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~ A Poet and Reformer of Islam ~
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Life sketch
I tell you the sign of a believer;
When Death comes, there is a smile on his lips.
Poems
"I have never considered myself a poet. I have no interest in poetic artistry."
Essays
"Physiologically less violent and psychologically more suitable to a concrete type of mind"
Dr. Mohammad Iqbal, the Islamic poet-philosopher who played such a vital role in the birth of Pakistan, was the first to advocate the formation of independent Muslim state for the subcontinent. In 1930, in his capacity as President of the Muslim League, Iqbal was the first to use a political platform to launch the concept of a separate homeland for Muslims. We have researched, selected, and annotated a few links below for you to learn more this profound thinker
Birth
Iqbal was born in the Punjab on February 22, 1873. His ancestors, who were Kashmiri Brahmins, had embraced Islam two hundred years earlier. Iqbals own father was a devout Muslim with Sufistic bent of mind.
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Primary Education
He received his early education in Sialkot. After passing the entrance examination, he joined Intermediary College. Mir Hassan, a great oriental scholar, had a special aptitude for imparting his own literary taste and to his students. Under his influence, Iqbal was drawn towards Islamic studies, which he regarded to be an outstanding favor that he could not forget it all his life.
Higher Education
Passing on to the Government College of Lahore, Iqbal did his graduation with English Literature, Philosophy and Arabic as his subjects. At the college he met Prof. Arnold and Sir Abdul Qadir. Iqbals poem, Chand (moon) and other early poems appeared in the journal (which belonged to Sir Abdul Qadir) in 1901 and were acclaimed by critics as cutting a new path in Urdu poetry.
It did not take him long to win recognition as a rising star on the firmament of Urdu literature.
In the mean time he had done his MA in Philosophy and was appointed as a Lecturer in History, Philosophy and Political science at Oriental College, Lahore. He then moved to Government College to teach Philosophy and English Literature.
Wherever Iqbal worked or thought his versatility and scholarship made a deep impression on those around him.
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In Europe
Iqbal proceeded to Europe for higher studies in 1905 and stayed there for three years. He took the Honors Degree in Philosophy and taught Arabic at the Cambridge University in the absence of Prof. Arnold. From England, he went to Germany to do his doctorate in Philosophy from Munich and then returned to London to qualify for the bar. He also served as a teacher in the London school of Commerce and passed the Honors Examination in Economics and Political Science. During his stay in Europe Iqbal not only read voraciously but also wrote and lectured on Islamic subjects which added to his popularity and fame in literary circles.
Back in India
Iqbal returned to India in 1908. The poet had won all these academic laurels by the time he was 32 or 33. He practiced as a lawyer from 1908 to 1934, when ill health compelled him to give up his practice. In fact, his heart was not in it and he devoted more time to philosophy and literature than to legal profession.
He attended the meetings of Anjuman Himayat-I-Islam regularly at Lahore. The epoch making poems, Shikwa and Jawab-e-Shikwa, which he read out in the annual convention of it one year after another, sparkled with the glow of his genius and made him immensely popular. They became the national songs of Millet.
Iqbals other poems Tarana-e-Hind (The Indian anthem) and Tarana-e-Milli (the Muslim Anthem) also became very popular among masses and used to be sung as symbols of National or Muslim identity at public meetings.
The spirit of Change
The Balkan wars and the Battle of Tripoli, in 1910, shook Iqbal powerfully and inflicted a deep wound upon his heart. In his mood of anger and frustration, he wrote a number of stirring poems, which together with portraying the anguish of Muslims were severely critical of the West.
The spirit of change is evident in poems like Bilad-e-Islamia (the lands of Islam), Wataniat (Nationalism), Muslim, Fatima Bint Abdullah (who was killed in the siege of Cyrainca, Siddiq, Bilal, Tahzib-e-Hazir (Modern civilization) and Huzoor-e-Risalat Maab Mein (in the presence of Sacred Prophet).
In these poems, Iqbal deplores the attitude of Muslim leaders who lay a claim to Islamic leadership and yet are devoid of a genuine spiritual attachment to the blessed Prophet.
The turning point in Iqbals Life
Iqbal was shaken by the tragic events of World War I and the disaster the Muslims had to face. The genius had passed through the formative period. He had attained maturity as a poet, thinker, seer and crusader who could read the signs of tomorrow in the happenings of today, make predictions, present hard facts and unravel abstruse truths through the medium of poetry and ignite the flame of faith, Selfhood and courage by his own intensity of feeling and force of expression. Khizr-e-Raah (The Guide) occupies the place of pride among the poems he wrote during this period. Bang-e-Dara (The caravan bell) published in 1929 has held a place of honor in Urdu poetry and world poetry.
