TOPIC: ALLAMA IQBAL AS A MUSLIM PHILOSOPHER

SUBMITTED TO: PROF. DR. ABDUR REHMAN

SUBMITTED BY: SYED ABDUL QADOOS SHAH

CLASS/SEMESTER: MPHIL/2ND
CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION
2. IQBAL and objective of Pakistan
3. Philosophy of IQBAL
4. Perception of IQBAL
5. Thoughts of IQBAL
6. IQBAL’s vision of modern Islam
7. IQBAL’s Modern Islamic State : Main Features
8. Conclusion
9. References
 Topic: ALLAMA IQBAL AS A MUSLIM PHILOSOPHER

INTRODUCTION:

Allama IQBAL, a poet, thinker and philosopher who stood alone for the revival of
Islamic philosophy and thought. He addressed miseries of Muslims of his time and also
analyzed the problems of western philosophy within an Islamic context. His philosophy was
very much appreciated by the progressive school of thought but the conservative
intellectuals of Islam did not accept the revolutionary thoughts of him.

IQBAL had a deep desire to awake Muslim individual to realize the challenges of time
and to understand the true message of Islam. He believed that Muslim individual could still
bring miraculous changes in world if he recognizes himself and realizes the purpose of his
creation. IQBAL was very inspired from the western philosophy of existentialism and
spiritual teachings of Sufism. He strongly believed that every human has a potential to
change his surroundings to make the world, as Almight want it to be. In order to achieve this
ultimate goal one should understand the relation between “Creator and Creature”. The
understanding of this relation is called “self realization” for which IQBAL coined the term
KHUDI.

IQBAL in his literary work evaluated the traditional Islamic doctrines and
jurisprudence in detailed and in analytical way, with positive and constructive approach. In
the series of lectures on “Reconstruction of Religious Thoughts in Islam” he very boldly
declared that the prevailing interpretation of Islamic principles were very conservative and
need to be re-addressed. Accordingly, Islamic Jurisprudence had been static for more than
five centuries therefore, it need to be amended as per the need and demand of time. IQBAL
suggested to have radical re-interpretation of Islamic theology. He emphasized to make laws
as per the need of the changing world with the progressive development in knowledge,
wisdom and elevation in intellectual levels. To him any of the Islamic doctrine including,
God, Prophethood, life after death or prayer was not too sacred that could not be
reinterpreted. In fact, he was of the opinion to have a continuous process of
“RECONSTRUCTION”.
 The philosophy and teachings of Allam IQBAL to overcome the miseries of Muslims
of his time are still valid but Muslims of today, particularly of Pakistan need to understand
and adopt it.

Allama IQBAL was a true Muslim and a well-wisher of his nation. His philosophy was
based on the teaching of Quran. He studied Quran in depth and tried to understand the
objectives of Quran. He believed that Quran has the most appropriate solution for all the
problems of mankind. In fact he believed that the main cause of the miseries of Muslims
was ignoring or misunderstanding teaching of Quran and blindly following the rituals,
developed during the last eight centuries. His thoughts were deeply rooted in rich Islamic
traditions but he took in account only the best and ideal episodes of Islamic thoughts and
culture from the history of Islam. Like any other natural poet IQBAL was sensitive and like
any reformer he was serious and sensible. He knew that his country men had emotional
attachment with Islam and were proud off their glorious past. At the same time they love
poetry and had good understanding of literature. Therefore, he selected poetry as medium
of expressing his thoughts to stimulate the dormant ego of his nation. IQBAL used his pen to
create awareness among his people about the achievement of their ancestors, who
followed the Quran as explained by the Prophet (PBUH). He used his poetry to diagnose the
illness and its underline cause. He also warned Muslims about the terrible future of their
coming generations, if they failed to change their attitude and thinking. He wanted to bring
revolutionary changes in their concept of education. He wanted his nation to understand
the development in the field of science and technology in west because the entire
development was just the extension of what had been achieved by early Muslims. IQBAL
wanted Muslims to take the initiative to win back their lost treasure. He believed that true
understanding of Islam was the only weapon which can destroy all the enemies stood on
way to their glowing destination. He had firm and solid faith in God, therefore, he always
looked at God for divine help in finding some solution for the miseries of Muslim either
exploded into violent with respectful protest or bowed down with utmost submissiveness.

He was a great advocate of Muslim unity and considered all Muslims as one nation. After
prolonged thinking he reached to the conclusion that in order to have united Muslim
community it was important to have a state created on Islamic ideology, therefore, he
floated the idea of territorial demarcation of India resulting in creation of a separate state
with its own religious culture and way of life. In his opinion the constitution of new
ideological state should be based on the basic Islamic principle of freedom and equality
under the sovereignty of Allah.

