We still don’t fully grasp his vision or see it reflected in our institutions or collective behavior, even after all these generations.
Though he did write some lovely poetry, Iqbal was more than that. Knowledge, dignity, moral responsibility, and spiritual awareness were the cornerstones of the society he envisioned, and he fought against intellectual stagnation, promoted self-discovery, and questioned social decline.
By: Ali K. Lashari & Ayaz Ahmed Mughleri
Allama Muhammad Iqbal was born on November 9, and every year since then, people all over South Asia come together to celebrate his legacy as a poet, philosopher, and intellectual visionary. His works are still studied in classrooms today, and his legacy lives on in the utmost reverence and admiration in Pakistan and around the world.
However, a troubling inquiry warrants our consideration amidst these festivities: Is Allama Iqbal’s philosophy something we have genuinely grasped, or have we just remembered him and moved on?
Though he did write some lovely poetry, Iqbal was more than that. Knowledge, dignity, moral responsibility, and spiritual awareness were the cornerstones of the society he envisioned, and he fought against intellectual stagnation, promoted self-discovery, and questioned social decline.
He never meant for his message to be limited to just written works, public addresses, and memorial services. It was a rallying cry for enlightenment and change in the real world.
We still don’t fully grasp his vision or see it reflected in our institutions or collective behavior, even after all these generations.
Understanding Human Potential through Khudi’s Philosophy
Khudi, which means “selfhood” or “self-realization” in English, is central to Iqbal’s philosophical writings.
But Khudi is deeper than any one person’s ego or aspirations. It stands for how people grow as individuals via maturing qualities like introspection, self-control, education, originality, moral fortitude, and accountability.
According to Iqbal, people have boundless potential, but they can only reach it by constantly improving themselves intellectually, ethically, and spiritually.
This philosophy is expressed in his famous poetry:
You have to go through the motions to get a taqdeer,
I don’t know what your raza is, but I do know that you have a band.
By saying these things, Iqbal hopes to persuade people to work on themselves until they are fully capable of controlling their own fate.
Instead of encouraging originality, critical thinking, and self-assurance in one’s intellectual abilities, our social and educational systems frequently place an emphasis on memorization, conformity, and blind acceptance.
Though we introduce our students to Iqbal’s poetry, how often do we urge them to think critically, explore new ideas, and realize their full potential?
We teach young people to memorize his verses but fail to provide them with opportunities to fully appreciate the philosophy they represent.
One of our major shortcomings in comprehending Iqbal is mirrored in this contradiction.
Education: Gaining Insight beyond Standardized Tests
Education, in Iqbal’s view, was a crucial tool for raising individual and societal awareness.
A meaningful education, in his view, was more than just learning facts and gaining credentials. It entailed developing one’s capacity for independent thought, moral discernment, critical thinking, and direction in life.
However, in today’s world, a lot of people use things like test scores, certifications, job offers, and financial opportunities to evaluate a person’s level of education.
While these accomplishments are certainly noteworthy, they do not make up for the lack of intellectual development and moral accountability that is necessary for true fulfillment.
Ignorance, corruption, ineffective institutions, and a lack of original thought can persist even in societies with thousands of college grads.
The central goal of education is called into question by Iqbal’s educational philosophy.
Are we training people to fill jobs, or are we creating people who will think critically and have something worthwhile to offer the world?
Do we want people who can think for themselves and come up with new ideas, or do we want them to just repeat what others have already found?
When it comes to educational reform in Pakistan, these issues are more important than ever. The country’s schools need to prioritize research culture, intellectual freedom, character development, and enrollment, among other things.
In order to pay true tribute to Iqbal, we need to transform our classrooms into places that value curiosity, foster creativity, and link knowledge with social responsibility.
The Path to Enlightenment and the Significance of Belief
Spirituality, in Iqbal’s view, is another fundamental aspect of his philosophy.
In Iqbal’s view, spirituality was not a way to get away from material concerns. On the contrary, he established a link between spiritual awareness and respect for human worth, moral behavior, intellectual growth, and social service.
Particularly in The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam and other philosophical works, he shows a dedication to analyzing religious comprehension in relation to philosophical logic and evolving intellectual contexts.
He emphasized the importance of Muslims thinking critically about modern knowledge while also reflecting on their intellectual traditions.
