Allama Iqbal

Introduction:
Allama Muhammad Iqbal is a figure of legendary greatness amongst the scholars and poets of the modern age and his political thought has won a great deal of attention and respect amongst discerning students of political philosophy. He was born at Sialkot, a renowned city of Pakistan. He received his early education in Scotch Mission College, Sialkot and after his elementary schooling; he came to Lahore for higher education. He did M.A. in Philosophy from Government College Lahore in 1899 and served the Government College, as a lecturer in the subject of Philosophy for about five years. He later left for England in 1905 for higher studies. He obtained PhD degree from Munich University by writing a thesis, The Development of Metaphysics in Persia. He again went to London and did Bar-at-Law from Lincoln’s Inn. He returned to India in 1908 and was appointed as Professor of Philosophy in the Government College Lahore. Along with professorship he enrolled himself as a practicing barrister at the Lahore High Court. He resigned after a year and half from professorship and continued his legal practice.

He entered into practical politics and joined his efforts with freedom-champions to liberate the Indian Muslims from the clutches of the Hindus and subjugation of the English. He was elected as Member of the Punjab Legislative Council, and later elected unanimously of the President of All-India Muslim League. He vigorously advocated the two nation theory and demanded a separate homeland for Indian Muslims, where their religion and culture could flourish without any fear of chauvinism. He actuated the Muslims of India from political slumber to champion their cause for separate country within India, and this very vision became crystal reality in his pronouncement in the annual session of the League in 1930. Dr. Allama Iqbal’s declaration for Pakistan echoed throughout the world and it became the instrumental in re-awakening and the enlightenment of Muslims to combat all forces for the achievement of a separate homeland i-e. Pakistan.

Dr. Iqbal has given an ever-inspiring treasure of knowledge and philosophy through his works, which have immortalized him on the pages of existence. He is widely respected because of his philosophy and poetry which enlivened the nation, living in a state of vertigo to win their liberty from the usurpers. As poet he is considered to be the poet of Prophets for all ages. His works have been translated into many foreign languages so that the students must properly be benefited in their future researches by his thoughts and philosophies.

His works are detailed as under:

1. Development of Metaphysics in Persia (Thesis for PhD)
2. Asrar-e-Khudi (Secrets of Self)
3. Ramooz-e-Bay-Khudi (Mysteries of Selflessness)
4. Payam-e-Mashriq (Message of the East)
5. Bang-e-Dara
6. Zaboor-e-Ajam
7. Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam (collection of lectures)
8. Javed Namah
9. Bal-e-Jibraeel
10. Pas Che Bayad Kard Ay Aqwam-e-Sharq
11. Zarb–e-Kaleem
12. Armughan-e-Hijaz
13. Ilmul-Iqtisad (Economics)

Iqbal as a Muslim Political Thinker

Allama Iqbal a great supporter of freedom and pioneer of Muslim movement in the sub-continent recklessly strived for the achievement of his noble ideals. Indian Muslims were tied in the chains of enslavement and subjection and he strived for the whole nation with his virulent speeches and thought-provoking declarations for making unanimous efforts for liberty and emancipation. His dynamism is proverbial, his mysticism is extraordinary and his simplicity is an example for his followers. He gave new inspiration to the Muslims who were politically unconscious and ignorant. He kindled fire in them to fight for their basic rights. He is loudly applauded everywhere due to his greater contributions leading to the ultimate establishment of Pakistan.