What we have found in the writings of IQBAL is enough to understand that IQBAL wanted to
have social democratic Muslim state to promote and achieve the goal of pan Islamic
brotherhood. Pakistan was a little manifestation of his thoughts but the revolution IQBAL
dreamed of, can only come true when Pakistan understand him.

IQBAL and objective of Pakistan

In the days of IQBAL Muslims of India were ruthlessly crushed in every walk of life.
IQBAL with his heart felt poetry prepared his demoralized Muslim community to struggle for
independence. His poetry brought miraculous results. Muslims got united under the
progressive leadership of Mohammad Ali Jinnah and fought courageously for their rights
and finally achieved an impossible goal of an independent country. IQBAL was a great
advocate of pan Islamic unity because he believed that Muslims are one nation. The basic
component of their faith is one God, who provided them code of life in shape of Quran and
blessed them with the guidance of the last prophet (PBUH).

IQBAL noticed that Muslims had already divided into many groups on the basis of various
interpretation of Quran. In addition, so many other parameters like culture, race, sect,
language, geography had further divided Muslim groups into sub-groups

He wanted Muslims to resolve their difference and unit as directed in Quran.IQBAL wanted
to see Muslims as one nation to whom he called “Quam-e-Rasool-e-Hashmi (PBUH), ( ‫قوم‬
ؐ‫ ) رسول ہاشمی‬who should stand and work together to explore the world as advised by Allah
in Quran and as directed by last messenger of Allah, Mohammad (PBUH).

‫دہر میں اِسم محمدﷺ سے اُجاال کرد‬ ‫قوت عشق سے ہر پست کو باال کر دے‬

In the eyes of IQBAL every individual should be a living example of an ideal Muslim as
explained in Quran.

!‫ حقیقت میں ہے قران‬، ‫قاری نظر آتا ہے‬ ‫یہ راز کسی کو نہیں معلوم کہ مؤمن‬

(ZK – 612)
Philosophy of IQBAL

IQBAL wanted to drag Muslims out of “The state of Stagnation”. He told his nation.

‫غالمی میں نہ کام آتی ہیں شمشیریںںہ تدبیریں جو ہو ذوق یقیں پیدا تو کٹ جاتی ہیں زنجیریں‬

‫کوئی اندازہ کر سکتا ہے اُس کے زور ِؐ بازو کا ! نگا ِہ مرد مومن سے بدل جاتی ہیں تقدیریں‬

(BD-331)

He asked himself to take the responsibility of awaking Muslims and inform them about the
philosophy of life.

‫ساز زندگی کہہ‬

ِ ‫ث سوز و‬
ِ ‫مسلماں سے حدی‬ ‫ترے سیںے میں ہے پوشیدہ راز زندگی کہہ دے‬
‫دے‬

(BD-328)

He honestly felt that for the Muslims the most important aspect of their life is
“realization of self innerself”. Therefore, he presented the concept of “SELFHOOD” “KHUDI
)‫”(خودی‬. One cannot understand the philosophy of Allam IQBAL without having a clear idea
of concept of “SELFHOOD”.

Since his birth man has been constantly trying to know the reality of the universe. In
fact man wants to know the purpose of his creation. He has many questions in his mind
about himself. How was he created? What is his relation with nature? What is his role in
universe? What is his ultimate? What is death? What would be life after death? The main
objective of man has been “SELF DISCOVERY”. He thinks ”DISCOVERY OF UNIVERSE” in the
first step toward “SELF DISCOVERY”. Man wants to know the purpose of his life and
thereafter wants to get it.

‫ میری‬، ‫کہ میں اس فکر میں رہتا ہوں‬ ‫خِ ردمںدوں سے کیا پوچھوں کہ میری ابتدا کیا ہے‬
‫انتہا کیا ہے‬

(BJ-419)

According to Quran the main purpose of life is the development of human

personality (SELF) and thereafter the development of a perfect society. The journey of “SELF
DISCOVERY” or the process of “PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT” progress as man gains
knowledge about his inner potential and about his surroundings. IQBAL believes in action,
his philosophy is based on dynamism. He motivates human beings to make efforts to
understand their built in potential, which is God-gifted and to explore their potential to the
optimum level.