Faith, in Iqbal’s view, should not lead to lethargy or a lack of curiosity. A sense of moral fortitude, personal responsibility, and constructive action were to be espoused.
However, in today’s culture, religious identification is occasionally given more weight than the moral values that ought to accompany it.
It is possible to show our devotion through outward displays of ceremony while ignoring the importance of being truthful, fair, compassionate, tolerant, and accountable.
The significance of our deeds to our spirituality is emphasized in Iqbal’s message.
If one wants to live a spiritually fulfilling life, they must do what they can to help others and their community.
The Shaheen: A Representation of Self-Reliance and Bravery
A prominent symbol of Iqbal’s poetry is the Shaheen, or falcon.
The Shaheen is a symbol of freedom, bravery, ambition, and the refusal to let fear or complacency limit one’s actions.
Inspiring young people to overcome intellectual dependence and cultivate the self-assurance to seek greater ideals, Iqbal uses this striking image to do just that.
Having said that, the Shaheen should do more than just serve as a pretty picture in history books and political speeches.
The real value comes from shaping people into people who can think for themselves, act with honesty in their work, and stand up to injustice.
Opportunities for our youth to practice these qualities are crucial.
Institutions should reward merit over personal influence, encourage innovation over obedience, and recognize genuine achievement over superficial status.
A society where young people are encouraged to think independently, behave responsibly, and strive for greatness would be a true tribute to Iqbal’s Shaheen.
Iqbal’s Vision and Institutional Duty
Iqbal’s philosophy also informs governance, public institutions, and collective development.
Motivational speeches cannot advance a society. Its institutions must reflect its values.
Administrative and political systems need justice, merit, transparency, intellectual honesty, and public responsibility.
Institutions that discourage independent thought, ignore professional competence, or prioritize personal interests over collective welfare undermine Iqbal’s principles.
Leadership, according to his vision, is more of a burden than an honor.
Honesty, justice, and dedication to the next generation should characterize public service.
The intellectual traditions that give historical objects and literary works meaning must also be preserved by cultural and educational institutions.
Ideas, philosophies, languages, knowledge systems, and thinkers who shaped our identity are our heritage.
Thus, preserving Iqbal’s legacy requires more than manuscripts and memorials.
His ideas must be preserved through scholarship, public discussion, education, and institutional reform.
Remembrance to Intellectual Renewal
Commemorating influential thinkers is hardest because their ideas often become slogans.
Ceremony weakens philosophy’s transformative power.
Iqbal feared intellectual stagnation. He stressed movement, creativity, self-examination, and renewal in his writings.
Thus, honoring him requires critically assessing his ideas and their relevance to today.
We should encourage philosophical research, introduce students to his historical and intellectual contexts, and foster meaningful discussions about his views on selfhood, education, spirituality, and social development.
His legacy should encourage questioning.
An intellectual like Iqbal deserves serious engagement, not just admiration.
To Allama Iqbal, We Apologize
Our collective shortcomings may be the sincerest tribute we can offer on Iqbal Day.
We apologize, Allama Iqbal.
Our praise for your poetry often ignored its deeper meaning.
We memorized your verses but misapplied their values.
We admired your Khudi philosophy but often lacked intellectual independence and moral courage.
Despite praising your vision of education, we often reduced learning to tests and qualifications.
We remembered your Shaheen but did not always give our youth the freedom and opportunities to succeed.
We honored your name with ceremonies, monuments, and speeches but struggled to implement your ideals.
An apology is only meaningful when accompanied by a promise to improve.
Iqbal Day should inspire intellectual responsibility.
Encourage character-building education, knowledge-advancing research, just institutions, and a society that respects human dignity.
Let us rediscover Iqbal as a philosopher whose questions still challenge us, not just a national poet.
Great thinkers deserve understanding, not just memory.
Translating Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s philosophy into values we live by may be the greatest tribute.
Read: Further than Observable Reality
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Ali K. Lashari is an Assistant Director (Excavation & Exploration) & Cultural Heritage Advocate, Directorate of Archaeology & Antiquities Wing, Culture, Tourism, Antiquities & Archives Department, Government.
Ayaz Ahmed Mughleri is an Assistant Chief Warden at Directorate of Antiquities & Archaeology