Iqbal preferred Persian for poetic expression because its circle was wider than that of Urdu in Muslim India. His Persian works, Asrar-e-khudi (Secrets of the self), Rumuz-e-Bekhudi (Mysteries of Selflessness), Payam-e-Mashriq (Message of the East), Javed Nama (The Song of Eternity) belong to the same period of his life. And so is Reconstruction of Religious Thoughts in Islam, which was extensively appreciated and translated into many languages. Academies were set up in Italy and Germany for the study of Iqbals poetry and philosophy.
Politics
In 1927 the poet was elected to the Punjab Legislative assembly. In 1930, he was elected to preside over at the annual session of Muslim League. In his presidential address at Allahabad, Iqbal for the first time introduced the idea of Pakistan. In 1930-31, he attended the Round Table conference, which met in London to frame a constitution for India.
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Sir. Allama Muhammad Iqbal
Break, hard hearts, to hear the carol of this nightingale forlorn
Rise, dead hearts, by this new compact of fidelity reborn
His literary career started in 1903 when he published a book on economics, called Illm-ul-Iqtasaad ( the Knowledge of Economics ). However, his first poetic volume called " Bang-e-Dara" ( The Call of the Bell ) was published in 1924. After this masterpiece came, " Baal-e-Jibril" ( Gabriel's Wings ) and " Zarb-e-Kaleem " ( the Blow of Moses ) in Urdu, and then "Payaam-e-Mushriq" ( the Message of the East ), "Zabur-e-Ajam" ( Persian Psalms ) in Persian, and finally " Armaghan-e-Hijaz " ( the Gift of Hijaz) part Urdu part Persian, followed. His English works consisted of "The Development of Metaphysics in Persia" and " The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam". His books have been published by the Oxford University Press have been translated in nearly all the major languages of the world including English, Arabic, and German. A great visionary from the beginning, Iqbal visualized Islam as the only answer to all the problems of the society and greatly stressed upon the Muslim nation especially the youth to search their "Khudi" ( self ). His poetry as the encyclopedia Britannica recalls is " a memory of the vanished glories of Islam, a complaint about its present decadence, and a call to unity and reform." His poetry is specially directed towards the Muslim youth and he asks them time and again to follow the paths of their ancestors. His prose and poetry is an appeal, an urging request, a cry, a complaint, and a hope for the Muslims to come together and revive their lost glory. It was his revolutionary thinking that defined the destiny of the Muslims of the sub-continent. "I would like to see the Punjab, North-West Frontier Provinces, Sindh, and Balochistan into a single State. Self-Government within the British Empire or without the British Empire." These famous words marked the beginning of a revolution, an inspiration, a cause, and a dream. The dream of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent. A homeland called Pakistan. Even though his every literary work was a master piece yet these lines were the best lines any pen had ever written in centuries. These famous lines remembered as the " Idea of Pakistan" were delivered by him while addressing the All India Muslim League Convention, held in Allahabad in December 1930.
Allama Iqbal
In Spain
While in England, Iqbal accepted the hospitality of Spain. He also went to Cordoba and had the distinction of being the first Muslim to offer prayers at its historical mosque after the exile of Moors. Memories of the past glory of Arabs and their 800-year rule over Spain were revived in his mind and his emotions were aroused by what he saw.
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Meeting with Mussolini
In Italy Iqbal was received by Mussolini who had read some of his works and was aquatinted with his philosophy. They had long meetings and talked freely to each other.
The Universities of Cambridge, Rome and Madrid and the Roman Royal society organized meetings in his honor. On his way back he also went to Jerusalem to attend the International Conference of Motamar-i-Isalami.
In Afghanistan
At the invitation of King Nadir Shah, Iqbal visited Afghanistan in 1932. The king received the poet with great honor and met hi privately, as well during which he laid bare his heart. The two talked and wept.
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Iqbals Death
The last phase of Iqbals life was embittered with constant illness. But as regards his creative activities this product was most productive. He kept in touch with every question of the day and continued composing beautiful verses.
A few minutes before his death he recited these touching lines:
The departed melody may return or not!
The zephyr from Hijaz may blow again or not!
The days of this Faqir has come to an end,
Another seer may come or not!
