Muhammad Iqbal
Muhammad Iqbal
Muhammad Iqbal
Sir Muhammad Iqbal (Punjabi, Urdu: ;علمہ محمد اقبالNovember 9, 1877, Sialkot – April 21,
1938, Lahore) was a Persian- and Urdu-language poet, philosopher and politician[1] of Indian
descent whose vision of an independent state for the Muslims of British India was to inspire the
creation of Pakistan. He is commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal (علمہ اقبال, Allama meaning
"Scholar").
After studying in Cambridge, Munich and Heidelberg, Iqbal established a law practice, but
concentrated primarily on writing scholarly works on politics, economics,ishi history, philosophy
and religion. He is best known for his poetic works, including Asrar-e-Khudi—which brought a
knighthood— Rumuz-e-Bekhudi, and the Bang-e-Dara, with its enduring patriotic song Tarana-
e-Hind. In India, he is widely regarded for the patriotic song, Saare Jahan Se Achcha. In
Afghanistan and Iran, where he is known as Eghbāl-e-Lāhoorī ( اقبال لہوریIqbal of Lahore), he
is highly regarded for his Persian works.
Iqbal was a strong proponent of the political and spiritual revival of Islamic civilisation across
the world, but specifically in South Asia; a series of famous lectures he delivered to this effect
were published as The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam. One of the most prominent
leaders of the All India Muslim League, Iqbal encouraged the creation of a "state in northwestern
India for Muslims" in his 1930 presidential address.[2] Iqbal encouraged and worked closely with
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and he is known as Muffakir-e-Pakistan ("The Thinker of Pakistan"),
Shair-e-Mashriq ("The Poet of the East"), and Hakeem-ul-Ummat ("The Sage of Ummah"). He is
officially recognized as the national poet of Pakistan.[3][4][5] The anniversary of his birth (یوم
ولدت محمد اقبال- Yōm-e Welādat-e Muḥammad Iqbāl) is on November 9, and is a national
holiday in Pakistan.
[edit] Death
Allama Iqbal is regarded as one of the most influential Muslim poet and scholar of the 20th
century throughout the Muslim World.[citation needed] His concept of Islamic revival did not only lead
to the creation of Pakistan, but also the Iranian Revolution, which he had prophesied.[citation needed]
His works were also influential during the breaking up of the central Asian former Soviet
republics, most of which were Muslim majority.[citation needed] Allama Iqbal's poetry has also been
translated into several European languages where his works were famous during the early part of
the 20th century.[citation needed]