Speakers remember Iqbal as poet of all times

Islamabad : We have digressed from Allama Iqbal’s thoughts and philosophy of the inner-self. The poet called for creation, rather than imitation, and termed detachment from modern sciences as a key driver of the predicament facing Muslims today.

Prof. Fateh Muhammad Malik expressed these views while presiding over the online ‘National Iqbal Seminar’ organized by the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) here Tuesday. Sharing Allama Iqbal’s vision of a prosperous Pakistan, Prof. Fateh Malik lamented that we have failed to build the kind of society that Iqbal had envisioned. “Iqbal was against feudalism and capitalism ,but we are still imprisoned by these powers,” he stated, adding “We should not pay tribute to Iqbal with speeches, but by implementing his concept practically in order to free people from economic slavery.”

The online seminar had Muneeb Iqbal as the chief guest; PAL Chairman Dr. Yousuf Khushk presented the introductory note. Scholars from all over the county read out papers on different topics to highlight the thoughts and philosophy of Iqbal. They included Dr. Ehsan Akbar, Dr. Ayub Saber, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Kamran, Dr. Rashid Hameed, Dr. Basira Anbarin, Dr. Amjad Tufail, Niaz Panhwar, Zebun Nisa Zibi, Dr. Fakira Khan Faqiri, Dr. Abdul Rauf Rafiqi, Mohammad Hassan Hassrat, among many others. Dr. Saadia Tahir from Azad Kashmir moderated the seminar.

Muneeb Iqbal spoke about Iqbal’s devotion and love for Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him), which was reflected both in his thoughts and poetry. “Iqbal did everything he could for the Muslims of the world and the subcontinent. He was worried about the Ummah and Allah made his dream of a separate state a destiny for millions of Muslims in the shape of Pakistan,” he remarked. Dr. Yousuf Khushk said, Iqbal’s personality had many dimensions. He made great use of the knowledge of the East, and was a supporter of human brotherhood.

The speakers highlighted the services of Iqbal, terming him a poet and thinker of Islamic mythology; a poet who felt the sorrow of the Muslim Ummah; an interpreter of highest human values; and as a poet of the past, present, and future.