MUHAMMAD IQBAL (1877-1938)

1. MUHAMMAD IQBAL (1877-1938)

2. Presented by Nurul Yasmin bt. Mohamad Yusof Nik Anis bt. Nik Mohd Zainuddin Raihan bt. Mansor Farah Hana bt. Amanah Edited by Dr. Md. Mahmudul Hasan International Islamic University Malaysia 2010

3. Full name: Muhammad Iqbal bin Muhammad Nur Born in Sialkot, Punjab 9 November 1877 Died on 21 April 1938

4. IQBAL’S FAMILY • Originally came from Kashmir. They had been Brahmins by caste. • One of his ancestors had embraced Islam and later they migrated to Sialkot, Punjab. • Iqbal’s parents were famous for their religiosity and piety. • His father was a Sufi. He worked hard to earn for a living and for the sake of Islam. • Iqbal has narrated his father’s religiosity in his famous book, Rumuz-i-Bekhudior The Mysteries of Selflessness. • It is mentioned in the book that, while Iqbal was reciting the Quran, once his father stood by him and said, “When you wish to understand the Quran, read as it has been revealed to you.” It means that whenever you recite the Quran, recite it sincerely from your heart, thus the meaning will be attached to your heart. • His father had taken a vow from him that after completing his education, he would spend his life for the sake of Islam.

5. His mother was also a pious woman. She was uncomfortable at her husband’s income because he used to work with a man who liked to receive bribe. Fortunately, her husband convinced her that he himself did not take any bribe money. • In one of Iqbal’s famous verses, Bang-i-Dara, he states in memory of his mother: “In the archives of existence, your life was like a golden page, your life was a perfect lesson both in religion and the world .” • His father died on 17 August 1930 at the age of around 100 years whereas his mother died on 14 November 1914 at the age of 78 years.

6. EDUCATION • Iqbal received his early education during his childhood days from his father. • He enrolled in Madrasah(maktab) to learn the Qur’an. • Although there is some uncertainty about the amount of Qur’anic verses he had memorized during his childhood days, there is no doubt that he had memorized a lot of Qur’anic verses, as we notice his ability to compose poems extracted from the Qur’an. • His early education and constant study of the Qur’an all go a long way to make him very passionate with it and a great lover of the Prophet.

7. After that, he entered the Scotch Mission School and the Murray College, Sialkot. • In Scotch Mission School, Iqbal learned about religion, the Arabic and Persian languages under his teacher, Mir Hasan (his father’s close friend). • Mir Hasan is believed to be one of the Prophet’s descendants. In Iqbal’s biography, the name ‘Mir Hasan’ is often mentioned since Iqbal highly appreciates his teacher. • Mir Hasan supported and encouraged Iqbal to compose poems in the Urdu language.

8. Iqbal completed his study at Scotch Mission School in 1895. Later, he pursued his study at Government College. • In 1897, he graduated and then continued his study in master level and received his MA in philosophy. He was a student of Sir Thomas Arnold, who gave lectures on the philosophy of Islamic education. • Sir Thomas Arnold recognized Iqbal’s merits and persuaded him to go abroad for higher education.

9. Iqbal stayed in Europe from 1905 to 1908. He studied Philosophy at the University of Heidelberg, University of Munich and University of Cambridge. • At Cambridge University, he received education from Dr. McTaggart. • After that, he went to Germany and learnt the German language. Here, he entered Munich University. • He was awarded a PhD from the Munich University for his thesis titled “The Development of Metaphysics in Persia”. • This is a great philosophical book and it makes him a great philosopher for his greatest knowledge on the field of philosophy. This work was given as a gift to his teacher, Sir Thomas Arnold, and was published in London.

10. INTERESTS • Iqbal is a very passionate poet. He started composing poetry from a young age. • His early poems are based mostly on nationalistic/patriotic ideas and love of nature. • His stay in Europe had brought a complete change in his outlook. • After coming back from Europe, he became a poet of humanity who brought a broad humanistic outlook of Islam. Previously, he was a poet with narrow nationalistic fervor and parochial feelings.

11. Iqbal today occupies a unique position in the Muslim world. • He is not only considered a poet of unparalleled repute, but a great thinker, a great statesman, a great political philosopher, a messenger of hope and truth, and upholder of Muslim unity and also a gateway to world culture. • His fame rests on both his poetry and his formulation of ideas that influenced the creation of Pakistan. • Some people who influenced him are Aristotle, Rumi and Goethe.

