Muhammad Asim Saddiqi 
As Pakistan commemorates Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the poet-philosopher and visionary who gave the nation its spiritual and intellectual compass; his message resonates today with renewed urgency. Iqbal’s dream for Pakistan was not limited to territorial independence; it was a vision of moral strength, intellectual freedom, and creative selfhood. He sought to awaken a generation capable of building a just and self-reliant society, one grounded in faith, reason, and dignity. His philosophy remains a timeless guide for Pakistan’s moral and economic rebirth.
At the heart of Iqbal’s thought lies the concept of Khudi, or selfhood. It represents the cultivation of moral courage, discipline, and creative potential. For Iqbal, no nation can achieve prosperity without first reviving the spirit of self-belief and inner strength among its people. Economic independence, he argued, begins with intellectual and moral independence. Poverty, in Iqbal’s view, was not merely the lack of resources but the loss of will and vision. He believed that once a nation discovers its true self, it can transform its destiny. Pakistan’s challenges today, economic instability, social disparity, and intellectual stagnation can be understood through Iqbal’s framework. He would have seen these as signs of spiritual dormancy, not material failure. The solution, therefore, is not just in policies or plans, but in rekindling the moral and creative energy that once inspired this nation’s birth. Pakistan’s strength lies in its people in their potential to think freely, work with integrity, and act with purpose.
Iqbal’s Shaheen, the soaring eagle of his poetry symbolizes this vision of self-reliance and freedom. The Shaheen does not depend on others; it rises by its own effort, guided by clarity of purpose and purity of heart. In today’s world of technological change and cultural confusion, Iqbal’s Shaheen calls upon the youth of Pakistan to seek knowledge, embrace innovation, and remain rooted in values. His message is clear: modernity must never mean moral surrender; progress must always be anchored in principle. Iqbal’s engagement with Western thought was never submissive imitation but creative dialogue. He studied Nietzsche, Kant, and Bergson, yet reshaped their philosophies within an Islamic worldview. For him, reason and revelation were not contradictory forces but complementary paths toward truth. His seminal work, The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam, remains a call for intellectual renewal, for reinterpreting Islam’s eternal principles in light of modern realities. Through ijtihad (independent reasoning), Iqbal envisioned a dynamic Islamic society that harmonizes science with spirituality and freedom with responsibility.
Iqbal’s humanism forms the moral core of his message. His was not a secular humanism detached from faith, but a spiritual humanism rooted in the Qur’anic belief in the dignity of humankind. “Only one unity is dependable,” he wrote, “and that unity is the brotherhood of man.” For Iqbal, every human being was a reflection of divine creativity, capable of reason, moral choice, and transcendence. His poetry affirms that true civilization is measured not by wealth or power but by compassion, justice, and respect for humanity. In Javed Nama, Iqbal declared:
“The status of a human being is higher than the heavens;
The basis of real civilization is reverence for humanity.”
Iqbal envisioned a society guided by ethical governance, where power serves the people and justice forms the foundation of law. He rejected both authoritarian control and blind imitation of the West, proposing instead a balanced path, one where Islam’s ethical framework empowers freedom, merit, and accountability. His concept of the spiritual democracy was a call for a community bound by shared moral ideals rather than sectarian or ethnic divisions. For Pakistan, this remains the most vital principle for unity and progress.
This was not mere poetry; it was a moral declaration that any system which neglects the sanctity of human life or suppresses the freedom of thought is destined to fail. His message is especially relevant today as the world witnesses the suffering of oppressed peoples in Palestine and Kashmir, and the erosion of empathy in global politics. Iqbal’s call to uphold human dignity and moral responsibility transcends geography and time. He warned that civilizations decline when they lose faith in their moral purpose. Religion, for Iqbal, was not ritual but action, a living force that inspires reform, creativity, and compassion. His love for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was central to this vision. For Iqbal, following the Prophet meant embodying truth, courage, and justice in every sphere of life. His verse beautifully encapsulates this devotion:
“If you remain faithful to Muhammad (PBUH), then everything is yours;
What is this world before you? Even the Tablet and the Pen become yours.”
Today, as Pakistan stands at a crossroads of identity and direction, Iqbal’s philosophy offers a roadmap for revival. He calls upon the nation to reclaim its intellectual confidence, moral clarity, and creative spirit to educate its youth not just in skills, but in character; to value justice as much as prosperity; and to see knowledge as both a right and a responsibility. Iqbal’s message is not of despair, but of awakening. He reminds us that every nation is capable of renewal once it recognizes the divine spark within its people. His call to Pakistan remains timeless: awaken your khudi, rise as the Shaheen, seek knowledge, uphold justice, and live with faith and purpose. In doing so, Pakistan can rediscover not only its strength but its soul and take its rightful place among the moral and intellectual leaders of the world.