‫وہ فقر جس میں ہے بے پردہ روح قرآنی‬ ‫کسے خبر کہ ہزاروں مقا م رکھتا ہ ے‬

(ZK-584)

IQBAL in his work addressed “SELFHOOD” or “KHUDI” in light of religious and

spiritual philosophy. He thinks “SELFHOOD” or “KHUDI” is the vital force which brings life in
body. For this vital force Quran used the word “ROOH” )‫(روح‬, which is a devine spark. God,
in Quran, explain the creation of man with clay and put devine spark or ROOH in it. It was
that devine spark which made Angles to prostrate in front of man. Now it is the prime goal
of man to realize that divine spark and reach to the height where every creation of universe
bows before him This devine spark is KHUDI. One has to work hard and has to pass many
stages of self realization on the spiritual path to know himself and ultimate reality.
IQBAL presented the route map and pointed out the various milestones one has to
cross before reaching to the final destination of life. The final destination is the point where
man knows his “SELF” and becomes a perfect man, who is promised to be honoured with
the position and status of “the VICE-REGENT of GOD”.

IQBAL explains “SELF” or “KHUDI” as consciousness but it does not mean awareness.
It is the ability or quality which helps man to have awareness. It is not the light but the
current. It is not the force but the power. The current which brings dynamism in life and
power which brings force in thinking.

To the extent of life animals also have some consciousness but it is not in control of
them or we can say animals do not have free consciousness; it is controlled by the inevitable
drive created by nature. Unlike to it consciousness in man has ability to overpass or by pass
the natural instincts. God has blessed human beings with free or wilful consciousness,
which means man has ability to think, to know and to feel and when he dose so he also
experiences it. God give ability and knowledge to man to regulate and use his
consciousness. Man who has learnt how to use consciousness, as per the teaching of Quran
against his internal drives is called “Man of God” or “Mard-e-Khuda”.

God is infinite reality, who in order to make this attributes visible create matter and
use it to express his unlimited power. In the opinion of IQBAL man, like any other creature
of universe, is also created as a form of mater but ‘SELFHOOD” is not a form of matter. It is
the unvisible divine spark transmitted into a matter. Ordinary man can only look at
materialistic things. He should develop his selfhood to experience, power of unvisible spark.

IQBAL has indepth study of western philosophy he is not afraid of it and finds no
threat in it for Muslims. On the contrary IQBAL considers western philosophy as guide for
Muslims to resume their journey towards perfection. He wants Muslims to acquire to date
knowledge through modern education and adopt all the achievement of science and
technology for further advancement. He repeatedly emphasized on the importance of
knowledge. He wanted Muslims to adopt precious values of Islam to lead the world.

‫لیا جائ ے گا کا م تجھ س ے دنیا کی‬ ‫شجاعت کا‬،‫عدالت کا‬،‫سبق پھر پڑھ صداقت کا‬
‫امامت کا‬

Perception of IQBAL

IQBAL observed that Muslims as a community have been divested of their rights.
They did not enjoy political and economical freedom, therefore, they were suffering with
gross poverty but surprisingly they did not even have slightest concern about their
condition. They thought that they were having life as written in their luck. Instead of making
any united efforts to get out their miseries they were consuming their energies in
unproductive activities. Most of their time and much of their resource were being
consumed in creating religious and sectarian disputes. They were least bothered about
education, health and economy of their community. They did not have any concept of
community welfare.

The situation was very frustrating for IQBAL. He did not see any will in Muslims to
find solution of their collective problems. IQBAL thought “UNITY” was the first and the most
important stop toward the solution of the problems the Muslim community. He told
Muslims intellectual and leadership that they should change themselves and by following
the guiding principles of Islam and to strip off all the rituals and cultural customs. It was the
responsibility of every Muslim in general and of leadership in particular to think and strive
for welfare of Muslim community because God do not bring change the condition of any
community unless members of the community changed themselves.

Thoughts of IQBAL

IQBAL dreamed for the revival of glorious post of Muslims. He wanted the rebirth of
love for knowledge in Muslims. He wanted Muslims to win back their distinguished position
in the discipline of science and technology. He has proved from the history that all the
western civilization and advancement in its culture was based on the information and
knowledge provided by Muslims. All the development in the field of science and technology
was an extension of the concepts, theories and ideas of Muslim philosophers and scientist.

IQBAL wants new generation of Muslims to study western philosophy to improve

their knowledge about nature and universe which would improves their vision and ability to
understand the real teaching of Quran. In his opinion such Muslims youth can bring west
close to Islam. However, he feels such a youth can only be produced by making
revulationery changes in our education system.

To achieve the goal of having an ideal Islamic state we need to bring reforms in our
existing Muslim culture to make it a Islamic culture. Our existing culture is made up of some
religious rituals and some geographic customs we need to reconstruct religions thoughts
and to redefine our social system. We have to take into consideration the recent
development in technology and its effect on our living.

Islamic shariah which is based on the decisions made by the Muslim Jurists about
few centuries ago need to be re-addressed. We need to keep the guiding principles of Quran
and Sunnah before us while making new laws as per need of today.

