Iqbal, Poet and Thinker

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