12. AN ARDENT LOVER OF THE PROPHET • Iqbal’s love of the Prophet is not like that of ordinary devotees of Islam. • It is a love of unique character. He strongly believes that the life of the Prophet is the beacon light for the world.

13. One biographer of Iqbal says that when Iqbal talked about the Prophet, he would discuss aspects such as intuition, revelation, the state of prophethood, dignity of mankind and concept of brotherhood in Islam. • Even the worst critics of Islam had to admit the Prophet to be a Perfect Man on earth and the last Messenger of God. • In one of his poems, he describes the dignity of the society that the Prophet had built up.

14. Such society was based on the principles of social justice, brotherhood, equality as highlighted in Islam resting on spiritual and moral strength. • Describing the personality of the Prophet, Iqbal says: The Prophet is a human being and yet an essence pure. • In Iqbalian philosophy, “If a Muslim is faithful to the Prophet, he is faithful to God” as this is announced by God in the Qur’an, “If you are faithful to Muhammad, I am yours.”

15. Iqbal’s poetic work is universal where he talks about Perfect Man, perfect society, Islamic code of life, principles, the existence of nation, etc. All of these themes are centered on the Prophet Muhammad as the model/example.

16. Muhammad Iqbal’s Work • In English: 1) The Development of Metaphysics in Persia 2) The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam • In Urdu: 1) Bang-i-Dara (Call of the Marching Bell) 2) Bali-i-Jibril (Wings of Jibril) 3) Zarb-i-Kalim (The Rod of Musa)

17. In Persian: 1) Asrar-i Khudi (The Secrets of the Self) 2) Rumuz-i-Bekhudi (The Mysteries of Selflessness) 3) Payam-i-Mashriq (Message from the East) 4) Zabur-i-Ajam (Persian Psalms) 5) Javidnama (To his son) 6) Pas Chih Bayad Kard (What should then be done: O people of the East!) 7) Armagham-i-Hijaz (Gift from Hijaz)

18. The Development of Metaphysics in Persia (Published from London in 1908) • The book traces the development of metaphysics in Persia from the time of Zoroaster to Bahaullah (from Pre-Islamic to the 19th century) • This work marks the first and only historical account of Persia's philosophical thought.

19. One of the major themes of the book is the role which pre-Islamic Persian belief systems played in metaphysical thought after the advent of Islam in Persia, and in the subsequent Persian “restatement of Islam”.

20. 2) The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam • It is a compilation of lectures delivered by Muhammad Iqbal on Islamic philosophy. • It was published in 1930. • It re-examines the intellectual foundations of Islamic philosophy.

21. Chapters 1) Knowledge and Religious Experience 2) The Philosophical Test of the Revelations of Religious Experience 3) The Conception of God and the Meaning of Prayer 4) The Human Ego – His Freedom and Immortality 5) The Spirit of Muslim Culture 6) The Principle of Movement in the Structure of Islam 7) Is Religion Possible?

22. Bang-i-Dara • Published in 1924 • Consists of selected poems belonging to the three preliminary phases of Iqbal's poetic career. 1) Poems written up to 1905 (in England) portray an imagery landscape. 2) Poems written between 1905 and 1908 (in Europe) deal with spiritual & religious values. 3) Poems written between 1908 and 1923.

23. Zarb-i-Kalim • Published in 1936. • Is a philosophical poetry book. • It constitutes a declaration of war against the new era. • Main subjects of the book are Muslims, education, women, literature, fine arts, politics of the east and west.

24. Asrar-i-Khudi • Published in British India in 1915. • The first philosophical poetry book to discuss self realization & self knowledge. • It explains various stages through which the “Self” finally reaches the stage of perfection. • In this book he proves that universe “obeys” the will of the self. • Considered by many as Iqbal's best book of poetry, it is mainly concerned with the philosophy of religion.

25. Rumuz-i-Bekhudi • Published in 1918 (his second book). • Discusses Islamic ethics and the interaction between individual and society. • Presents the Islamic way of life as the best code of conduct for every nation. • It complements Asrar-i-Khudi and is often called Asrar-i-Rumuz.

26. An individual and his community reflect each other. This means man cannot realize “self” out of society. • Therefore, Muslim communities must preserve the communal tradition. This reflects his appreciation of the vital role of women. • He wrote it in Persian because he felt the language is well suited to present his ideas. • It caught the attention of Young Muslims as soon as it was printed.

