Allama Sir Muhammad Iqbal
- Born:
- 9 November 1877, Sialkot, British India (now Pakistan)
- Died:
- 21 April 1938, Lahore, British India (now Pakistan)
- Nationality:
- British Indian
- Profession(s):
- Poet, Philosopher, Barrister, Scholar, Politician
Early Life and Education
- Early education at Scotch Mission College, Sialkot.
- Bachelor of Arts from Government College, Lahore.
- Master of Arts in Philosophy from Government College, Lahore.
- Studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, obtaining a BA.
- Qualified as a barrister from Lincoln's Inn.
- PhD in Philosophy from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
Career and Major Achievements
- Practiced law for a period but primarily focused on scholarly pursuits and writing.
- Professor of Philosophy at Government College, Lahore.
- Elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1926.
- Advocated for the creation of a separate Muslim state in British India in his 1930 presidential address to the All-India Muslim League. This is a core component of most accounts of a Muhammad Iqbal biography.
- Knighted in 1922 for his literary contributions.
Notable Works
- Poetry Collections:
- Asrar-i-Khudi (The Secrets of the Self)
- Rumuz-i-Bekhudi (The Mysteries of Selflessness)
- Payam-i-Mashriq (The Message of the East)
- Bang-i-Dara (The Call of the Marching Bell)
- Bal-i-Jibril (Gabriel's Wing)
- Zarb-i Kalim (The Blow of Moses)
- Armaghan-e-Hijaz (Gift from Hijaz)
- Philosophical Works:
- The Development of Metaphysics in Persia (PhD Thesis)
- Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam
Legacy and Impact
Allama Sir Muhammad Iqbal is revered as the "Poet of the East" and "National Poet of Pakistan." His philosophical and poetic works inspired the Pakistan Movement and continue to influence thought and culture in South Asia and beyond. He is considered a major figure in modern Islamic philosophy.