Muhammad Iqbal (9 November 1877 – 21 April
1938) was a famous South Asian poet, philosopher, and politician. He was
honored with the title Allama that’s why he is known as Allama Iqbal.
Allama Iqbal is known as one of the
greatest legendary poets in the sub-continent and is equally popular among the
people of Pakistan as well as India. The national anthem of India “Sare Jahan Se
Acha” was also written by Allama Iqbal in 1904 and was then considered an
anthem of opposition against the British Raj.
R E A D M O R E
He wrote his poetry in different
languages including Persian, Urdu, English, and Punjabi. It is pertinent to
mention here that his poetic work was mostly written in Persian rather than
Urdu. More than fifty percent of his work was written in the Persian language.
Personal Life and Education
Allama Iqbal was born on 9 November 1877
in Sialkot. He completed his matriculation in 1893 and intermediate in Arts in
1895. In 1897, he got his degree of Bachelor of Arts in philosophy, English
Literature, and Arabic. He also won the Bahadurddin F.S. Jalaluddin medal for
his performance in academic Arabic. And finally, in 1899, obtained his Master of
Arts degree and got the first position in philosophy at the University of Punjab.
Then later on Iqbal also got his Bachelor
of Arts in 1906 from Trinity College, the University of Cambridge after being
qualified for the scholarship. In 1907, he went to Germany to complete his
Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Ludwig Maximillian University of Munich and
completed in 1908.
Ideological Founder of Pakistan
Allama Iqbal is regarded as the ideological
founder of Pakistan. He is considered to have given that vision for the creation
of a separate country, while, Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, actually
implemented his vision.
Iqbal believed that only Jinnah is capable
of leading Muslims to a separate nation. Iqbal continuously motivated,
encouraged, and inspired the Muslim League leaders and masses to continue their
support of Jinnah.
Iqbal once said speaking about the political
future of Muslims of India, “There is
only one way out. Muslims should strengthen Jinnah's hands. They should join
the Muslim League”
Poet of the East
Today, Allama Muhammad Iqbal is also
called the Poet of the East.
He is known as a prominent figure who
inspired the Muslims of the sub-continent through his revolutionary poetic work
for an independent state. He made them realize that now it has been a long time
since the people of the sub-continent were suppressed by the power of the West.
The Government of Pakistan has
officially named him the ‘National Poet of Pakistan’. He was also given the titles
of Muffakir-e-Pakistan (The thinker of Pakistan) and Hakeem-ul-Ummat (The sage
of the Ummah).
Last Years of Iqbal’s Life
Iqbal suffered from throat illness for the
last five years of his life.
Allama Muhammad Iqbal died in Lahore on
21 April 1938. The tomb of Allama Iqbal is located between the entrance of
Badshahi Masjid and Lahore Qila.