Nation marks Iqbal Day with pledge to get inspiration from his principles, ideals

The Thinker of Pakistan, Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal, was born on November 9, 1877, and every year, the entire nation celebrates the Poet of the East’s birthday as Iqbal Day.

Allama Iqbal was a multidimensional personality, whose dream ultimately led to the creation of Pakistan, now shining brightly on the world map. He was born in Sialkot to Sheikh Noor Muhammad, and his parents named him Muhammad Iqbal.

Dr. Allama Iqbal spent three years at Javed Manzil. He received his early education in Sialkot, completing his matriculation from Mission High School and F.A. from Murray College. It was during this time that his passion for poetry emerged, greatly nurtured by his teacher Molvi Mir Hassan.

After completing F.A., Iqbal moved to Lahore, where he earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Government College Lahore. In 1905, he went to England for higher education and obtained a law degree. Later, he proceeded to Germany, where he earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Munich.

Initially, after completing his M.A., he served as a lecturer at Oriental College Lahore, but later, he chose law as his permanent profession. Alongside his legal practice, he continued to write poetry and actively participated in political movements. In 1922, the British Government honored him with the title of "Sir".

He was a champion of freedom and took an active part in political struggles. Iqbal was also elected as the President of the All-India Muslim League. His historic presidential address at Allahabad in 1930 holds immense significance, as it was during this speech that he presented the concept of Pakistan.

The teachings of Allama Iqbal and the tireless efforts of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah eventually led to the creation of Pakistan. However, Iqbal passed away on April 21, 1938, before witnessing the realization of his dream. Yet, the nation will forever remain indebted to this great poet and philosopher, who instilled in the Muslims of the subcontinent a new hope and purpose of life.

The Poet of the East possessed a deeply sensitive heart and mind. His poetry remains eternal, serving as a guiding light for Muslims across generations. That is why Iqbal’s works are read with great reverence all over the world, as people seek to understand his philosophy and vision.

Iqbal awakened a revolutionary spirit in the youth and revived the glory of Islam. His works have been translated into many languages including English, German, French, Chinese, and Japanese. Indeed, Allama Iqbal was not merely a person, but a complete chapter of history, one far too vast to be contained within a brief account.