Allama Iqbal
Allama Muhammad Iqbal, commonly known as "Allama Iqbal," was a prominent Muslim poet, philosopher, and politician of the twentieth century from the Indian subcontinent (now Pakistan). He is considered a key leader of the Pakistan Movement and is referred to as the "Spiritual Father of Pakistan."
Early Life and Education:
Allama Iqbal was born on November 9, 1877, in Sialkot, Punjab (British India, now Pakistan).
His father, Sheikh Noor Muhammad, was a tailor and a very pious and Sufi-minded person.
His mother, Imam Bibi, was renowned for her wisdom and generosity.
Iqbal received his early education in Sialkot and then went to Government College Lahore for higher education, where he studied philosophy, English literature, and Arabic.
He pursued further studies in Europe, earning a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Munich, Germany, and studying law (Bar-at-Law) at Lincoln's Inn, London.
Professional Life and Services:
Upon returning, he served as a professor of philosophy and English literature at Government College and Oriental College in Lahore.
Later, he practiced law in Lahore.
He was also active in politics, raising his voice for the rights and political autonomy of Muslims in the subcontinent.
His poetry and philosophical ideas inspired the Pakistan Movement.
He authored many important books in Urdu and Persian, including the famous works "Asrar-e-Khudi" and "Bang-e-Dra."
His poetry emphasized selfhood, spiritual development, and social reform among Muslims.
He participated in the Khilafat Movement and was a key leader of the All India Muslim League.
Allama Iqbal holds a very high status in Urdu and Persian literature.
Legacy:
Iqbal envisioned a separate state for Muslims of the subcontinent and articulated this vision through his writings and speeches, which ultimately contributed to the creation of Pakistan.
He is remembered as the national poet and considered a prominent thinker in the Muslim world.
His works continue to be read and appreciated for their intellectual depth and poetic beauty.
Every year on November 9, "Iqbal Day" is observed in Pakistan to commemorate his birth.
These are the mosques, shrines, and the compulsion of fate
The result of his efforts and toil is the darkness in our hearts
Create faith, O naive one, faith gives a helping hand
That ascetic in front of whom even the powerful bow
Sometimes wonder, sometimes ecstasy, sometimes the sigh of dawn
Thousands of colors change, my pain of separation
The matters of love and ecstasy are beyond comprehension
It became clear that the death of the heart is separation
They are compelled by the intoxication of their beauty
In the vision of my eyes lie the reasons for concealment
No one can understand the logic of destiny otherwise
They were no less than the Turks of the Ottoman or Timurid lineage
Iqbal came into the hands of the humble of the shrine, how could it be otherwise
Neither the kings nor the rulers had access to the Falcon of Kafuri