Sir Mohammed Iqbal, Ideologist/Poet/Philosopher/Spiritualist Options

[AzgarKhan]

Sir Mohammed Iqbal was one of the greatest poets of Indian History.
A great thinker who had significant role in freedom of India.
Personally he is one of my favorites.

Birth

Allama Iqbal was born in famous city of Sialkot in the Punjab province of Pakistan on November 9, 1877. His ancestors were Kashmiris. They had embraced Islam two hundred years earlier. Iqbal’s father was a devout Muslim with Sufistic bent of mind.

Primary Education

He received his early education in Sialkot. After passing the entrance examination, he joined Intermediary [Murray] College. Maulana Mir Hassan, a great oriental scholar, had a special aptitude for imparting his own literary taste and to his students. Under his influence, Iqbal was drawn towards Islamic studies, which he regarded to be an outstanding favor that he could not forget it all his life.

Higher Education

Passing on to the Government College of Lahore, Shaikh Noor Muhammad: Father of Allama Muhammad Iqbal (Passed away on August 17, 1930)Iqbal did his graduation with English Literature, Philosophy and Arabic as his subjects. At the college he met Prof. Arnold and Sir Abdul Qadir. Iqbal’s poem, Chand (moon) and other early poems appeared in the journal (which belonged to Sir Abdul Qadir) in 1901 and were acclaimed by critics as cutting a new path in Urdu poetry.

It did not take him long to win recognition as a rising star on the firmament of Urdu literature. In the mean time he had done his MA in Philosophy and was appointed as a Lecturer in History, Philosophy and Political science at Oriental College, Lahore. He then moved to Government College to teach Philosophy and English Literature. Wherever Iqbal worked or thought his versatility and scholarship made a deep impression on those around him.

In Europe

Iqbal proceeded to Europe for higher studies in 1905Imam Bibi: Mother of Allama Muhammad Iqbal (Passed away on November 9, 1914) and stayed there for three years. He took the Honors Degree in Philosophy and taught Arabic at the Cambridge University in the absence of Prof. Arnold. From England, he went to Germany to do his doctorate in Philosophy from Munich and then returned to London to qualify for the bar. He also served as a teacher in the London school of Commerce and passed the Honors Examination in Economics and Political Science. During his stay in Europe Iqbal not only read voraciously but also wrote and lectured on Islamic subjects which added to his popularity and fame in literary circles.

Back in India

Iqbal returned to India in 1908. The poet had won allShamsul Ulema Moulvi Syed Mir Hassan: Allama's Teacher & Guide (Passed away in September 1929) these academic laurels by the time he was 32 or 33. He practiced as a lawyer from 1908 to 1934, when ill health compelled him to give up his practice. In fact, his heart was not in it and he devoted more time to philosophy and literature than to legal profession.

He attended the meetings of Anjuman Himayat-I-Islam regularly at Lahore. The epoch making poems, Shikwa and Jawab-e-Shikwa, which he read out in the annual convention of it one year after another, sparkled with the glow of his genius and made him immensely popular. They became the national songs of Millet.

Iqbal’s other poems Tarana-e-Hind (The Indian anthem) and Tarana-e-Milli (the Muslim Anthem) also became very popular among masses and used to be sung as symbols of National or Muslim identity at public meetings.

The spirit of Change

The Balkan wars and the Battle of Tripoli, in 1910, shook Allama Muhammad Iqbal (1899) A snap after his MastersIqbal powerfully and inflicted a deep wound upon his heart. In his mood of anger and frustration, he wrote a number of stirring poems, which together with portraying the anguish of Muslims were severely critical of the West.

The spirit of change is evident in poems like Bilad-e-Islamia (the lands of Islam), Wataniat (Nationalism), Muslim, Fatima Bint Abdullah (who was killed in the siege of Cyrainca, Siddiq, Bilal, Tahzib-e-Hazir (Modern civilization) and Huzoor-e-Risalat Maab Mein (in the presence of Sacred Prophet).

