The number of essays, research papers, and books written on the poetry and philosophy of Hakim-ul-Ummat, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, is beyond counting. Yet such is the abundance of thought and grandeur of reflection bestowed upon him by divine grace that the treasures of his intellect and philosophy... like the inexhaustible resources of the earth... remain ever-flowing, defying complete comprehension. There is hardly any educational institution where Iqbal’s poetry is not taught or recited. Our national media, newspapers, journals, and magazines all strive to outdo one another in propagating his ideas. No matter which ruler is in power, every one of them makes it a point to visit Iqbal’s mausoleum at every suitable occasion. Every relevant institution observes Iqbal Day with full responsibility and devotion.
However, if we pause for a single moment and look into the mirror of Iqbal’s thought to see our image as a nation and as individuals, we would instantly realize that our collective and individual traits bear little resemblance to his ideals. The fundamental reason lies in the disconnect between preaching, education, and training. A preacher cannot be effective unless illuminated by true knowledge; knowledge cannot be genuine unless reflected in character; and character without training is like an unbridled camel or a runaway horse—lacking any sense of direction. These are the core reasons why we have advanced far in researching Iqbal’s philosophy but have fallen miserably behind in understanding it.
Most of our so-called Iqbal scholars and teachers mistakenly equate explanation with understanding. With sincerity but without insight, they continue to deliver speeches and produce papers, overlooking or forgetting the vital aspect of impact studies, the practical outcomes of ideas. Thus, Iqbal’s philosophy has been treated as an academic ornament rather than a living guide.
Yet it would be unjust to blame only the researchers, preachers, and teachers. Behind the scenes operate forces that are far more powerful, organized, and resourceful. Interestingly, Iqbal himself, both in his poetry and lectures, identified and repeatedly warned us against these destructive powers—the colonial mindset, Western intellectual dominance, capitalism, the ruling elite, the clerical establishment, commercialized mysticism, rigid fundamentalist jurists, and convenience-seeking teachers. He exposed these forces as enemies of consciousness and true realization.
A focused study of Iqbal’s philosophy reveals a coherent and dynamic worldview rooted in the spirit of the Qur’an, a modern interpretation of theology, and a progressive vision. It envisions a system of government, an Ummah, and a state where individual freedom is infused with divine liberty, governance is driven by accountability and responsibility, society thrives on human values, and the collective order glows with moral harmony.
But the question arises, after decades of preaching Iqbal’s philosophy, what have we really achieved? The ideal Islamic state that Iqbal envisioned did come into being, but did it ever, even for a brief period, reflect the features found in his thought? Eighty years have passed since the creation of this God-given state, Pakistan, yet we have become neither true believers nor a united Ummah. Every ruler who came played his own tune and departed, while new ones replaced them only to be dismissed in turn.
That very Western intellect and colonial thought from which Iqbal warned us to keep distance, we have sold our selfhood to it, both politically and socially. Every ruler considered himself a divine shadow and the people his subjects. The clergy failed to perform Ijtihad (independent reasoning), instead, they waged Jihad that was neither Islamic nor national. The Sufi orders revolved around money, while the wealthy elite imposed smaller capitalists everywhere, transforming the society that was meant to be Islamic into a consumer society.
Could there be a greater insult to Iqbal’s dream than this—that the entire state today is trapped in interest-based loans and our condition is worse than beggars’? Educational institutions have turned into commercial enterprises, hospitals into business ventures. The state of our universities and colleges is even worse than what Iqbal once lamented in his verses. He had already expressed his disappointment with the teachers and institutions of his time, but did we ever attempt to correct this degeneration?
Now the thought halts before a question, What is to be done? Should we fall silent in despair? Should we give up hope and continue the same attitude of indifference that has brought us here? Absolutely not. To renew our resolve and act again with conviction is the mark of a truly awakened and practical soul. Rather than surrendering to hopelessness, we must absorb the spirit of Iqbal’s philosophy within our own souls and treat it as a mission, each individual contributing in their own sphere.
Although beginning with oneself is difficult, it is by no means impossible. Visionary scholars of Iqbal must redefine the direction of their research and identify the causes that hinder the practical application of Iqbal’s thought. Sensitive and sincere teachers should prioritize the moral and spiritual training of the new generation according to Iqbal’s philosophy. The policymakers must not only ensure justice wherever possible but also assist one another in reforming the collective character of the nation. They must find an antidote to the poison hidden within our educational curricula that strips our youth of analytical thought and molds them into blind followers.
The building of nations is a process that spans not years but centuries. Therefore, without despair, we must continue our constructive struggle with persistence. We have already experienced every depth of social, moral, religious, political, and economic decline imaginable. The law of nature tells us that every rise is followed by a fall—and every fall is destined to rise again. Our journey toward revival may begin at any moment, from any point. What is required is resolve and the first step in the right direction.
If only our education system were reshaped according to Iqbal’s vision—and if our teachers resolved first to transform themselves, then to plant the seeds of Iqbal’s thought in the souls of their students—this very nation, which today appears lost and weak, would one day emerge as a great and luminous nation, shining before the world like the rising sun. Every journey begins with the first step, and every destination is reached by continuing to move forward.
