Portrait of Allama Iqbal

Allama Iqbal

1877 - 1938

Born in Sialkot, Punjab, British India (now Pakistan)

Sir Muhammad Iqbal, widely known as Allama Iqbal, was a poet, philosopher, and politician in British India who is widely regarded as having inspired the Pakistan Movement. He is considered one of the most important figures in Urdu literature, with literary work in both Urdu and Persian. Iqbal is admired as a prominent poet by Indians, Pakistanis, Iranians and other international scholars of literature. Though Iqbal is best known as an eminent poet, he is also a highly acclaimed "Muslim philosophical thinker of modern times". His first poetry book, The Secrets of the Self, appeared in Persian in 1915, and other books of poetry include The Secrets of Selflessness, Message from the East and Persian Psalms. Amongst these, his best known Urdu works are The Call of the Marching Bell, Gabriel's Wing, The Rod of Moses and a part of Gift from Hijaz. Along with his Urdu and Persian poetry, his Urdu and English lectures and letters have been very influential in cultural, social, religious and political disputes.

خودی کو کر بلند اتنا کہ ہر تقدیر سے پہلے خدا بندے سے خود پوچھے بتا تیری رضا کیا ہے

Timeline

1877

Born in Sialkot, Punjab, British India

1895

Graduated from Scotch Mission College in Sialkot

1897

Received MA in Philosophy from Government College Lahore

1905

Traveled to Europe for higher studies

1907

Obtained PhD from Munich University, Germany

1908

Returned to India and began practicing law

1915

Published "Asrar-e-Khudi" (The Secrets of the Self)

1922

Knighted by King George V

1926

Elected to Punjab Legislative Council

1930

Delivered famous Allahabad Address proposing separate Muslim state

1931

Attended Round Table Conference in London

1932

Published "Javid Nama", inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy

1938

Died in Lahore

Notable Quote

خودی کو کر بلند اتنا کہ ہر تقدیر سے پہلے خدا بندے سے خود پوچھے بتا تیری رضا کیا ہے

Allama Iqbal

Influences

  • Rumi
  • Goethe
  • Nietzsche
  • Western philosophy
  • Islamic mysticism

Achievements

  • Knighthood (1922)
  • Elected to Punjab Legislative Council (1926)
  • Presided over All India Muslim League session (1930)
  • Presented idea of separate Muslim state in his Allahabad Address (1930)