     |
|
|
|
Reasons for Iqbal’s Professed Attitude towards Western Civilization Iqbal was a visionary. He had studied in depth, the ancient and modern philosophies. Comparison of different religions with Islam was his favorite subject. From these religious readings, he arrived at the conclusion that any religion that advocates only materialism will never be able to give a complete solution to man’s problems. He accepted that Europe has advanced in the technological field because scientific knowledge has opened new vistas for human advancements,. Iqbal felt that the Western civilization did fulfill man’s material needs but this thrust for spiritual fulfillment was not quenched. Iqbal believed that if the western civilization had been aware of the meaning of faith, their spiritual and material circle would have been complete. On the contrary, Islam presents a balance between religious practices and worldly duties. It is because of this that Iqbal warns the Muslims against blindly following the west in their progress. In one of his verses he says:
|
 |
|
If freedom is gained at the cost of your religious belief Such trading will only lead to a loss for Muslims
|
|
At another place he reiterates this very idea and says that:
|
|
No human effort can strengthen a civilization Whose foundations are in the capitalist System
|
|
Iqbal sees the west engulfed in clouds of smoke from the machines and doubts its purity and says:
|
|
The west is dark with smoke of machines This valley is a poor trustee of light
|
|
Again Iqbal is critical of the West in the following lines:
|
|
Do not gauge the Europeans by their brilliance As the light is dependent on electric bulbs |
|
Initial
Exposure | The Formative Years
| Observational
& Analytical Period | Iqbal's Vision
of Western civilization | Main | |