Iqbal Day, November 9, is a national holiday honoring and remembering his legacy. Dr. Allama Iqbal, known as “The Poet of the East,” doesn’t need an introduction. In this blog, you will learn about Iqbal Day, its history and the legendary works of Allama Iqbal.
Iqbal Day History
Muhammad Iqbal’s birthday, known as Iqbal Day, is commemorated on November 9 each year. The poet and philosopher Iqbal was a significant source of inspiration for the Pakistan Movement. Every year, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the “Poet of the East,” is honored on November 9 in all of Pakistan’s provinces. He has been recognized as Pakistan’s national poet by the government.
Introduction to Allama Iqbal
Dr. Allama Iqbal, born on November 9, 1877, is credited with inspiring the Pakistan Movement. He was a writer, poet, philosopher, politician, academic, lawyer, and scholar in British India.
Dr. Allama Iqbal played an integral role in the development of Pakistan. His desire to find a new nation was his dream (the vision of Pakistan). He incited the populace on the continent while exerting tremendous effort for Pakistan’s struggle. He was the creator of the “Two-Nation Theory.” As a scholar, he wrote down his ideas to awaken the sub-continental Muslims.
The two founders of Pakistan are Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Quid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. And numerous others have made significant contributions and efforts, including Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Liaquat Ali. Without their assistance and support, Pakistan would not exist today.
Given his numerous contributions, it is fair to say that Allama Iqbal is also regarded as one of Pakistan’s founders. Quaid-e-Azam returned to India in 1934 and took over as President of the Muslim League permanently due to the genuine efforts made by Dr. Allama Iqbal. An outstanding Muslim leader was Allama Iqbal.
The Title Of Allama To Iqbal
Muhammad Iqbal, also known as Allama Iqbal (1887–1938), was born and raised in Sialkot and was a member of a Kashmiri Brahmin family that converted to Islam in the seventeenth century. His liberal education helped to shape his thinking after he received a traditional education in Arabic, Persian, and Urdu.
People soon started referring to him as Allama Iqbal because of his education and knowledge. In 1922, King George V of Britain knighted him, giving him the title of Allama “Sir” Muhammad Iqbal. He received five accolades.
Understanding the intellectual journey that led Iqbal to become Hakeem-ul-Ummat is another most important aspect of Iqbal Day and its significance (The Sage of the Ummah).
Allama Iqbal Early and Late Education
Iqbal graduated high school in 1893 and began attending the Government College University (GCU) the following year. The Khan Bahadurddin F.S. Jalaluddin medal was awarded to him for completing his bachelor’s degree in philosophy, English literature, and Arabic.
Iqbal received a scholarship to Trinity College, University of Cambridge, where he studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1906. He was admitted to the bar as a barrister at the Lincoln’s Inn in the same year.
Iqbal completed his doctorate in philosophy in 1908 from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. His research topic is entitled “The Development of Metaphysics in Persia.”
Allama Iqbal’s Poetic Career
Iqbal started writing poetry in Persian, his preferred language because it was easier to express his ideas during his time in Europe (1905–1908). And he continued to write in Persian after this point. Iqbal was very interested in Islamic studies, particularly Sufi philosophy.
Iqbal Day is significant because of its emphasis on spirituality. In addition to exploring independence ideologies, Iqbal also studied submission to Allah. He followed the Prophet Muhammad’s example in his poetry (PBUH).
Iqbal started practicing law in 1908 at the Chief Court of Lahore. Still, he eventually stopped and turned instead to writing, becoming a vocal supporter of the Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-Islam.
Furthermore, because he had been raised in a deeply religious environment, Rumi’s poetry and philosophy significantly influenced him. Iqbal adopted Rumi as “his guide.” He then started focusing intently on Islamic studies, culture and history, and the political future of Islam.
Regardless Efforts of Allama Iqbal
The main goal of this day’s celebrations in all of Pakistan’s provinces is to honor Iqbal and recognize the importance of his contribution to the Pakistan movement among the region’s Muslim population. He was the person who envisioned a different country where Muslims could live in harmony, prosper, and ultimately relish practicing their faith in complete freedom.
We commemorate Iqbal Day because he contributed significantly to the Two-Nation theory movements led by Chaudhary Rahmat Ali. One of the main factors contributing to Pakistan’s eventual emergence was Iqbal’s support for this ideology.
His words effectively motivated the Muslim Ummah to fight for their rights and, undoubtedly, generated power and unity in their struggles for freedom. He was a great politician and philosopher who inspired the idea of an independent Muslim state.
Iqbal dedicated the majority of his life’s work to advancing Muslim prosperity. Not just for Muslims, his poetry turned out to be a potent tool. Iqbal’s writings offer a thorough philosophical and sociological analysis of the circumstances in which Muslims lived and their chances for advancement. People from all walks of life adored the prejudice they faced.
Allama Iqbal’s poetry is timeless! You can read any of his works today and find them incredibly relatable. In the pre-partitioned subcontinent, Iqbal played a significant role in Islam’s political and spiritual revival throughout the Muslim world. He collaborated closely with Muhammad Ali Jinnah to achieve this as one of the All India Muslim League’s most prominent leaders.
Iqbal is regarded as the country’s ideological founder. He is widely honored in Pakistan and throughout the rest of the world. Until 2018, Iqbal Day, which marks his birthday on November 9, was a national holiday in Pakistan.
