- By: Ibn-e-Taha
- Khan_adnan040@yahoo.com
Dr Sir, Muhammad Allama Iqbal got stipend in primary, middle and matric class. He earned stipend and gold medal in BA and “Nanak Bakhsh” award in MA. Sir Allama Iqbal is a driversified personality not only a poet but an economic philosopher on Imeprialism, Socialism, Communism & capitalism, social reformer, Spiritual Sufi, a traveller, historian forward looking, non-gender base and a true Muslim giving universal message.
Sir Allama started his poetry from love for Hindustan. Iqbal praised the Brahmin caste for its; intellect. Iqbal also took inspiration from Hindu mythologies and translated Hindu hymns. But later turmened aginst this Hindu caste. He preached humanity and mentioned Budhha and Guru Nanak in his poetry.
Iqbal initially took guidance from Dagh Dehlavi, who later advised there is no need of any further guidance and Iqbal may continue writing independently. Iqbal is a universal poet. Calling him the poet of East would be an injustice.
Allama Iqbal viewed the material universe as real, evolving and a direct manifestation of divine creation meant to be actively mastered and experienced by human consciousness. He addressed human beings as Adam not with reference to particular region, religion or Caste/creed. He explains Adam is a secret of Allah, which cannot be studied easily.
Iqbal had studied the universal philosophers/poets of past and his time and translated poetic thoughts of universal writers for their philosophy, literature and art of ancient and his time. Unlike the philosophers, focusing on worldly theories and ideologies, Iqbal focuses on self-concioussness, world awareness and modifitied old theories on almost every topic.
Some of famous poems he translated are were of US poet Long-fellow, Emerson and Tennyson. He also wrote a complete poem on Shakespeare.
Iqbal rejected the idea of Darwin that life and human consciousness are mere accidental by-products of blind physical forces. He argued human evolution represents the unfolding of higher states from within the human form itself.
German philosopher, Heagal viewed Islam historically as an antecedent /antithesis stage to Christian teleology. Allama rejected narrow territorial nationalism, viewing humanity as a unified creation of One God.
Henry Bergson (Bergsaan) the French philosopher had argued that mechanical, scientific time (measured by clocks) is artificial—it treats time like space, broken into separate, static points. Iqbal modified the thought by saying intuition (which he often calls Ishq or Love in his poetry) is a higher form of intellect that connects the human ego directly with the Divine Ego. Iqbal argued Bergson failed to see that intuition also has a forward-looking, goal-oriented aspect.
For any type of acreative artist, Allam Iqbal endorsed Wordsworth saying:
- “Fine arts reflects, light that is niot visible today. Artist’s job is basically beautification of nature and adding colors. In recognition of art and artist.
Allama Iqbal also agrees with French Voltaire, Goiter who had written “Art with a Purpose”. Iqbal writes in preface to Muraqqa-e-Chughtaee:
“One degrading artist is more dangerous than one battalion of Changez Khan……Spiritual health of a ntion depends upon poets’ and artists’ intuition.
Dutch philosopher Speenoza preached Pantheism and said God and the universe are the same thing. Iqbal negated him by stressing on action and dynamism. His book Reconstruction of Religious thoughts (1930) explains his concept.
German Neitszhe says life is driven by the desire to dominate, create, and master one’s environment. Iqbal says the ultimate purpose of life is the actualization and preservation of individual human potential. Neitszhe presents concept of Superman as a super natural character, on the contrast Iqbal presents Mard-eMomin.
Iqbal and Goethe represent one of the most significant bridges between East and West in literary history. Goethe wrote a book “West_Eastren Divan” calling on the East to inspire a spiritually a spiritually weary West.
Through “Payam-e-Mashriq”, Iqbal addressed him as a kindered spirit and offering an Eastern and Islamic philosophical response to Western thought.
Iqbal also got influenced by Greek mythological concept, that world is created of four elements ie Fire, Air, Water and Clay. In line with the concept of four forces, he says a Muslim is made of four elements ie Qahhari, Gahaffari, Quddsi and Jabroot.
Iqbal appreciated past poets of Hindustan like Mirza Bedil, Ghalib, Ameer Khusro. Allama had also written a poem on Nizam-uddin Auliya. Iqbal had great respect for the literary figures of his time and remained in communication with Hali, Akbar and Shibli on literary matters.
Allama used Arabic phrase in his poetry like Warafa’ana laka zikruk, Inn-ul-mulook, Kun fayakoon”. He has used the first Kalma as Qafiya as “La ilaha Illallah”. In another poem he has used the second Kalma Ashad-o an La Ilaaha.