In these poems, Iqbal deplores the attitude of Muslim leaders who lay a claim to Islamic leadership and yet are devoid of a genuine spiritual attachment to the blessed Prophet.

The turning point in Iqbal’s Life

Iqbal was shaken by the tragic eventsPortrait of the Poet as a Barrister-at-Law of World War-I and the disaster the Muslims had to face. The genius had passed through the formative period. He had attained maturity as a poet, thinker, seer and crusader who could read the signs of tomorrow in the happenings of today, make predictions, present hard facts and unravel abstruse truths through the medium of poetry and ignite the flame of faith, Selfhood and courage by his own intensity of feeling and force of expression. Khizr-e-Raah (The Guide) occupies the place of pride among the poems he wrote during this period. Bang-e-Dara (The caravan bell) published in 1929 has held a place of honor in Urdu poetry and world poetry.

Iqbal preferred Persian for poetic expression because its circle was wider than that of Urdu in Muslim India. His Persian works, Asrar-e-khudi (Secrets of the self), Rumuz-e-Bekhudi (Mysteries of Selflessness), Payam-e-Mashriq (Message of the East), Javed Nama (The Song of Eternity) belong to the same period of his life. And so is Reconstruction of Religious Thoughts in Islam, which was extensively appreciated and translated into many Allama Muhammad Iqbal - 1908 (In London)languages. Academies were set up in Italy and Germany for the study of Iqbal’s poetry and philosophy.

Politics

In 1927 the poet was elected to the Punjab Legislative assembly. In 1930, he was elected to preside over at the annual session of Muslim League. In his presidential address at Allahabad, Iqbal for the first time introduced the idea of Pakistan. In 1930-31, he attended the Round Table conference, which met in London to frame a constitution for India.

In Spain

While in England, Iqbal accepted the hospitality of Spain. He also went to Cordoba and had the distinction of being the first Muslim to offer prayers at its historical mosque after the exile of Moors. Memories of the past glory of Arabs and their 800-year rule over Spain were revived in his mind and his emotions were aroused by what he saw.

Meeting with Mussolini

In Italy Iqbal was received by Mussolini who had read sAllama (1929) The poet with his son, Javed Iqbal ome of his works and was aquatinted with his philosophy. They had long meetings and talked freely to each other.

The Universities of Cambridge, Rome and Madrid and the Roman Royal society organized meetings in his honor. On his way back he also went to Jerusalem to attend the International Conference of Motamar-i-Isalami.

In Afghanistan

At the invitation of King Nadir Shah, Iqbal visited Afghanistan in 1932. The king received the poet with great honor and met hi privately, as well during which he laid bare his heart. The two talked and wept.

Iqbal’s Death

The last phase of Iqbal’s life was embittered with constant illness. But as regards his creative activities this product was most productive. He kept in touch with every question of the day and continued composing beautiful verses.

A few minutes before his death he recited these touching lines:

The departed melody may return or not!
The zephyr from Hijaz may blow again or not!
The days of this Faqir has come to an end,
Another seer may come or not!

Although Iqbal’s was long and protracted the endAllama Muhammad Iqbal - 1931 (In London) was sudden and very peaceful. He breathed his last in the early hours of April 21, 1938, in the arms of his old and devoted servant, leaving behind a host of mourners all over the Islamic world.

There was a faint smile playing on his lips, which irresistibly reminded one of the last criterions, which he laid down for a truthful Muslim.

I tell you the sign of a Mumin-When death comes there is smile on his lips.

[AzgarKhan]

S H I K W A

Iqbal was shaken by the tragic events of World War-I and the disaster the Muslims had to face. He penned 'Shikwa', a complaint to god. A master piece in which he expresses his displeasure.

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Kyon Ziaan kaar banun, sood framosh rahoon?
Fikr-e-farda na karum, mahw-e-ghum-e-dosh rahoon,

Naale bulbul ke sunoon, aurhama tan gosh rahoon,
Hamnawa main bhi koi gul hoon ke khamosh rahoon?

Jurrat aamoz miri taab-e-sakhun hai mujhko,
Shikwa Allah se khakam badahan hai mujhko.

