IQBAL—POET-PHILOSOPHER

There are human beings who are born so that they may die just that. They do not live. They only exist. And then are simply extinct. Their birth is of no sequence. Their death also is without consequence. They, during their existence make no mark. They are not felt. And when they depart they do not leave behind “foot-prints on the sands of Time.”Allama Iqbal stood apart.

He had to teach and guide the Muslims of the Sub-continent and through them had to transmit his hortatory tidings to the Muslim Ummah, which for him, was neither a racial nor a territorial and linguistic entity. Muslim Ummah stood for spiritual brotherhood of mankind.

Thus Allama Iqbal’s message was, like. Islam, extra-territorial and non-racial. Only a genius, well-versed in poetic art, could make theological, philosophic, social, economic, political, ethical and instructional contents sing like love-lyrics.His lyrics worked as swords. His verses were a clarion call against slavery, blind following, langonr, aimlessness both in thought as well as in action. He waged war on despondency, defeatism and faithlessness. His was a voice of Hope. He conquered and is still conquering. He was a hero among poets.

Allama Iqbal’s circle of popularity is widening day by day, especially among the people who have to fight against slavery, despotism, despondency, demagogy, injustice, high-handedness and lethargy. His is a stirring message. Sincere recipient of that message cannot but be the master of his fate and the captain of his soul.

There was thus a harsh conflict between what he believed and what prevailed around. Allama Iqbal held Islamic moral values very dear whereas Western lax modes of culture had taken them by storm Contribution of Muslim communities to the evolution of scientific research and enquiry had been laudable over the centuries whereas Allama Iqbal saw his con-temporary Muslim societies given to all sorts of languor.

They had become oblivious of the fact that theirs was a glorious past and what their forebears did, could be done by themselves as well—and certainly more than that. But the Muslims, as it looked, had struck a compromise with their existing ignoble circumstances.

 

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