Allama Iqbal: The Poet of the East and His Vision for a Rejuvenated Muslim Ummah

Table of Contents

1. Early Life and Education

2. Philosophical Thoughts of Iqbal

3. Role in the Awakening Phase of Muslim World

4. Contribution of Iqbal in Urdu and Persian Literature

5. Major Works of Allama Iqbal

8. Iqbal’s Perspective regarding Pakistan

Introduction

Iqbal, more commonly referred to as the ‘Poet of the East’ and the ‘Mufakkir e Pakistan’, was a philosopher, poet & politician who inspired the thought of ‘Pakistan’ as a country in modern history. His literature in Urdu and Farsi has benefited numerous thinkers, scholars and politicians in many parts of the Muslim world since many generations. This is an inspiring aspect of Iqbal's poetry. It was not merely confined to the genre of art but contained within it was the philosophy, politics and spirituality that aimed to stir the Muslims of the South Asian region.

Early Life and Education

Iqbal was born on 9 November, 1877 in Sialkot, along with his Parents who were of a kashmiri background and his family hailed from kashmir. He attended Government College Lahore for the early years and travelled to Europe further on to receive his degree. First, he had his bachelor degree at University of Cambridge, followed by his doctorate degree at University of Munich. The influence of western philosophy accompanied with Islamic philosophies was to give him a new perspective which was a blend of the spiritual essence of the east with the modern Celtic rationalism.

Iqbal’s Philosophical Thoughts

The center of Iqbal’s philosophy is ‘Khudi’, which means selfhood and inculcates self-respect, self-awareness and self-derivation through an ever constant effort for self-greater value. His emphasis was that Muslims ought to look for the weakness, which they have lost and for that it was imperative to know the correct explanation of their own identity & organization. He has advocated for the adoption of the modernisation of the Islamic society without abandoning the core tenets of Islam.

Role in Awakening the Muslim World

Iqbal championed that Muslims must stand on the unifying factor of the Ummah. His speeches and writings incited people to fight against supplanted tyrants and restore the holy lands of Muslims and their intelligence, politics and spirituality. This challenge he believed is for western followers and that Moslems must forge their own noses under the dome of Islam. Iqbal’s remarkable speech during the Allahabad session in 1930 emphasized on the demand for separate Muslim state, which later facilitated the partition of Pakistan – India.

Contribution of Iqbal to Urdu and Persian Literature

Iqbal was a very good poet both in Urdu and Persian languages. His Persian writings like as Asrar-e-Khudi, Rumuz-i-Bekhudi tend to cover the self-hood and the unity of umma, the Muslims. His contributions in Urdu poetry me Bang-e-Dra, Bal-e-Jibril were able to strike a cord of self respect, spurt of energy and an urge of awakening amongst the Muslims. His style is lyrical and philosophical which plays the role of the timeless in his works. Allama Iqbal: The Poet of the East and His Vision for a Rejuvenated Muslim Ummah

Key Works of Allama Iqbal

Asrar-e-Khudi

Rumuz-i-Bekhudi

Payam-e-Mashriq

Bang-e-Dra

Zarb-e-Kalim

Bal-e-Jibril

These works are reflective of Iqbal’s deep thinking on Islamic philosophy, self-development, and the sociopolitical state of Muslims. On the other hand, also his writings were not confined to any region but to the whole Muslim Ummah.

Iqbal’s Vision for Pakistan

Although Iqbal passed away several years before Pakistan’s creation, he was in favour of having a separate homeland for the Muslims and this helped its creation. His messages provided a sense of optimism and a sense of self to the subcontinent’s Muslims. Iqbal conceived of Pakistan as a region where Islamic civilization would thrive and its people would abide by Muslim traditions.

Conclusion

In the life of Allama Iqbal and his works, there is something uplifting for the people of Pakistan, the people of the subcontinent and Muslims everywhere. Concepts such as self-centric minorities, the togetherness of people and the awakening of the matured spirit of mankind are well appreciated, even today, and? Iqbal’s envisioned community of Muslims, transcending borders, cosmopolitan, and democratic continues to be a moral compass in the struggle of those who aspire to find their rightful place and identity in the modern world. Allama Iqbal: The Poet of the East and His Vision for a Rejuvenated Muslim Ummah