Hai bajaa shewa-e-taslim mein mashhoor hain hum
Qissa-e-dard sunate hain ke majboor hain hum

Saazein khamosh hain, faryad se maamoor hain hum
Naala aata hai agar lab pe to, maazoor hain hum

Ai Khuda shikwa-e-arbab-e-wafa bhi sun le,
Khu gar-e-hamd se thora sa gila bhi sun le.

Thi tau maujood azal se hi teri zaat-e-qadeem,
Phool tha zeb-e-chaman, par na pareshan thi shameem

Shart-e-insaaf hai, aye sahib-e-altaf-e-ameem,
Boo-e-gul phailti kis tarha jo hoti na naseem?

Hum ko Jamiat-e-khatir ye pareshaani thi
Warna Ummat tere mehboob ki deewani thi

Hum se pehle tha ajab tere jahan ka manzar,
Kahin masjood thay patthar, kahin mabood shajar

Khugar-e-paikar-e-mahsoos thi insaan ki nazar,
Maanta phir koi un-dekhe Khuda ko kyonkar?

Tujhko maalum hai leta tha koi naam tera?
Quwwat-e-baazu-e-Muslim ne kiya Kaam tera!

Bas rahe the yahin salijuq bhi, toorani bhi,
Ahl-e-chin cheen mein, Iran mein sasaani bhi,

Isi maamoore mein aabad the Yunaani bhi,
Isi duniya mein Yahudi bhi the, Nusraani bhi,

Par tere naam pe talwar uthai kis ne,
Baat jo bigri huri thi who banaai kis ne?

The hameen ek tere maarka aaraaon mein!
Khushkion mein kabhi larte, kabhi dariyaon mein,

Di aazaanein kabhi Europe ke kaleesaaon mein,
Kabhi Africa ke tapte hue sehraaon mein.

Shaan aankhon mein na jachti thi jahaan-daaron ki
Kalema padte thay hum chaon mein talwaaron ki

Hum jo jeete thay toh jungon ki museebat ke liye
Aur marte thay tere naam ki azmat ke liye

Thi na kuchh tegh-zani apni hukumat ke liye,
Sar ba-kaf phirte the kya dahar mein daulat ke liye?

Qaum apni jo zar-o-maal-e-jahan par marti
Buth-faroshi ke iwaz buth-shikni kyon karti?

Tall na sakte thay, agar jung mein add jaate thay
Paon sheron ke bhi maidaan se ukhad jaate thay

Tujhse sarkash hua koi, toh bigad jaate thay
Tegh kya cheez hai, hum tope se ladd jaate thay

Naqsh tauheed ka har dil pe bithaya hum ne,
Zer-e-khanjar bhi ye paigham sunaya hum ne.

Tu hi kah de ke ukhara dar-e-Khyber kis ne,
Shaher qaiser ka jo tha us ko kiya sarr kis ne?

Tore makhluq khudawandon ke paikar kis ne?
Kaat kar rakh diye kuffar ke lashkar kis ne?

Kisne thanda kiya aatish-kada-e-iran ko
Kisne phir zinda kiya tazkara-e-yazdaan ko

Kounsi qaum faqat teri talabgaar huwi
Aur tere liye zehmat kash-e-paikaar huwi

Kiski shamsheer Jahangir jahandaar huwi
Kiski takdeer se duniya teri bedaar huwi

Kiski haibat se sanam sehme huwe rehte thay
Moo ke ball girr ke hu-Allah-hu-Ahad kehte thay

Aa gaya ain ladaai mein agar waqt-e-namaz,
Qibla roo ho ke zameen-bose hui qaum-e-Hijaaz,

Ek hi saff mein khade ho gaye mahmood-o-Ayaz,
No koi banda raha aur no koi banda nawaaz.

Banda-o-sahib-o-mohtaaj-o-ghani ek hue,
Teri sarkar mein pahunche to sabhi ek hue.

