DHAKA, Nov 10: Allama Mohammed Iqbal’s literary works and philosophic idea inspire the Muslims and the oppressed humanity to achieve their goal.

Speakers, at a seminar held on Saturday at the VIP Lounge of National Press Club of Dhaka, praised Dr Mohammed Iqbal’s literary and philosophic contributions and termed him not only a poet of Pakistan but the Muslims around the world.

To mark his 125th birth anniversary the ‘Allama Iqbal Society’ sponsored the seminar, which was presided over by the AIS president, Advocate Mujibur Rahman.

The main topic of the seminar was ‘Iqbal and the Impact of his Philosophy on the World’ and the key-note paper was presented by K. M. Saiful Islam Khan of Dhaka University (DU).

He presented a vivid description of Iqbal’s literary works and philosophic contributions and their impact on the contemporary world.

Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, minister for science and information and communications, attended the seminar as the chief guest, whereas Pakistan High Commissioner Iqbal Ahmad Khan was the special guest.

The seminar was addressed among others by Prof Mohammed Ibrahim of the DU and principal Mohammed Serajul Islam, Additional Secretary of ‘Shariah Council Islamic Bank, Mir Quasem Ali.

In his speech Dr Moyeen Khan said: “Iqbal advocated not only for Islam, but also for pan-Islamism.”

He said: “Iqbal does not belong to Pakistan only, but to all the Muslims around the world. He exists everywhere in the subcontinent and beyond.”

The Pakistani high commissioner terming Allama Iqbal as prolific writer, an inspiring poet and a great philosopher said: “Iqbal awakened Muslims through his powerful prose and poetry, who was a firm believer of Islam and urged his fellow Muslims to follow its teachings.”

Mr Khan said that Mr Iqbal through his prose and poetry not only reflected the aspiration of the Muslims of the South Asia, but also of those living under colonial subjugation in various parts of the world.

“In fact, the canvas of Mr Iqbal’s writings encompassed the whole humanity,” he asserted.

He informed the audience how much Allama Iqbal was respected and researched in the outside world, particularly in the western world.

“Allama Iqbal’s message of love and understanding, cooperation and dialogue assumes a tremendous significance in the contemporary world,” the Pakistani envoy said.

Referring to the awful world situation, the Pakistani diplomat remarked: “The tensions generated by the sight of the Twin Towers collapsing in a cloud of dust and smoke, by the death and devastation in Afghanistan, the unending repression of Palestinians and Kashmiris, the Bali bombings and the fatalities in the Moscow theatre episode, have had a traumatic impact on humanity.”

HE SAID: “The Ummah was equally appalled and horrified by the terror and violence. Its (Ummah) unambiguous stance condemning the killings of defenceless people grew from the principles and values of Islam, which call for tolerance, justice, equality and cooperation among the people and forbids the taking of human life unjustly.”

Mr Khan said: “Islam denounced terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, irrespective of the motives, perpetrators or the victims.”

“In order to have a sustainable solution to the hideous and dangerous phenomenon of terrorism, one must ensure that the roots of the cries are addressed,” the high commissioner suggested.

He urged that care should be taken not to associate terrorism with any religion, nationality or religion.

The envoy said: “The racial profiling, surveillance and arbitrary arrests of Muslims in certain western counties is unfortunate.”

Appreciating Iqbal’s poetic and philosophic concept, the diplomat said: “He preached optimism, an active attitude towards life and man’s purpose in the world, he forcefully asserted noble ideals and principles of humanism, democracy, peace and friendship among peoples.”

Mr Ibrahim said: “Iqbal is a part of our existence, as he represented Islam, which made us to be a part of Pakistan, a homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent.”

He termed Iqbal as the “greatest spokesman of Islamic ideology”. “He is not a poet of Pakistan, but of the whole world as he highlighted Islam and ventilated the grievances of the Muslims,” the Mr Ibrahim remarked.

The DU teacher said that Iqbal dreamed for a separate homeland, named Pakistan, with which Bangladesh was included.

HE SAID: “Iqbal should not be identified as a poet of Pakistan, but he is the poet of humanity and the Muslims around the world.”

Principal Saiful Islam Khan termed Iqbal as a poet of Ummah and said: “Iqbal was against the regional and linguistic nationalism.”

Mir Quasem Ali, the vice-president of the AIS, said that Allama Iqbal presented his ideology through his pen and writings and worked for the Muslims in such a time when there was not even a single independent Muslim country in the world.—APP