is God. This force through self-manifestation gives rise to a phenomenal world. Iqbal also says that Khudi is a point of light and the source of Khudi’s light is divine. He stated in his last publication Armaghan i Hijaz, Khudi is lit up with the Majestic One.
In Payam e Mashriq, Iqbal says that commitment to Islam will not by itself do miracles. Muslims must realize that life is the other name of hard work and struggle and it is not only a set of rights to be acclaimed. Muslims also learn the lesson of self-respect and self-reliance.
Political Discourse:
In general, Iqbal is considered a poet and philosopher but in the true sense, Iqbal is also an active politician. In the 1936 Bombay Session, the All India Muslim League authorized Muhammad Ali Jinnah to organize the Central Parliamentary Board. Jinnah approached Fazal i Hussain to support him but the latter refused to assist in this regard. After that Jinnah turned to Iqbal and he supported the formation of the Parliamentary Board. In Iqbal life, the pictures of politics for Muslims are encouraged
Conclusion:
Iqbal died on 21st April 1938 after a long period of illness and he is buried in front of Badshahi Mosque, Lahore. After a couple of years, Muslims voted for the idea which became a reality in 1947. Pakistanis celebrate Iqbal’s Day on 9th November and Iqbal is also acclaimed as the Father of the Nation.
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