MUHAMMAD IQBAL: ISLAM, THE WEST, AND THE QUEST FOR A MODERN MUSLIM IDENTITY

MASOOD A. RAJA

ABSTRACT

Using one major poem of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the Muslim poet philosopher,
this essay discusses Iqbal’s view of the colonial West and his emphasis on Islam
as an alternative world system. Allama Muhammad Iqbal was born in Sialkot,
preset day Pakistan, on November 9, 1877. He received his early education at
Scotch Mission College (now Murray College) and then moved to Lahore to study
English literature, Arabic and Philosophy at Government College Lahore. Having
finished his Masters, Iqbal left for Europe in 1905 for advanced graduate studies.
In London he studied at Lincoln’s Inn to qualify for the Bar and also enrolled as
an undergraduate at Trinity College. During the same time he also submitted a
dissertation to Munich University and was granted a doctorate. During his early
education his main influence came from Maulvi Mir Hassan, a teacher of Persian
literature at Scotch Mission College, while at Government College Lahore Iqbal
benefited from the personal attention of Thomas Arnold, a renowned orientalist
of his time.