Mehfil-e-kaun-o-makaan mein sehar-o-shaam phire,
Mai-e-tauheed ko lekar sifat-e-jam phire.

Koh mein, dasht mein lekar tera paighaam phire
Aur maloom hai tujhko kabhi nakaam phire?

Dasht tau dasht hain, darya bhi na chhore hum ne,
Behr-e-zulmaat mein daura diye ghore hum ne.

Safah-e-dahar se baatil ko mitaya hum ne,
Nau-e-insaan ko ghulami se chhuraya hum ne,

Tere kaabe ko jabeenon se basaya hum ne,
Tere Quraan ko seenon se lagaya hum ne.

Phir bhi hum se yeh gila hai, ke wafadar nahin,
Hum wafadar nahin, tu bhi to dildar nahin!

Ummatein aur bhi hain, un mein gunahgaar bhi hain
Ijz waale bhi hain mast-e-mai pindaar bhi hain

In mein kaahil bhi hain, ghaafil bhi hain, hoshiyaar bhi hain
Sainkdon hain ke tere naam se bezaar bhi hain

Rahmaten hain teri aghiyaar ke kashaanon par,
Barq girti hai to bechare Musalmaanon par

Buth sanam khaanon mein kehte hain, musalmaan gaye
Hai khushi unko ke kaabe ke nigehbaan gaye

Manzil-e-dehr se Oonton ke hudi khwaan gaye
Apni baghlon mein dabaye huwe Quran gaye

Khanda zann kufr hai, ehsaas tujhe hai ke nahi
Apni tauheed ka kuch paas tujhe hai ke nahi

Yeh shikayat nahi, hain un ke khazane maamoor,
Nehin mehfil mein jinhe baat bhi karne ka shaoor,

Qahar to yeh hai ke kaafir ko mile hoor-o-qasoor,
Aur bechaare Musalmaan ko faqt waada-e-hoor?

Ab wo altaaf nahi, hum pe inayaat nahi
Baat ye kya hai ke pehli si mudaraat nahi

Kyun musalmaanon mein hai daulat-e-duniya nayaab
Teri qudrat to hai wo jiski na hadd hai na hisaab

Tu jo chaahe to uthay seena-e-sehra se hubaab
Rahraw-e-dasht ho saili zada-e-mauj-e-saraab

Taan-e-aghiyaar hai, ruswai hai, nadaari hai,
Kya tere nam pe marne ka iwaz khwari hai?

Bani aghyaar ki ab chahne waali duniya
Reh gayi apne liye ek khayali duniya

Hum to rukhsat huwe auron ne sambhaali duniya
Phir na kehna huwi tauheed se khaali duniya

Hum to jeete hain ke duniya mein tera naam rahe,
Kahin mumkin hai saqi na rahe, jaam rahe?

Teri mehfil bhi gayi, chahne walw bhi gaye,
Shab ki aahein bhi gayi, subha ke nale bhi gaye,

Dil tujhe de bhi gaye, apna sila le bhi gaye,
Aa ke baithe bhi na the, aur nikaale bhi gaye.

Aaye ushaaq, gaye wada-e-farda lekar,
Ab unhe dhoond chirag-e-rukh-e-zeba lekar!

Dard-e-Laila bhi wohi, Qais ka pahlu bhi wohi,
Najd ke dasht-o-jabal mein ram-e-aahoo bhi wohi,

Ishq ka dil bhi wohi, husn ka jaadoo bhi wohi,
Ummat-e-Ahmed-e-Mursil bhi wohi, tu bhi wohi,

Phir ye aazurdagi-e-ghair-sabab kya maani,
Apne shaidaaon pe ye chashm-e-ghazab kya maani?

Tujhko chora ke rasool-e-arabi ko chora
Buth gari pesha kiya, buth shikani ko chora

Ishq ko ishq ki aashufta-sari ko chora
Rasm-e-salman-o-owais-e-qarani ko chora

Aag takbeer ki seenon mein dabi rakhte hain
Zindagi misl-e-bilal-e-habshi rakhte hain

Ishq ki khair, who pehli si ada bhi na sahi,
Jaada paimayi-e-taslim-o-raza bhi na sahi,

Mujhtarib dil sifat-e-qibla numa bhi na sahi
Aur pabandi-e-Aaeen-e-wafa bhi na sahi

Kabhi hum se, kabhi ghairon se shanasaai hai,
Baat kehne ki nahin, tu bhi to harjaai hai.