Allama Iqbal was a sensitive sage of his age and he saw the prevailing political ills in India, and inculcated ideals for the complete liquidation of the dominators, so that Islamic culture and heritage be protected from all penetrating evils. The Hindu and the English were the two domineering forces in the sub-continent and all fundamental privileges for Muslims were completely denied. In order to liberate the Muslims from cruel subjugation, our thinker took deep interest in the political situation and problems as no sensitive and intelligent young Indian could fail to do, but “it was only when he realized that most of the political leaders of the Muslims were lacking political acumen and foresight that he started taking active interest in politics.” (S.A.Vahid)

Allama Iqbal was a member of the Committee of Muslim League formed in London in 1903 by the Rt. Hon. Ameer Ali. On his return from England, Iqbal took keen interest in the objective working of the Muslim League but did not participate actively in politics from 1910-1923. In 1924, Allama Iqbal joined the National Liberal League of Lahore but not finding it very effective resigned from it later on. In 1926, he was elected as a member to the Punjab Legislative Assembly.


Secretary of Muslim League:
In 1928, Iqbal became secretary of that branch of the Muslim League which functioned under the President-ship of Sir Muhammad Shafi. Along with other members of League, he appeared before the Simon Commission which was appointed by the British Government to report on the introduction of further political reforms in the sub-continent. While participating eagerly in Punjab politics, Iqbal was also interested in all-India politics. In 1929 he attended the Muslim Conference held in Delhi under the Chairmanship of Sir Agha Khan, and made some important contribution to the deliberations of the conference. In 1930, he was unanimously elected to preside over the Annual Session of the Muslim League held in Allahbad. In his historic presidential address, Iqbal said, “I would like to see the Punjab, North-West Frontier Province, Sind and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single state. Self-government within the British Empire or without the British Empire, the foundation of a consolidated North-West Indian Muslim State appears to me to be the final destiny of the Muslims, at least of North-West India.”


Round Table Conference:
In 1931, Allama Iqbal attended the Second round Table Conference in London and served as the representative of the Minorities Committee. He returned to Lahore on 30th December 1931 most disappointed at the attitude of Mr. Gandhi and other Hindu leaders at the conference and convinced more than ever, that the only solution of the political troubles of the sub-continent was a division of the country.

In 1932, Iqbal was invited to attend the Third Round Table Conference. While the Conference was in progress, Iqbal grew so dissatisfied with its proceedings that he resigned and returned to India. In 1936, at the inspirations of Mr. Jinnah, Iqbal undertook the work for the Punjab Parliamentary Board, which was to conduct elections. Muslim politics was in turmoil and chaos as at that time Mr. Jinnah was facing a very hard time. But in the midst of all this darkness there shone a flickering light in Lahore and this was Iqbal who stood steadfast by Jinnah in those trying days and helped him to charter the course of Indo-Muslim politics.

When Allama Iqbal died as a broken heart without seeing the fulfillment of his ideals, Mr. Jinnah sent this message to his son, “To me he was friend, guide and philosopher and during the darkest moments through which the Muslim League had to go he stood like a rock and never flinched one single moment.”

On March 24, 1940, when the Pakistan Resolution was passed by the Muslim League at Lahore, Mr. Jinnah said, “Iqbal is no more amongst us, but had he been alive he would have been happy to know that we did exactly what he wanted us to do.”


Iqbal’s Contributions:
No one today denies that Iqbal placed a very vital part in the founding of Pakistan. Iqbal was perhaps not a politician in the strict sense in which Mr. Jinnah or Mr. Nehru were, but he could see further than almost any other of his contemporaries could. It was the part of Allama Iqbal’s greatness that he not only formulated conception of an Islamic State in India and outlined its physical boundaries but laid down the characteristics which a state must have. Rushbrook Williams said, “If it were to provide that interplay between the individual and the society in which the individual lives, which Iqbal knew to be essential for the highest development of both.”

Allama Iqbal’s contributions to Islam and Muslims are unparalleled in their characteristics and his followers interwove the practicability on the basis of his ideals. All Muslims of the world are indebted to our great thinker and pay gratitude for his relentless fight for a separate homeland, which changed the political attitudes of other sovereigns. His selfless services and devotion in the field of poetry, philosophy and metaphysics are unprecedented, which ushered a new era of literature and knowledge. His message through his statements, speeches and work will ever vibrate against evil, slavery and subjugation.