Introduction To Allama Iqbal

It is hard to introduce someone as great as Allama Iqbal by a layman like me. Even Allama Iqbal didn't know what he was then how come others know what he is. It is well explained in this couplets

Iqbal Bhi Iqbal Se Agaah Nahi Hai
Kuch Ismein Tamashkur Nahi Wallah Nahi Hai

Iqbal himself is not aware of what he is. It is not a joke, by Allah it is not.

But anyhow I will try my best to make you understand what Iqbal was.

Iqbal (1877-1938 ) was a great poet in himself as well as a great philosopher. One can say that he expressed his philosophy with his talent of poetry. His knowledge of Islam was not good in his early writings of poetry as one can make out from his initial poetry. Gradually he changed his style of poetry and matured as a great scholar in Islam. The title “Allama” itself is a proof for his knowledge in Islam. Apart from being a philosopher he worked as a teacher and also served as a politician. He was also a linguist as he coined many Urdu words. He was a far-sighted man. He had a wast vision as that of Shaheen-his poetic bird.

He has written poetry in both Urdu and Persian language. He has delivered a series of famous lectures which were published as The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam which is in English. His poetry in Urdu and Persian is considered to be among the greatest of the modern era.

He has got may titles like ‘Sir’, ‘Dr’ and ‘Allama’. He is also called as Shair-e-Mashriq (”The Poet of the East”), and Hakeem-ul-Ummat (”The Sage of Ummah”). He is officially recognised as the “National poet” in Pakistan and also known as Muffakir-e-Pakistan (”The Thinker of Pakistan”). In Afghanistan and Iran, he is known as Iqbal-e Lahori.

It is said that Iqbal was greatly influenced by the philosophies of Nietzsche and Bergson, while he regarded the western civilization as decadent and was extremely critical about it. While in referring to Nietzsche one of his couplets he says:

Agar Hota Wo Bajzoob-e-Farangi Iss Zamane Mein
Tho Iqbal Usko Samjhata, Ke Maqaam-e-Kibriya Kya Hai.

Had Nietzsche (Farangi) been present in this era
Iqbal would have thought him what is the position of glory of God.

Allama Iqbal turned to Islam for inspiration and rejected nationalism as a disease of the West. He argued that Muslims must find their destiny through the fundamental teachings of Islam i.e Qur’an and the sayings of prophet.

Quran Mein Ho Ghota Zann, Aey Mard-e-Musalman
Allah Karey Tujh Ko Ata Jiddat-e-Kirdaar
Jo Harf-e-Qul il Afw Mein Posheeda Hai Abtak
Iss Daur Mein Shayad Wo Haqeeqat Ho Namudaar

Ghota zann = Referring to read, consult and understand;
Jiddat-e-Kirdaar = Strong faith/strong character;
Harf-e-Qul il afw = Words of Quran;
Posheeda = Hidden; Namudar = To expose.

Poetry Written by Allama Iqbal:

• Asrar-e-Khudi (”The Secrets of the Self”) ·
• Rumuz-e-Bekhudi (”The Secrets of Selflessness”) ·
• Payam-e-Mashriq (”Message from the East”) ·
• Bang-e-Dara (”The Call Of The Marching Bell”) ·
• Zabur-e-Ajam (”Persian Psalms”) ·
• Javid Nama ·
• Bal-e-Jibril (”Gabriel’s Wing”) ·
• Zarb-e-Kalim (”The Rod of the Moses”) ·
• Pas Chih Bayad Kard (”What should then be done O people of the East”) ·
• Armaghan-e-Hijaz (”Gift from Hijaz”) ·

All his Urdu books are composed into Kulliyat-e-Iqbal Urdu. And all his Persian books are composed into Kulliyat-e-Iqbal Persian.

Prose written by Allama Iqbal:

• The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam ·
• The Development of Metaphysics in Persia ·
• Ilm Al-Iqtisad ·

That's it for now. I will be keep writing now and then on Allama Iqbal. Stay Tuned.