IQBAL wanted Muslim Ulemas to be very well educated because these Ulemas have
to provide moral training to masses. Muslim Ulemas should be well versed with Islamic
ideology. In addition Muslim Ulemas must have enough knowledge of literature and
community needs.
IQBAL’s vision of modern Islam

IQBAL studied Quran, as a philosopher and presented philosophy of Islam in his

poems. In his perception Islam is a complete code of life. It has its own moral values on
which its won culture is developed. In a true Islamic culture all human beings are equal and
enjoy equal rights and opportunities to grow as per their own abilities and capabilities. In his
opinion Islam is HUMANISTIC and this basic sprit of Islam should prevail is every Muslim
society. In order to keep the Islam as the only choice for man who wants to live like a human
being it is important for Muslim thinkers and jurists to change the medieval profile of Islam.
IQBAL rejects the hereditary caliphate, kingdom, Immamte or Sultanate from of states and
believed in people oriented form of government.

IQBAL’s Modern Islamic State: Main Features

1. Form of government should be socio-democratic but democracy should also be

controlled.
2. All citizens enjoys equal rights irrespective of their religion and faith.
3. For law making principal of “IJTIHAD” should be used as main source, specially for
Islamic legislation, to meet the need of changing world.
4. Religious establishment and state missionary should have separate area of activity.
5. The Criminal law of Islam, as formulated by various jurists about 500 years back,
should not be enforced peremptory.
6. Sate should be responsible for education, health, food, shelter and other basic
necessities of life.
7. In agriculture based economy state should impose tax on agriculture produces.
8. State should be responsible to provide all the basic necessities to industrial marker.
9. Free – market economy may be promoted by de-controlling prices for commodities
10. In order to consolidate national integration system of joint electorates may be
applied.
 Conclusion

IQBAL was the most dynamic scholar-philosopher of the twentieth century. He gave many
valuable ideas on how the Muslims can co-exist with the rest of humanity. His criticisms
were not only directed to the West but also to the Muslim Ummah. IQBAL vehemently
emphasized that Muslims should hold fast to teachings of the Qur’an in order to progress in
life. He made it clear to the Ummah that the message of the Qur’an is not only rituals but
scientific as well. In the effort to restore their lost dynamism Muslims should not only be
diligent in carrying out the rituals but should be equally good in utilizing science for the
betterment of the Ummah. According to him, the dynamism we see during modern times in
the West is the lost heritage of the Muslims of the past. As such, he urged Muslims to learn
all that are good in terms of knowledge, science and technology from the West and leave
out the ugly part of the Western civilization The only remedy available to the Muslims of
today is to adopt and follow the philosophy of IQBAL which has already been explained in
this paper. It is evident that the achievement of Pakistan is merely the realization of a
fraction of IQBAL’s dream and the revolution he dreamed of is yet to come.
References:

 The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam by Dr. Muhammad IQBAL.

 IQBAL: Poet Philosopher of Universal values by Anwar Dil.
 Islam, IQBAL and Philosophy by Prof. Khawja Ghulam Sadiq.
 IQBAL and the Emerging World by Anwar Dil.
 IQBAL’s Quest for Human Excellence by Anwar Dil.
 Zinda Rood by Javed IQBAL.
 Asrar–o-Ramooz by Allama IQBAL
 Kuliyat-e-IQBAL by Allama IQBAL.
 Bang-e-Dara (BD)
 Bal-e-Jibreel (BJ)
o (iii)Zarb-e-Kaleem (ZK)

 Internet references:
 IQBAL, Allama Muhammad., The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam. Edited
by M.S.Sheikh. (Lahore: IQBAL Academy Pakistan and Institute of Islamic Culture,
1986) p. 57.
 (ii). IQBAL, Allama Muhammad., ‘‘Note on Neitzsche’in Thoughts and Reflections of
IQBAL. Edited by S. A. Vahid (Lahore: Ashraf Printing Press,1922) p. 238.
 Reconstruction., Ibid., p. 122.
 Ibid., p. 84.
 Du Noüy, Le Compt., Human Destiny (1956) p. 369.
 (vi)Ibid., p. 109.
 MecIver, R. M., Society (London:Macmillan,(1953) p. 530.

 In Persian language:
 Asrar-i Khudi (1915) - The Secrets of the Self
 Rumuz-i Bekhudi (1918) - The Mysteries of Selflessness
 Payam-i Mashriq (1923) - Message from the East
 Zabur-i Ajam (1927) - Persian Psalms
 Javidnama (1932) - To his son
 Pas Chih Bayad Kard (1936) - What should then be done: O people of the East?
 Armaghan-i Hijaz (1938) - Gift from Hijaz