ON April 21, every year we mourn the death of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the poet-philosopher or philosopher-poet, howsoever you put it.
It’s been 80 years since his death, but Iqbal’s poetry remains as popular as ever. His lectures on Islamic philosophy, which have been published, titled The reconstruction of religious thought in Islam, still remain relevant and much — both against and for — has been written on them. Each of his books has been published umpteenth times and his books still sell well. Also, scholars and critics are never tired of writing on Iqbal and his philosophy. Why?
Aside from Iqbal’s status as a proponent of the idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent and apart from his status as the national poet of Pakistan, two factors must have contributed to Iqbal’s everlasting popularity. First, his acumen as a poet is beyond comparison and when it comes to poetic talent Iqbal is undoubtedly among a few select ones in the entire history of Urdu poetry. Secondly, his philosophy is still relevant and one can find quite a few arguments in Iqbal’s works that make sense in the contemporary political and social environment.
Iqbal’s message has become even more relevant today in the wake of political and social changes that have been taking place in the last few decades. Prof Fateh Muhammad Malik, the renowned scholar, former rector of International Islamic University and former chairman of National Language Authority, is one of the scholars who study the literary works against the backdrop of political and social changes that take place before our eyes. An author of a large number of books on Iqbal, South Asia and Urdu literature, Malik has come up with yet another book. Titled Iqbal: social and political ideal and subtitled notes and reflections, the book analyses Iqbal’s thought with reference to the changing world order and the new world view that has emerged during last two decades or so.
He says in the preface to the book that he has always believed in the relevance of Iqbal’s philosophy when it comes to dealing with the contemporary challenges that Pakistan and the Islamic world face. He says that “as many Muslim societies grapple with the scourge of terrorism and loss of national sovereignty, Iqbal’s soulful poetry and prose remain as pertinent as ever. It is no wonder, then, that Iqbal is being rediscovered afresh from North Africa to Central Asia”.
Lahore’s Sang-i-Meel Publications has published the book that contains 13 articles. Prof Malik has discussed various aspects of Iqbal’s thought vis-a-vis political and social phenomenon. For instance, some of the topics covered in the book are: Iqbal’s concept of nationalism, Buddha in Iqbal’s poetry, Islam and the west, Muslim reawakening, Naqshbandiya order of Sufis and the idea of Pakistan, Kashmir freedom movement and Iqbal.
Some of the papers included in the book are the ones that Prof Malik presented at some conferences at different European cities during his two tenures at Heidelberg University. Some have been included in the anthologies published in Pakistan and abroad. Keeping in line with his usual unpretentious and down-to-earth style, Malik has termed some of the pieces included in the book as “notes and reflections” with the hope that they would stimulate future work. They will indeed stimulate the future research, but most of the pieces are well-developed and thought-provoking essays inviting the readers to reflect on what Iqbal said and why. Others too crystallise some ideas that can be helpful for the young scholars and students of South Asian history, Islam and cultural studies.
One has to listen to Prof Fateh Muhammad Malik when he talks about Iqbal and Iqbal’s philosophy because he not only is held in high esteem as a critic and researcher but has also taught at some Pakistani universities as well as Germany’s Heidelberg University. South Asian history, creation of Pakistan, and Iqbal’s philosophy are some of the subjects that Prof Malik has been pursuing for over five decades. During his two stints at Heidelberg University’s South Asia Institute, Malik Sahib played a vital role in highlighting Iqbal’s philosophy and creating a genuine interest in Iqbal, Pakistan and Jinnah among the teachers and students of the departments of history, philosophy and Islamic studies. It is quite heartening to note that he is still active intellectually and is still enlightening the young and veteran scholars alike.
Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2018
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