Allama Muhammad Iqbal is one of the most outstanding poet-philosophers of the Indian sub-continent belonging to the modern period. His intellectual genius has reigned supreme in the arena of Islamic philosophy during the twentieth century and is likely to direct and influence the Islamic Intellectual tradition in the twenty first century as well. His sublime poetry and philosophy inspired millions of Muslims to wake up to the reality of the times and forge a destiny for themselves. Iqbal was deeply concerned about the pervasive lethargy that had settled over the minds and souls of Muslims, under the colonial rule. His message motivated millions of Muslims to struggle for emancipation from colonial rulers and age old, stagnant norms of thinking and acting.
The integrity of the world of Islam and the universality of the message of Islam was under threat due to the fearful attitude of Muslims towards all knowledge and philosophies that did not originate in their own traditions and conventions. Ignorance bred fear and fear bred oppression at all levels. Speaking specifically, Iqbal was frustrated by the lack of movement in the intellectual and spiritual life of Muslims. If he were alive today, Iqbal would be filled with dismay over the same lack of movement in the intellectual and spiritual spheres of present day Muslims. Although he was able to influence millions of Muslims to rise up against colonial oppressors, the depth of his message and its manifold implications have yet to be realized by the Muslims.
His burning ambition was to rekindle the fire of the unique human personality to put it on the path of creative evolution, renovation and renewal.

�The stars tremble in their courses over man�s upward march,
Lest this fallen star should become the perfect moon.�

It has been rightly remarked:

 �Iqbal�s philosophy began with the individual and ended with it��not just one individual in one community, but all individuals in all communities.

One of the facets of Iqbal�s genius is the fluidity with which he displays his in-depth knowledge and critical analysis of both Islamic and Western philosophies, theories and concepts. His critical assessment is sparing of no one.

Muhammad Iqbal is among the few writers and poets of the Sub-Continent to have found fame and appreciation outside his own land. He wrote verses in Urdu and Percian, which has been translated into many languages of the world. His Philosophy, expressed through his poetry, and elegant english prose inspired a whole generation that was finding its way to independence, and still goes onto inspire those who look for a better and juster future.

Iqbal, a muslim born in the Punjab, well versed in the Philosophy of the East, but also profoundly interested in that of the west, began his career as a nationalist. Much of his early poetry, simple in construction but traditionally elegant in diction, conveys the message that Muslims and Hindus should unite in the face of dying imperialism. As a muslim he saw the answer in words of the Holy Quran and its sometimes controversial interpreters. Iqbal chose the Percian Sufi, Rumi as his mentor. His epic, JavedNama, naturally composed in Percian traverses the universe, looking deeply at its past, present and future.

Iqbal has keenly studied the philosophy of both the East and West. He was a well versed in literature, history and law. A student of science perhaps he never was, yet he kept a keen eye on the latest scientific discoveries and theories. Being thus equipped intellectually he was in a position to pick up good points from different systems of polity, philosophy, economics and what not, and weave them into a good pattern.

Iqbal easily discerned that almost every philosophy that dealt with human beings laid stress on this or that aspect of life and thus brought all others under subjugation of that particular aspect; various ideologies and isms dealt with life only in a fragmentary manner. He keenly felt that human life at large was to be taken as one coordinated whole, nay, the whole universe was to be considered an organic unit.

His philosophy supports the ideas of Supreme, Will to power, Creative Evolution, Struggle for existence, Socialism etc. Iqbal's thought taken as a whole is indeed a big creative synthesis which blends all the great ideas and all the isms into a perfect harmony.

Iqbal did not compose poetry for the sake of poetry, and hence he could not be attracted by themes or notions which did not harmonize with the main line of his thought. Some inconsistencies or contradictions to be found in his writings are not other than those which are the inevitable result of gradual unveiling of his spiritual vision. His thought taken in its entirety manifests a continuous progress towards the harmonization of all apparent contradictions and incongruities.

Like that of the works of all great poets, Iqbal's work is universal. We may laud him, praise him, criticize him, agree with him, disagree with him, but no-one can dispute the fact that he wrote, remains immortal.