Although Iqbals was long and protracted the end was sudden and verypeaceful. He breathed his last in the early hours of April 21, 1938, in the arms of his old and devoted servant, leaving behind a host of mourners all over the Islamic world. There was a faint smile playing on his lips, which irresistibly reminded one of the last criterions, which he laid down for a truthful Muslim.
I tell you the sign of a Mumin-When death comes there is smile on his lips.
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Iqbal's Pakistan
His poetry books are: Urdu -- Baal-e Jibreel, Baang-e Dara, Zarb-e Kaleem, Armaghan-e Hijaz (This book is both in Urdu and Persian)
Persian -- Asrar-e Khudi, Ramooz-e Be-khudi, Piyaam-e Mashriq, P'as Cheh Baa-eyad Kard ai Aqwaam-e Sharq, Javed Nameh, Armaghan-e Hijaz.
Some of his most popular poems are "Naala-e Yateem", "Shikwah" and "Jawab-e Shikwah".
A Day In the Life of
Allama Iqbal
Q.
When did Iqbal
usually get up in the morning?
A. Very early. As a matter of fact, he slept very little. He was keen on his morning prayer. After the prayer he read the Qur'an.
Q.
In what manner
did he read the Qur'an?
A. Before his throat was affected, he used to recite the Qur'an in a clear and
melodious voice. Even after he got the throat disease he used to read the Qur'an
but not loudly.
Q.
What did he usually do after he had finished his prayer and recitation?
A. He used to sit in an easy-chair. I would prepare his "hookah" and place it
before him. He would study the briefs of cases which were to come up in court
that day. Now and then, while still at his files, he would have moments of
poetic inspiration.
Q.
How did you know when he was in his poetic mood?
A. He would call me and say: "Bring my note book and my pencil." When I brought
these, he would write down the verses in pencil. Now and then, when he did not
feel satisfied with his composition, he was extremely restless. While composing
he would often ask for the Qur'an
to be brought to him. Even
otherwise he called for the Qur'an a number of times in the day.
Q.
What time did he usually go to court when he was practising at the bar?
A. He used to leave 15 or 20 minutes before court time. As long as he lived in
Anarkali [his house, which is no longer in existence, was where the New Market,
Lahore, is now] he used to go to court in his horse carriage. Later, he bought a
car.
Q.
How long was he active as a legal practictioner?
A. He was in practice until he got his throat disease which was around 1932 or
1933.
Q.
What did he do on return from court?
A. Before doing anything else he used to ask me to help him take off his court
clothes. He was never fond of formal dress and used to put it only for the court
and that also with effort.
Q.
What did he do after changing his dress?
A. He composed verses whenever he felt like it.
Q.
Did he sleep in the afternoon?
A. Not usually, but he did so now and then.
Q. At what time did he take his meals?
A. Between 12 and 1 o'clock in the day. He ate only one meal. Normally he did not eat in the evening.
Q.
What were his favourite dishes?
A. He was fond of pulao, mash-ki-daal seasoned with ghee, karela stuffed with
minced meat, and also khushka.
Q.
Did he like many dishes at his meals?
A. No, there were only a few dishes at a time. He was a poor eater.
Q.
Did he take any exercise?
A. In the early days, he did. In those days he used dum-bells, and performed
dand [a stretching exercise].
Q.
Was he interested in games
and sports?
A. He was interested in watching wrestling matches.
Q.
Was he in the habit of going out in the evening?
A. Getting out in the evening was almost an impossibility with him. In the
earlier days when he was living inside Bhati Gate [where he lived before going
to Cambridge, England in 1905], he would sometimes walk as far as the platform
outside the house of Hakim Shahbazuddin [a close friend of the poet]. Once in a
while Sir Zulfiqar Ali [of the ruling family of Malerkotla; author of book on
poet 'A voice from the East'] would come in his car and take him out.
Q.
When did he go to sleep in
the evening?
A. In the evening a number of friends and visitors used to call on him. These
sittings went on till 9 or 10 o'clock. After this he sat alone with Ch. Mohammad
Husain and recited to him the verses he had composed during the day.
Q.
How long did Choudhry Sahib normally stay?
A. Up to 12 or 1
o'clock in the night. After this Doctor Sahib would go to bed, but would get up
for his Tahajjud prayer after he had hardly slept for two or three hours.
Q.
And after the Tahajjud?
A. He used to lie down for a short time until it was time for the morning
prayers.
The above extracts are from an interview with Mian Ali Bakhsh, the life-long domestic assistant of Allama Muhammad Iqbal. It was conducted by Pakistani man of letters Mumtaz Hasan on 23 September 1957.
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