Allama Muhammad Iqbal Nationalist

Allama Muhammad Iqbal: From
Indian Nationalist to Muslim

Nationalist.
Introduction:
Before visiting Europe in 1905, he was a staunch Indian
Nationalist.
He considered India superior to the rest of the world.
Cont..
He was against communal clashes. He said, “No religion
preaches hatred and that everybody living in this country
is Indian and India is his land”.
Paradigm Change: From Indian
Nationalist to Muslim Nationalist:
When he visited Europe (1905-1908), he found that
nationalism was against the basic principles of Islam.
He came to know that Nationalism is dividing the
Muslims.
Iqbal and politics:
 He did not take active part in politics for a long time. Instead, he tried to
influence the Muslims through his poetry and political philosophy (Ummah,
Millat)
 In 1920s, he entered into active politics.
 He served member of Punjab Legislative Assembly from 1926 to 1930
 In 1930, he also became President of AIML
 He had also developed political difference with Jinnah’s policies of separate
electorate and Unionist party. Jinnah was willing to give up separate
electorate if Congress accept Delhi Muslims Proposal (1927). Jinnah also
wanted to form an alliance with the Unionist party.
 Both these policies were opposed by Iqbal.
 It also split Muslim League into Jinnah and Shafi league,
 Iqbal sided with Shafi league.
Allama Muhammad Iqbal as a
Hardcore Muslim:
He wrote a book, “The Reconstruction of Religious Thought
in Islam” in 1930.
 Main Theme:
Islam can salvage the Muslims.
Islam has always saved Muslims.
Islam is a living and dynamic ideology that can meet modern
challenges.
Islam help to overcome internal discord and enable the
person to meet external challenges.
With spiritualism based derived from Islam Ijtehad and
Reinterpretation.
Advocate of Separate Electorate
 In order to defeat the Congress attempts to introduce joint electorate system
in India, a Conference was held in New Delhi from December 29, 1928, to
January 01, 1929, under the auspices of All Parties Muslim Conference. Sir
Shafi presented a resolution, including a statement in which it was
emphasised that Muslims would not give up the demand for separate
electorate under any conditions or circumstances.
 Speaking on this occasion, Iqbal said: “If Muslims have to live in India as a
nation, they must make immediate efforts for their progress and reforms
and should prepare a separate political programme. There are certain parts
of India where the Muslims are in majority and there are other parts where
they are only a small minority. In this situation, it is imperative that we
should have a separate programme.
Allahabad Address (1930):
 Propounded idea of separate state for the Muslims of the subcontinent.
 While addressing annual session of Muslim League at Allahabad, Allama
Iqbal said:
 “I would like to see the Punjab, NWFP, Sindh, Balochistan amalgamated
into a single state as a self government within the British empire or without.
This is final destiny of the Muslims of North-West India”.
Important Points of Allahabad Address:
 Islam had given its followers a creed which united Muslims of the
subcontinent into a single nation
 Islam was the prime and decisive factor in the life of Indian Muslims
 He defined the Muslims of India as a nation and emphasized that there
could be no possibility of peace in India without recognizing them as one
 There were many nations in the land, every nation was distinguished from
the other in their customs, traditions and religion
 The difference in the mind, difference in thoughts and religion furthermore,
difference in the customs and tradition make them unable to live together
Two-Nation Theory in the Light of
Speeches of Allama Muhammad Iqbal:
 “India is not a country, it is a sub-continent of human beings belonging to
different languages and practicing different religions. Muslim nation has its
own religious and cultural identity.”
 ‘Despite living for 1000 years, Hindus and Muslims have their own
ideologies’
 There should be separate independent parliaments for both nations.
Cont..
“Western concept of nationalism is based on race and ethnicity,
while Islamic concept of nationalism is based on religion.
Therefore, all Muslims constitute one single nation”

Allama Muhammad Iqbal Nationalist

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Allama Muhammad Iqbal Nationalist

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Allama Muhammad Iqbal: From

Indian Nationalist to Muslim

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