Public Institutions Carry Iqbal’s Name
- The Allama Iqbal Medical College in Lahore
- The Allama Iqbal Campus Punjab University in Lahore
- Allama Iqbal Open University in Pakistan
- Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad
- Iqbal Memorial Institute in Srinagar
- The Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore
- Allama Iqbal Library at the University of Kashmir
- Iqbal Hostel in Government College University
- Lahore, Allama Iqbal Town in Lahore
- Allama Iqbal Hall at Aligarh Muslim University
- Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town in Karachi
- Allama Iqbal Hostel at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi
- Iqbal Hall at the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore
Literary Works of Allama Iqbal
His best literary works include Asrar-e-Khudi, Payam-e-Mashriq, Bang-e-Dara, Bal-e-Jibril, Zarb-e-Kalim, and Armughan-e-Hijaz. He is widely regarded as one of Pakistan’s founders. Early in the 20th century, his poetry was translated into several European tongues. R. A. Nicholson and A. J. Arberry translated Asrar-e-Khudi and Javed Nama into English, respectively. He is also known by the names Shair-e-Mashriq (Poet of the East), Muffakir-e-Pakistan (Thinker of Pakistan), and Hakeem-ul-Ummat (The Sage of Ummah). Iqbal was consequently knighted in 1922.
The Death And Tomb of Iqbal
After returning from trips to Spain and Afghanistan, Iqbal developed a perplexing throat condition in 1933. He devoted his latter years to assisting Chaudhry Niaz Ali Khan in founding the Dar ul Islam Trust Institute in Jamalpur, a bequest near Pathankot, where there were plans to support education in both traditional Islam and contemporary social science.
Allama Iqbal was in favor of an independent Muslim state as well. Iqbal ceased practicing law in 1934, and the Nawab of Bhopal granted him access to a retirement fund. In his later years, he routinely visited the Lahore Dargah of renowned Sufi Hazrat Ali Hajweri for divine guidance.
Allama Muhammad Iqbal passed away in Lahore on April 21, 1938, after enduring months of suffering from his illness. The Pakistani government assigns official gatekeepers to guard his grave in Hazuri Bagh. This garden divides the entry to the Badshahi Mosque from the Lahore Fort.
The Pakistani government provides authority gatekeepers there. Iqbal Day is revered in Pakistan generally because Iqbal is seen as the state’s chief ideological architect. His Tarana-e-Hind is a melody typically used in India as a spirited song debating public congruity. Every year, Iqbal Day, a national holiday in Pakistan, is observed on the anniversary of his birth.
The government and public organizations have supported establishing educational institutions, universities, and schools dedicated to Allama Muhammad Iqbal and have established the Iqbal Academy Pakistan to study, instruct, and preserve his writings, arguments, and works.
The Allama Iqbal Stamps Society was established to advance Iqbaliyat in philately and other extracurricular activities. Javed Iqbal, one of his children, has served as an equity on the Pakistani Supreme Court. Iqbal’s final residence was Javed Manzil.
On April 21, 1938, he passed away in Lahore. Pakistan was approved by the Muslim League two years later and was officially established in 1947. Iqbal Day, observed on November 9 by Pakistanis, honors the man regarded as the country’s founding father
Iqbal Day Celebrations
In Iqbal day activities, Special prayers are said on this day in remembrance of Pakistan’s progress and prosperity. People pay respect by going to Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum. In educational institutions, special events are held to recall the past. They refresh the main ideas of Iqbal’s works while revealing their wisdom and ideology to the younger generation.
Conclusion
Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal, a revolutionary poet and philosopher who proposed the idea of a separate state for Muslims in the subcontinent, is remembered and honored on Iqbal Day, a national holiday. The Pakistan Movement also drew much inspiration from Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal. He was the man who imagined a Muslim-only country where they could live in harmony, prosper, and ultimately relish practicing their faith in complete freedom.
In this blog, some of the most important facts regarding Iqbal Day are mentioned that you should be aware of. For more information regarding Iqbal day, do visit the following links.
- Award-Winning Allama Iqbal Day Speeches in English
- Prize Winner Iqbal Day Urdu Speeches For Speech Competition
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Below are the most frequent questions people ask about Iqbal Day.
Is it off on 9th November in Pakistan?
It is not a federal holiday on Iqbal Day. There are regular business hours. All schools, universities, and government offices are open on this day, as are most businesses, stores, and shops.
What is Youm e Iqbal?
Every year, the world organizes and celebrates Iqbal Day (Yom-e Iqbal), the “Poet of the East” Muhammad Iqbal’s birthday, which falls on November 9th. To remember Allama Iqbal’s revolutionary dream, this day is observed.
What is the contribution of Allama Iqbal education?
The restoration of the conscious, energizing spirit of Islam was Iqbal’s greatest contribution. The current study makes an effort to examine Iqbal’s educational philosophy and his contribution to Muslim education through its objectives, curriculum, methods, teacher role, and education of women.
How was Allama Iqbal a hero?
We consider Allama Iqbal a hero because he fought bravely for the rights of bonded laborers and child slaves in Pakistan and other countries. Despite having a brief life, he left a passionate and compelling legacy that inspired millions of people worldwide to support his cause and encouraged thousands to seek freedom.
What is Iqbal’s first poem?
His first book of poetry, Asrar-i-Khudi (Secrets of the Self), was published in Persian in 1915. From a religious perspective, the poems emphasize the self and the spirit. Many critics refer to this as Iqbal’s best poetic work. Iqbal explains his self-centered philosophy in Asrar-i-Khudi.
Why do we celebrate Allama Iqbal?
We commemorate Iqbal Day because Allama Iqbal contributed significantly to the Two-Nation theory movements led by Chaudhary Rahmat Ali. One of the main factors contributing to Pakistan’s eventual emergence was Iqbal’s support for this ideology.
