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    Iqbal's Revolutionary Message

    Revolutionary Message by Allama Iqbal

    Written by: Haniya Yameen
    Posted on: November 08, 2015 | | 中文

    Allama Mohammad Iqbal

    At the cusp of the 20th century, a phenomenal poet, philosopher, academician, political figure, and a visionary man was born who was to imprint history with his relevant and revolutionary thought in the subcontinent and beyond. This man was Allama Mohammad Iqbal. Born on Nov 9, 1877 to devoutly spiritual parents of humble origins where his father worked as a tailor and his mother a homemaker, Iqbal showed an intellectual and spiritual strength which is not afforded to the most affluent and well-educated youths of today.

    Perhaps it is not possible to state definitively how Iqbal became the person he was, but we can surely see traces of depth and intuitiveness in his personality which were shaped and nurtured by those around him. Although Iqbal’s parents never received formal education, they created an environment which pushed the young Iqbal to be thoughtful and reflective from an early age. His father once advised him to read the Qur’an as though it was being revealed to him directly from God, which shows the unique thinking attitude that Iqbal began to cultivate from a young age.

    Celebrating Iqbal’s Birth - 9 November, 1877

    His intellectual spark was recognized by Sayyid Mir Hassan, a renowned scholar of religion and literature at a local madrassah, who encouraged Iqbal to join Sialkot’s Scotch Mission College. After obtaining the Faculty of Arts diploma in 1895 in Sialkot, he moved to Lahore to join the Government College, where he obtained a BA in 1897 studying English, Philosophy and Arabic, followed by an MA in Philosophy in 1899. At the Government College, Iqbal’s intellectual acumen was recognized by Professor Thomas Arnold who convinced him to pursue his higher studies abroad, after which Iqbal followed him to Trinity College of Cambridge. Within a course of three years, Iqbal obtained three professional degrees – BA from Cambridge in June 1907, PhD from Munich University in November 1907, and a law degree from Lincoln’s Inn in July 1908 – a testament to his extraordinary intellectual abilities.

    Iqbal’s studies in the West gave him a unique edge over other thinkers, for he was able to observe first-hand the scientific development of the West, get exposed to Western thought and reflect on the state of affairs of his community. Through a careful study of intellectual and literary giants such as Rumi, Goethe and Nietzsche, Iqbal was able to bring together and draw from both Eastern wisdom and Western knowledge, a synthesis that was unheard of at the time. Many of these characters appear in thought or as symbolic persons in Iqbal’s work; an example is the Jawid Namah, in which Rumi becomes Iqbal’s guide, leading him to higher levels of spiritual illumination.

    Celebrating Iqbal’s Birth - 9 November, 1877

    Iqbal (center) with Chaudhry Rehmat Ali (left), Khawaja Abdul Rahim (right), and a group of activisits in England, 1932

    Iqbal was well-versed in several languages including Arabic, Persian, German, Punjabi, Urdu and English, and his corpus reflects this diversity. Bang-i Dara (Sound of the Caravan Bell), Zarb-i Kalim (The Stroke of Moses), Armaghan-i Hijaz (The Gift of the Hijaz) and Bal-i Jibril (Gabriel’s Wing) are poetic works in Urdu, whereas some Persian works are Asrar-i Khudi (Secrets of the Self), Rumuz-i Bekhudi (Secrets of Selflessness), Jawid-Namah (The Poem of Eternity), among others. Among his major prose works in English is the Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam, which is a compilation of lectures delivered in several Indian cities in 1929.

    Rahat's rendition of Kalam-e-Iqbal

    Although Iqbal started poetry with the usual themes of love, longing and separation, he soon matured as a philosopher and started using poetry as a vehicle for his lofty ideas. This was perhaps his greatest gift. It was through the genre of poetry that his words were able to have a deep impact on the listeners, through which he evoked Muslim nationalism and ultimately brought about a political revolution.

    Of the many themes that Iqbal would convey through his poetic and philosophical works, khudi or self-consciousness became an oft-repeated, recognizable Iqbalian theme. Khudi can be described as the ultimate self-realization of man, achieved through positive action in the world. In Iqbal’s conception, man has the unique ability to affect change in the world through his actions, and it is this emphasis on actions that reverberates throughout his poetry:

    Celebrating Iqbal’s Birth - 9 November, 1877

    It is only through effort that one transforms this world into paradise or hell

    This being in its nature is neither of light nor of fire

     

    Iqbal’s poetry can be called poetry of conviction, courage and self-reliance. All possibilities that one seeks without should be sought within:

    Celebrating Iqbal’s Birth - 9 November, 1877

    Does your heart tremble from the fear of the impending storm?

    Know that you are the sailor, you are the ocean, you are the boat, and the sea-shore.

     

    It is this notion of confidence in one’s ability that is most relevant for today’s youth. Iqbal uses the metaphor of shaheen (eagle/falcon) for the youth. The shaheen is famous for many characteristics—its soaring flight into wide horizons which is incomparable to other birds, the sharpness of vision with which it locks its prey, its trait of hunting afresh and never eating dead prey—all of which Iqbal wants the youth to imbibe. They should chart their own distinctive course, have an eagle’s shine in their eyes to perceive things incisively, and demonstrate moral courage, self-reliance and distinctiveness. As Iqbal says:

    Celebrating Iqbal’s Birth - 9 November, 1877

     

    Both have their flight in the same horizon

    The vulture has its own world; the shaheen, its own

     

    Iqbal’s writings display a deep religious underpinning. He was convinced that Islam, through both its external and internal expression, provides man with the opportunity to grow as a fuller personality who is physically, mentally, and spiritually awakened. It is this internal transformation that prepares him to affect change in the external world. It is new thoughts and ideas that give rise to a new world:

    Celebrating Iqbal’s Birth - 9 November, 1877

    A new world is created by new ideas

    It is not created by mortars and bricks

     

    Who conquers the world is he

    Who creates, from every breath, an eternal life

     

    Iqbal passed on to the other world on April 21, 1938, leaving us sadder, richer, and greater. He is the “Poet of the East”; the “Poet of Hope”, who was able to present the philosophical foundations of Islam to the Muslim world and beyond. He has left us with the legacy of marching forward and discovering new horizons through conviction and sharpened consciousness. His spiritual message ignites a divine spark in one’s mind and body and activates the searching soul to a superior perception of life.

    May God bless his soul. Amen.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021