Sarr-e-faraan se kiya deen ko kaamil toone
Ek ishaare mein hazaron ke liye dil toone

Aatish andoz kiya ishq ka haasil toone
Phoonk di garmi-e-rukhsaar se mehfil toone

Aaj kyun seene hamare sharrar-abaad nahi?
Hum wohi sokhta samaan hain, tujhe yaad nahi?

Waadi-e-najd mein wo shor-e-salasil na raha
Qais deewana-e-nazzara-e-mehmil na raha

Hosle wo na rahe, hum na rahe, dil na raha
Ghar ye ujda hai ke tu raunaq-e-mehfil na raha

Aye khushaan rooh ke aayi-o-basadnaaz aayi
Be hijaabana soowe-mehfil-e-mabaaz aayi

Baadakash ghair hain gulshan mein lab-e-ju baithe
Sunte hain jaam bakaf naghma-e-kuukuu baithe

Door hungama-e-gulzaar se yaksuu baithe
Tere deewane bhi hain muntazir-e-hu baithe

Apne parwanon ko phir zauq-e-khud-afrozi de
Barq-e-deri ko farmaan-e-jigar sozi de

Qaum-e-awara ina-Taab hai phir soo-e-hijaaz
Le udaa bulbul-e-beparr ko mazaaq-e-parwaaz

Muztarib baagh ke har gunche mein hai boo-e-niyaaz
Tu zara chaaird to de, tashna-e-mizrab se saaz

Naghme betaab hain taaron se nikalne ke liye
Toor muztar hai, usi aag mein jalne ke liye

Mushkilen ummat-e-marhoom ki asaan kar de
Moore-be-maya ko humdosh-e-sulemaan kar de

Jinse nayaab-e-mohabbat ko phir arzaan kar de
Hind ke dair-e-nasheenon ko musalmaan kar de

Ju-e-khoon mi chakadaz hasrat-e-de-reena-e-Ma
Mee tapad naala banisht tar kada-e-seena-e-ma

Bu-e-gul le gayi bairoon-e-chaman, raaz-e-chaman
Kya qayamat hai ke khud phool hain ghammaz-e-chaman

Ahd-e-gul khatm hua, toot gaya saaz-e-chaman
Udd gaye daaliyon se zamzama pardaaz-e-chaman

Ek bulbul hai ke hai mehw-e-tarannum ab tak
Is ke seene mein hai naghmon ka talatum ab tak

Qumriyaan shaakh-e-sanoobar se gurezaan bhi huwin
Pattiyan phool ki jhad jhad ke parishaan bhi huwin

Wo purani rawishein bagh ki veeran bhi huwin
Daaliyan pairahun-e-bargh se uryaan bhi huwin

Qaid-e-mausam se tabiyat rahi azaad us ki
Kaash gulshan mein samajhta koi faryaad us ki

Lutf marne mein hai baaqi, na mazaa jeene mein
Kuch mazaa hai toh yehi khoon-e-jigar peene mein

Kitne betaab hain johar mere aaine mein
Kis qadar jalwe tadapte hain mere seene mein

Is gulistaan mein magar dekhne waale hi nahi
Daagh jo seene mein rakhte hon wo naale bhi nahi

Chaal is bulbul-e-tanha ki nawase dil hon
Jaagne waale isi baang-e-dara se dil hon

Yaani phir zinda naye ahd-e-wafa se dil hon
Phir usi baada-e-de-reena ke pyaase dil hon

Ajami khum hai toh kya, maiy toh hijazi hai meri
Naghma hindi hai toh kya, laiy toh hijaazi hai meri

This post has been edited by AzgarKhan: Apr 4 2008, 12:09 PM