Abstract:
This book aims to introduce Muhammad Iqbal (1938-77), a pre-eminent poet and
philosopher of South Asia, to general readers in the English-speaking world. There is a
respectable number of works on Iqbal in the English language, but very few of them set out
systematically to acquaint the reader with the heart or substance of Iqbal’s own writings.
Within its limits, this volume tries to fill this gap. Based on a direct study of Iqbal’s writings,
it assumes no prior familiarity with Iqbal’s works on the reader’s part, and tries to bring into
relief—in non-technical language and with substantial textual evidence—the principal
contours of Iqbal’s thought. It takes an expository and analytical approach to the subject. As
such, it does not attempt to provide an account of the divergent critical constructions that
have historically been placed on Iqbal’s thought with a view to identifying Iqbal as a
propounder or upholder of a certain philosophy or system of thought. Neither does it deal
exhaustively with Iqbal’s personal life or with his practical involvement in the social and
political affairs of India. Finally, with a few exceptions, it does not discuss at length the
question of Iqbal’s sources and originality. Several works written on Iqbal (see Further
Reading) will enlighten the reader on these and other matters. Two more clarifications are in
order. First, I have approached Iqbal’s writings synchronically. This, of course, leaves open
the question of development and change in Iqbal’s thought. Iqbal’s views on certain issues—
for example, those of nationalism and mysticism—did change significantly over time. But,
even if we take the period of his stay in Europe (1905-8) as the turning point in the
evolution of his thought, Iqbal’s writings in the post-Europe period show remarkable
consistency. A comparative study of Iqbal’s talks, writings, and statements belong
