The true legacy of Allama Iqbal beyond romantic verse

By Raqif Makhdoomi* 

It is often said that no story is ever told exactly as it was lived. Every narrator adds or omits according to preference, shaping the account to suit their own lens. The same distortion has touched the legacy of Muhammad Iqbal, widely known as Allama Iqbal.  

Iqbal is frequently reduced to a poet of romance, his verses quoted casually in the context of heartbreak or love. Yet his poetry was never written for such purposes. To equate his work with personal relationships is to misrepresent its intent. Iqbal was not simply a poet; he was a revolutionary thinker, a philosopher, and a major intellectual force in the independence movement. His writings were rooted in vision, identity, and the upliftment of society.  

The title “Sir” attached to his name was not a colloquial honor but a formal knighthood conferred by King George V in 1922. It recognized his literary achievements, particularly Asrar-e-Khudi (Secrets of the Self). Iqbal accepted the honour only on the condition that his teacher, Mir Hasan, also be acknowledged, underscoring his belief in intellectual lineage. This episode illustrates that his poetry was never frivolous; it was revolutionary in spirit and substance.  

Iqbal’s philosophy sought a synthesis of East and West, combining Western technical progress with Eastern moral and ethical traditions. His concept of Khudi (selfhood) was a response to the erasure of identity under colonial education. His influence extended into institutions such as Jamia Millia Islamia, where Gandhi invited him to serve as Vice Chancellor, and Aligarh Muslim University, where his ideas shaped educational discourse. He advocated curricula that embraced modern science and economics while retaining cultural and spiritual roots.  

His poetry addressed youth, spirituality, education, vulgarity, colonialism, Palestine, Spain, and beyond. It was a comprehensive reflection on life, urging moral clarity and social responsibility. Misquoting his verses to justify wrongdoing distorts his message. If alive today, Iqbal would likely have opposed such misuse of his work. His writings demand careful study, informed by the historical context in which they were produced.  

Iqbal’s patriotic songs, including Tarana-e-Hind and Saare Jahaan Se Achha, remain symbols of communal harmony. He is rightly remembered as the “Poet of the East.” Yet the way he is presented today often diverges from the depth of his original vision. Diluting his meaning risks replacing truth with misinterpretation.  

It is time to accord Iqbal’s works the respect they deserve, to read them as guides to identity, education, and moral strength rather than as casual quotations. Only then can his legacy be preserved in its rightful form.  

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*Law student and human rights activist