27. Contributions -His most important contributions lie in his political thoughts and writing. -He joined the London Branch of the All India Muslim League in 1907 while he was studying Law and Philosophy in England. -At that time, he saw a vision towards his country which made him think that there was a need to improve his countrymen especially the Indian Muslim community. He expresses his hope about Muslims thus: “The lion who had emerged from desert and had toppled the Roman empire is, as I am told by the angels, about to get up again (from his slumbers).”

28. He saw the sufferings of the Indian Muslims in the subcontinent and the unjust attitude toward them from the British and Hindus. This prompted him to enter politics, and in 1927 he was elected to the Punjab provincial legislature. • Later in 1930, he became the president of the All India Muslim League and began to think deeply about the plight of the Muslims and about the need for a separate homeland for them. • He wanted an independent Muslim state out of British India, as he said when he was invited to give a speech at the Muslim League in Allahabad in 1930. “I would like to see the Punjab, North-West Frontier Provinces, Sind and Baluchistan into a single State. Self-Government within the British Empire or without the British Empire. The formation of the consolidated North-West Indian Muslim State appears to be the final destiny of the Muslims, at least of the North-West India.”

29. Iqbal’s idea of a separate Muslim state was ambiguous at the first place. This is because, the ‘state’ could be a big autonomous Muslim province within the Indian Federation or it could be within the British commonwealth. -Therefore, in order to clarify the dispute, Iqbal defined his concept of ‘state’ thus: “A separate federation of Muslim provinces, reformed on the lines I have suggested above, is the only course by which we can secure a peaceful India and save Muslims from the domination of Non-Muslims. Why should not the Muslims of North-West India and Bengal be considered as nations entitled to self-determination just as other nations in India and outside India are?”

30. -Iqbal invited Mohammad Ali Jinnah and wrote a letter to persuade him: “…as you are the only Muslim in India today to whom the community has right to look up for safe guidance through the storm which is coming to North-West India and perhaps to the whole India ….” -Although there were many politicians Iqbal preferred Jinnah as he thought Jinnah was capable to hold the responsibility as he said: “The united front can be formed under the leadership of the Muslim League. And the Muslim League can succeed only on account of Jinnah. Now none but Jinnah is capable of leading the Muslims.”

31. -In 1947, Pakistan gained independence from the British Empire after Jinnah had struggled and succeeded in separating Pakistan and thus formed a Muslim state. -And in 1956, Pakistan became an Islamic republic. -However, Iqbal could not see the victory of the establishment of a Muslim state because he had died before Pakistan gained its independence. As Jinnah expressed his feeling for what Iqbal had done: “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 has been called Mufakka-e-Pakistan (the Thinker of Pakistan) due to his idea on the creation of a Muslim state which gave power to safeguard the Muslims’ rights, cultural traditions as well as religion.

32. -Through his writings, Iqbal instils a deep sense of unity among the Indian Muslims. He is known as “Shaer-e-Mashriq” (Poet of the East). -Iqbal used poetry to convey his messages as he once said: “I have special goal in mind for whose expression I use the medium of poetry considering the condition and the customs of this country.”

33. -He addresses the people specifically the youth throughout his writings to stand up and face all the obstacles. He specifically addresses the youth because the youth will take over and lead the country or state. -Furthermore, he encourages Muslims to improve spiritual aspects through the concept of ‘self’ (Khudi). It is basically knowing oneself, where a person should be balanced between worldly and spiritual matters. -One needs to improve himself or herself to a level that Allah Himself asks the person as to what s/he needs. It means s/he needs to balance between religion and worldly affairs as Iqbal believes religion and politic cannot be separated because religion is a part and parcel of everything a Muslim does.

34. - Once everybody knows and improves themselves, it will help to unite the state and society through the Islamic Law and self-control. -This can be seen in his writing when he says that a person can improve his or her life and thus lead a country: “When ‘self’ embraces the Energy of Life The stream of life is transformed into an ocean.”

35. A.K.Brohi, a lawyer and jurist who held many official positions in the Pakistan’s government, says: “Dr. Iqbal is undoubtedly a renowned poet-philosopher of Islam and may have in his writings a never failing source of inspiration, delight and aesthetic wonder. He has made signal contribution to our understanding of the Holy Writ of Islam and offered his evaluation of the remarkable example of which the life of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) has presented to the world at large and the high water-mark of excellence, it provides how best our earthly lives can be lived here below.”