Family Background Allama Muhammad Iqbal! A great poet, thinker, philosopher, scholar and

politician.

When Iqbal was born, it was the time of troubles for Indian Muslims.

300 Years before the birth of Iqbal, his Brahman Ancestors embraced Islam.Iqbal’s grand father Shaikh Rafique used to sell Shawls.

Shaikh Rafique had a son known as Shaikh Noor Muhammad.Noor Muhammad was married to Imam Bibi. They had six children.

1. Taleh

2. Zainab

3. Karima

4. Fatima

5. Ata Muhammad

6. Muhammad Iqbal

Friday, November 9, 1877, Iqbal was born at Sialkot.

Iqbal was four years old when he was admitted to the mosque for learningthe Quran, he learned the Arabic language from his teacher Molvi MeerHassan, the head of the madrassa and professor of Arabic language atScotch Mission School in Sialkot, where Iqbal completed matric in 1893.

He passed his F.A. from Murray College Sialkot in 1895. The same year heenrolled Government College Lahore where he qualified for Bachelor of Artsin philosophy , English Literature and Arabic as his subjects from GovernmentCollege Lahore in 1897.

In 1899, he received Masters of Arts degree from the same college and gotthe first position in Punjab University, Lahore.

Fortunately, Iqbal got the teachings of Sir Thomas Arnold, his philosophy teacher at Government college Lahore, Arnold's teachings determined Iqbalto pursue higher education in the West.

In 1905, he traveled to England for his higher education.

Iqbal qualified for a scholarship from Trinity College in Cambridge and obtained Bachelor of Arts in 1906, and in the same year he was called to the bar as a barrister from Lincoln's Inn.

In 1907, Iqbal moved to Germany to study doctorate and earned PhD degree from the Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich in 1908.

Iqbal was appointed as Lecturer of History, Philosophy and Arabic at Oriental College in 1899 and Left the College when went abroad.

After returning from England , he again joined Oriental College as a Professor of Philosophy and English.

In the same years, Iqbal practiced Law at Chief High Court Lahore.

Soon Iqbal left the profession of an advocate and started literary work.

This much of literary work consisted spiritual , religious ,political . social and moral issues.

As he had a good background of Religion and studies made him a diamond inhistory and Arabic, his views about Islam were converted into Poetry in a verywell manner.

His literary works consisted of Javaid Nama, Armaghan-e-Hijaz,Bal-e-Jibreel, Zarb-e-Kaleem,Asrar-e-Khudi,Bang-e-Dura etc.

His poetry played huge role in the Unity and Raising Muslims forfreedom.Some Even say that he translated Quran into his poetry.

Iqbal’s poetry has been translated into many European languages, at thetime when his work was famous during the early part of the 20th century.Iqbal’s Asrar-e-Khudi and Javaid Nama were translated into English by R ANicholson and A.J.Arberry respectively.

Two Nation Theory:

Allama Iqbal was also a strong believer of Hindu- Muslim unity but Congress extremism force him to change his attitude.

In 1930, Iqbal clearly discussed Two Nation Theory as: –Islam: as Code of Conduct and Way of Life''Islam is complete code of life; so Indian Muslims should get assistance from Islam. It will support them fully'‘.

In 1930,Allama Iqbal presented his mature political opinion on the political fate of Indian Muslims in his presidential address at Allahabad at the annual session of Muslim League.

“I am fully convinced that the Muslims of India will ultimately have to establish a separate homeland as they could not live with the Hindus in the United States.”

Muslims are Separate Nations . Allama Iqbal openly negated the concept of one nation and said:

“Nations are based with religion; not with territories. So we are separate nation because we have our own ideology.”

Thus, Iqbal demanded a sovereign independent Muslim state even before the Muslim League demanded it in Pakistan's Resolution.

"The formation of a consolidated North-West Indian Muslim

State appears to be the final destiny of the Muslims, at least of the north

west India.“

1930,Allama Iqbal presented his mature political opinion on the political fate of Indian Muslims in his presidential address at Allahabad at the annual session of Muslim League . He said:

“I am fully convinced that the Muslims of India will

ultimately have to establish a separate homeland as they could not live

with the Hindus in the United States.”

He also said:

“India is a continent of human beings belonging to different races , speaking different languages and professing different religions.

I, therefore demand the formation of a consolidated Muslim state in the best interest of India and Islam.”

He stressed on the formation of a separate state by saying:

“I would like to see the Punjab , North-West Frontiers Province ,Sindh and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single state self-government within the British Empire or without the British Empire ,the formation of a consolidated North-West Indian Muslim state appears to me to be the final

destiny of the Muslims at least of North-West India.”