Real Message of Iqbal
By Mohammad Abbas

ALLAMA Muhammad Iqbal is one of the benefactors of Pakistan and Pakistanis and in no way less important than Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, and M A Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan who was also one of the greatest men of twentieth century. Allama Iqbal had a multidimensional personality and a great son and scion of Islam.

He was a great philosopher, poet and visionary and has the singular honour to conceive and make public the idea of Pakistan. His poetry was and is aimed at conveying a message – the message of unity, struggle, self-respect, hard work and sacrifice for the welfare of mankind and human brotherhood. He wanted Muslims to revive their glorious past and regain the respect and status they once enjoyed. He was of the view that it was Muslims’ duty and responsibility to convey to humanity the message of Islam, which is a way of life (Deen).

The appeal of Iqbal’s poetry and the message it contains became instantly popular and by the time he breathed his last on April 21, 1938 his name became household word in the subcontinent as well as in the Muslim world. His poetry was so popular especially among the youth that nearly every student had memorized some of his verses. As a matter of fact Allama Iqbal inspired Muslim youth and students of colleges who played an important role in Pakistan movement.

His message and ideas went deep down in the minds and greatly influenced Pakistan movement. As a matter of fact Muslims leaders and youth were “bitten” by the message and ideas of Iqbal. The message was of sacrifice for the cause of Islam and sublimation of mankind. Allama Iqbal was absolutely against lethargy and inaction on the part of Muslims.

Struggle and action are two most important elements of his message. Having correctly diagnosed the causes of decline of Muslim Ummah, he gave a call to all Muslim leaders to wake up and do their duty towards Islam. This he did through his poetry in which he appealed to them to work for the strength, progress and revival of Muslim community the world over. Having been educated in England and Germany, Iqbal completely understood the Western way of life. He asked his audience to absorb good points of the West and shun the weak ones.

Allama Iqbal’s message, like his personality, has many dimensions as hinted above. One of the most important dimensions is that he wants Muslims to be self-respecting and depending on themselves only. He is totally against dependence of Muslims, individually and collectively both, on any alien or foreign help as well as alien ideas. His symbols like Falcon and Lion are testimony to his message.

Besides, in his view Islam is complete code of life, and a dynamic religion, which provides guidelines to mankind for all times to come. Islam is neither static, nor dogmatic. It is most rational and logical and as one of the revealed religions is most suited for mankind. Allama Iqbal believed in the vitality of faith and of knowledge and emphasized time and again that faith and knowledge must be integrated for onward march of civilization.

He is of the view, however, that application of knowledge must be based on ethics of Islam. Scientific progress and Ijtihad, in his view, are lifelines of Ummah. He was confident that Muslims and Islam have the capability and capacity to move forward, to face the challenges of modern age, and to serve humanity.

In view of the sectarianism and extremism in our society, we must seriously reflect on the relevance of Iqbal’s message. The continuation influence of Iqbal must be maintained. He was not only poet and philosopher but also our mentor who clearly defined our goal and mission assigned to Muslims. It is unfortunate that a limited number of people make a pilgrimage to Iqbal’s tomb or his house. We should have a visitors’ book on tomb and at house to be signed by, not only VIPs, but also all those who come to visit and pay homage. We must preserve all that is relevant to him.

The present Iqbal Museum at Lahore needs attention. If Iqbal’s message is obliterated, our historical and cultural moorings will be weakened. It is our bad luck that there are some intellectual circles, which are working on foreign agenda, and this agenda, they know, cannot be completed without eliminating Iqbal’s thought from our minds. Some so-called historian in a programme on a TV channel last year said that Iqbal is not our national poet.

Let us not forget that Iqbal and Pakistan Movement are inseparable and closely linked. Living and thankful nations never forget or ignore their thinkers. We would lose a lot if we lose sight of the role of Iqbal in Pakistan Movement. He was the person who persuaded Pakistan’s founding father to return to the subcontinent to lead Muslims and the Muslim League.

We can hardly perceive of Pakistan Movement without Iqbal who in his address to the Allahabad Muslim League annual session in 1930 prophesied the emergence of a Muslim State in the subcontinent. In fact he crystalised the idea of Pakistan by pointing to the goal of Muslims and indicating the direction to which they should move. This fact should remain in our minds.

It is admitted that a historically and disoriented nation may become rudderless and become only a horde of sheep, directionless and useless stuff. If Iqbal’s thoughts are deeply considered and carefully analysed, we will come to an irrefutable conclusion that Islam is dynamic code and a way of life and a mission.

It is for the welfare, tolerance and love for mankind. According to him Islam is a programme (to use modern jargon). Hence we must time and again turn to Iqbal for comprehension of our problems and concerns. If we frequently talk to him through his works, he will guide us.●

(The writer is an intellectual of high caliber, renowned analyst, ex-Director General, Radio Pakistan.)