The 76th death anniversary of Sir Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal was observed with zest and zeal. Various social and cultural organizations held special programmes to pay homage to the Great Poet of the East who passed away on April 21, 1938.
Allama Iqbal is credited with sparking “Pan-Islamism” across the Muslim Ummah. He is considered an internationally-acclaimed scholar with literary works in Urdu, Persian, and English languages. Asrar-e-Khudi, Payam-i-Mashriq, Baang-i-Dera, Bal-i-Jibrael, Zarb-i Kaleem and Armughan-e-Hijaz are among his best works.
International institutions in England, Germany, Japan, Canada, USA, India, and Pakistan are conducting research on Iqbal’s esoteric philosophy and poetry.
The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), is a public university located in Islamabad. It is regarded as one of the world’s largest institution of higher learning with annual enrolment in excess of one million students. Established in 1974, it is Asia‘s first open University providing distance education in engineering, law, philosophy, natural and social sciences.
Sir Dr. Muhammad Iqbal (9th November 1877 – 21st April 1938) also known as Allama (Scholar of Highest Rank) was a philosopher, poet, politician, and a social reformist. He is widely acclaimed to have inspired millions of Muslims to demand a separate homeland from the British Empire in India.
Religious scholar and Sufi Master, Iqbal’s literary works in Urdu and Persian are largely based on teachings of the Holy Quran. He propagated self-respect and self-realization and reiterated the need to revert to Islamic values.
Allama Iqbal is officially regarded as National Poet of Pakistan, Shayir-e-Mashriq (Poet of the East), and Hakeem-ul-Ummat (Sage of Ummah).
A Barrister from Lincoln’s Inn, England and a Ph.D in Philosophy from Munich University, Allama Iqbal was a strong proponent of the political and spiritual revival of Islamic civilization across the world. His famous English speeches have been published under the title “The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam”.
Allama Iqbal encouraged the younger generation for fresh interpretation of Holy Quran and discover mutual harmonies that would enable Muslims to use modern science and technology to improve their existence”.
Allama Iqbal passed away on 21st April 1938 but to date millions of fact-finders remain mesmerised with the beauty and depth of his poetry. He simplified the philosophy of life, de-mystified the purpose of our human existence, and turned the teachings of Islam into an eternal message ready to be interpreted by the masses.
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(Rohail Khan can be contacted at E-mail: rohailkhan00@gmail.com)