Allama Iqbal is a lover of power and energy and hates the soul’s weakness

Inspirational writings and self-help have become one of the main focus areas of literature in this era. People love to read inspirational writings because they help the readers in self-management and stress management. Our young generation deserves to be inspired and encouraged in a proper way to feel the real current of life in them. Pure literature is the one that installs purpose in the reader’s life because life without a definite purpose is, no doubt, futile and not worth living.

Who is not aware of the inspirational and life-infusing poetry of Allama Mohammad Iqbal in Urdu and Persian languages? He taught the readers the importance of the purpose in life and also how to grow one’s ego to attain that purpose. Allama’s wise onslaught against the laziness of the souls and his revitalising and inspiring words has made him ever-relevant poet and writer for us. Iqbal is a lover of power and energy and hates the soul’s weakness in a human being:
تقدیر کے قاضی کا یہ فتوی ہے ازل سے
ہے جرم ضعیفی کی سزا مرگ مفاجات

(Destiny’s judge has decreed that the punishment for weakness must be death)

He seems to energise the souls to dare and fight to achieve even the unthinkable. His message is universal and for all those who dare to act to realise their dreams. He is aware of the potential of the so-called young blood and thus those who are young by their hearts are his target group. His aim is to motivate the readers and to teach them the real benefits of hard work.

“Shaheen” is the metaphor he uses for an energetic and enthusiastic soul which soars higher and higher always to reach its final goal.
نہیں تیرا نشیمن قصر سلطانی کے گنبد پر
تو شاہیں ہے، بسیرا کر پہاڑوں کی چٹانوں میں

(Thy abode is not on the dome of a royal palace; thou art an eagle and shouldst live on the rocks of mountains)

The above verse is taken from Iqbal’s one of the most popular poetic collections namely ‘Baal e Jibreel’. We find this verse in the poem titled “Ek Nawjawan Ke Naam (Addressed to a youth) but it is addressed to every such human being whose heart is young with passion and restless with curiosity. Iqbal clearly knew where the illness of our societies originates from. He knew that to make society models we had to start with the young boys and girls. He suggested that for the betterment of our future, our young generation particularly must part with the slothful opulence which has left them idle and lazy. To deserve we must not only desire first but also fight so that success itself kisses our feet.
عقابی روح جب بیدار ہوتی ہے جوانوں میں
نظر آتی ہے انکو اپنی منزل آسمانوں میں

(When an eagle’s soaring spirit is born in the youthful hearts; they see their luminous goal even beyond the height of the heavens.)

Like his poetry, the main aim of his writing in prose too seems to be the same. In his world-famous masterpiece ‘ Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam” Iqbal brilliantly constructs the roadmap for the readers which will carry them to the highest possible success. He shares the importance of the knowledge of “khudi” or ego which every human being must have who wants himself or herself to be counted among the real succeeded in this world.

According to Iqbal, a real human being is one who is aware of his or her ego and whose ego is ever-growing because he thinks that only an ever-growing ego can soar higher and higher till it meets the ultimate ego or God. He quotes a number of the Quranic verses in support of his argument.

Throughout his life, Iqbal’s sole aim was to inspire the young hearts, whom he called ‘Shaheens’, to provide them the much-needed wine of self-help so that they could rise above their material needs and bring real prosperity to their communities and the nation. Thus Iqbal is the chief mastermind of self-help and one of the greatest inspirations for millions of readers worldwide.

Hilal Bukhari is from Hardushoora Kunzer. Feedback at [email protected]

Hilal Bukhari