Iqbal prays to Allah for granting passion of love for Allah and directly asks Allah like a true Muslim. Iqbal says anyone not believing in Allah does not qualify to be called a human being. In his poetry Iqbal shows his trust in Allah and is never afraid of the worldly lords.
Iqbal’s teachings are a replica of Allah’s message and seerat of prophet Muhammad (SA). He presents thoughts, feelings and concept through poetry covering all aspects of universe. He compares entire humanity as “Al-Khalaqo, Ayaal-Lullah” entire humanit is the family of Allah.
Iqbal is fascinated Prophet Muhammad’s seerat. He has dedicated an entire poem “Shab-e-Meraj” to prophet Muhammad (SA).
Iqbal mentions famous Muslim philosophers and pious men like Attar, Rumi and Bue-Ali Seena. He considers Rumi as his spiritual mentor and urges Muslims to learn from the poetry of Rumi to know one-self and submitting to Allah. Iqbal compares the pious men with Jibreel. Iqbal also directly addresses Jibreel and asks him he cannot match a man. A Muslim historian he writes poems on Ashaba like Bilal (RA), Abu Bakar(RA), Omer(RA), Othman(RA) and Ali (RA).
Why Iqbal is famous in Iran, one of the reasons is, he understood the Persian literature, art and philosophy. In fact his Phd degree was on the topic Developpment of Metaphysics in Persia. He represented poetic thoughts of Yaul Quli Baig (Anisi Shamilo), Mulla Arshi(Tehmasp Quli Baig), Abu Talib Kaleem, Faizi, Urfi, Mir Razi Danish, Mirza Malik Muhammad Qumi, Saa’yeb tabrizi, Sa’adi, Mirza Habibullah Shirazi Hakeem Qa-aani, Afzal-uddin-Ibraheem Khaqani, Anwari, Jami.
In 1933, Iqbal visited Afghanistan visited mausoleum of a saint Hakeem Sinai. Iqbal narrated the thoughts presented the tribute paid to Sinai by Rumi:
Iqbal is a sensitive soul wrote poems on Mosque Cordova, Qaser-Al Hamra and Qasar-al Zahra in Spain, Mosque in Paris and Masjid-e-Quwwat-e-Islam in India and on seeing the pyramids of Egypt.
A poet of nature, we also find poems on “River Ravi”. He also mentions river Danube, river Necker (Hydal Berg). He writes on heavenly bodies in poems like “Bazm-e-Anjum(gathering of stars), visit of sky,
He stresses for constant struggle. He wants Muslims to believe in themselves, shun the slavery thoughts and low spirits. Iqbal is a poet of hope, effort and belief in one-self. Iqbal repeatedly stresses upon national unity through discipline.
Iqbal focuses on education of youth for a purpose. According to Iqbal this purpose is knowing Islam, knowing own ego and knowing Allah. Iqbal wants to develop a balance between thoghts and actions based on pure Islamic basis. He preached self-confidence and self awareness.
Why Iqbal preferred Eagle for the youth because, it flies higher, has high intensity eyesight, hard working and full of ego and pride. Iqbal wants the Muslim youth live like an Eagle. Interestingly the messasge is both for male and female youth and not only for the male youth only.
In his poem “Europe and Jews”, he predicted Europe will be dominated by Jews as the Europeans are in dying condition. It is the art of Iqbal that despite criticizing Europe and Imeprialism he still won the title of Sir from the Europeans. We also find him criticizing the global politics on Palestine.
Iqba laments the hypocracy of theologians hidden in the name of religion. Iqbal in his poem “Ijtehaad” preaches there is a dire need of Ijtehaad in Muslims, as there is no research for the deen. He criticizes illiterate who translate Al-Quran in their own perceptions.
Iqbal had a detailed perception of Capitalism, Marxisism and Imperialism. He is against Imperialisim. Iqbal presents Karl Marx’s view point addressing the capitalists. Iqbal mentions Karl Marx as a prophet without a book fighting against Imperialism and Capitalism.
Iqbal presents Satan as a romantic character in human life and writes had there been no Iblees there would not have been any concept of pious and evil. Here he refers to Khalil Jibran’s character of priest John. In the West, Milton, Marlowe, Goethe and Dante have presented Satan as a hero. Unlike Western writers who portray Satan as a hero and feel themselves helpless, Iqbal does not forget his own status.
Satan in his poem “Iblees ki Majlis-e-Shoora tells his followers, he is not afraid of any religion or philosophy as all of them have been neutralized by Satan. He feels threatened only from Islam and Muslims.To sum up we can say,
Iqbal puts Satan the game changer, who ensured the Khudi of Adam is strengthened.