Iqbal Day Special: From Iqbal’s Dream to Takmeel-é-Pakistan

Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal envisioned a sovereign and independent state for the Muslims of Sub-continent. A state where Islamic teachings will establish the core ideology, a way of life and socio-politico-economic system, practiced as the true religion and celebrated as the ideal way of life. His vision was not merely a dream rather it was a divine invocation, an order from the spiritual domain, which was destined, to be executed, which already had Almighty’s approval, which He brought into existence for a special purpose.

The personality appointed by Almighty to propagate the underlying ideology, which ultimately laid the foundation of Pakistan, was Allama Iqbal. He was more than a scholar, more than a philosopher, more than a saint and much more than a visionary. We cannot attempt to sum up in one article what this legend really was, since he himself once said, "Iqbal himself isn’t aware of what Iqbal really is". What we know and should always remember is that he was the one who ignited the spark of self-awareness in the Muslims of Sub-continent, who infused the passion to acquire freedom and independence in the blood of Muslim youth of the time. He was who unveiled the true meaning and spirit of Islam and hope in the otherwise pessimistic minority.

"Kia ajab meri nawa-haaye sahar gaahi say
Zinda ho jaye woh aatish kai teri khaak mein hai"

Allama Iqbal uplifted the spirits of Muslims at the time of great misery and darkness. At a time when the nexus of Hindus and the British rulers was leaving no stone unturned to damage Muslims, deploying all the resources and means to malign the Muslim identity and exerting full force to crush them as an ideological nation. The deceitful British rulers had no intention of doing any good to Muslims and instead they connived with Hindus to throw the Muslim nation in front of the Hindu scavengers as a helpless prey.

Allama Iqbal's poetry was the divine voice from the sky that was channelized through Iqbal's soul, it came as the true reflection of the message of Islam. The incredible message that revitalized the uncivilized Arabs, the message that triggered burning passion in the hearts of the Muslims of Sub-continent, infusing them with paramount courage. Allama Iqbal was most certainly the chosen one who was assigned the duty to rejuvenate the nation and to convey the glad tidings about the creation of Pakistan as a Muslim State.

He made Muslims realize, what they actually are, what their true stature is and that they shouldn't be overwhelmed by any kind of complex, fear and frustration:

He imparted the message of hope and belief, the message of oneness of the Muslim nation and gathered the confused, scared and scattered Muslims on a single platform:

"Millat kai saath raabta istawaar rakh
Paywasta reh shajar say umeed-e-bahar rakh"

"Fard qaim rabt-e-millat say hai tanha kuch nahin
Mauj hai darya mein bayroon-e-darya kuch nahin"

He likened Muslim youngsters with "Shaheen" (Falcon) and gave them the inspiration to have the vision, the flight, the character and the attitude of a Falcon. He established that this character and attitude would actually enable them to reach their destiny, to achieve what they deserve and to regain their lost glory.

"Tu Shaheen hai Parwaaz hai kaam tera
Tere saamnay aasmaan aur bhi hai"

"Nahin tera nasheman qasr-e-sultani kai gumbad par
Tu Shaheen hai basera kar pahaarhoon ki chatanon mein"

Iqbal then led the Muslims towards even broader scope and higher goal. He was a visionary, an ideologue and a foreseer, He saw it long ago that the Islamic empire will be resurrected yet again, no matter what happens, no matter how adverse would apparently be the conditions for Muslims, no matter what the elite of the world plans, he had his faith in just one fact that Allah is the best of all planners. He was convinced that the Almighty has decided for this nation to rise again and this time it will be in the true spirit of Islam.

He further saw, even before the creation of Pakistan that the Muslims of this Islamic state to be established in the sub-continent will ultimately lead this rise of Islam. It is their destiny and a duty that has been assigned to this nation. With his poetry, Iqbal unveiled this word and also urged Muslims to be prepared for it, get ready for it and to work towards achieving it:

"Sabaq phir parh, Sadaqat ka, Adalat ka, Shuja'at ka
Lia jaye ga tujh say kaam dunia kia imaamat ka"

"Yaqeen afraad ka sarmaaya-e-tameer-e-millat hai
Yehi qoowat hai jo soorat gar-e-taqdeer-e-millat hai"

At one point, Pakistan Movement was surrounded by total frustration and despair. Muhammad Ali Jinnah was so disheartened that he flew to London and settled there leaving everything behind. It was Allama Iqbal who gave him the spiritual inspiration that he needed and brought him back. It was Iqbal's spiritual support and presence in the background, which transformed Muhammad Ali Jinnah into Quaid-e-Azam.

Allama Iqbal left this world in 1938, about 9 years before Pakistan's creation, but his poetry had already set the Muslim souls on fire and ignited burning flames of love in the hearts and complete devotion to achieve the impossible, do the unthinkable.

Pakistan resolution was passed in Lahore in 1940 and an independent, sovereign state for the Muslims of Sub-continent came into being on August 14, 1947. It was just 17 years after Iqbal dreamt about it and transfused the vision in Muslims. Almighty blessed us with the gift of Pakistan where Muslims could live with peace, harmony and freedom and practice the religion of Islam in its true sense.

Unfortunately, Iqbal's dream was only partially realized ever since independence. We were blessed with a sacred Islamic state but we converted into a mere piece of land. Since the time of its inception till today, we have been unable to take Pakistan to the heights it deserved; we couldn't make it the fortress of Islam. We hadn't established the systems on the basis of Islamic teachings, and as a result, Pakistan ended up as a state with injustice, conflicts, economic and social problems, resource misuse and mismanagement, corrupt leaders and bad governance.

Pakistan was hence created but never completed or 'realized'. The people of Pakistan have been waiting for a time when the dreams that were seen at the time of its creation, will come true. They have been waiting for a system that would facilitate them, an environment that will liberate them from their troubles and desolation.

That wait is about to be over! The winds of change have already started to blow. The scenario is changing and the dynamics of the state are taking the right direction! The Shaheens of Iqbal have finally awakened. They have realized what went wrong with their country and how to correct it. They have understood what Pakistan was meant to be and what the traitors and disloyal people along with their foreign masters are trying to transform it into. The youth of Pakistan is now recognizing, why our enemies fear Pakistan and why they want to destabilize it. They are afraid of the potential of the Muslims of Pakistan, but ultimately they are scared of its destiny.

Very close to his last days, Iqbal wrote his masterpiece "Iblees ki Majlis-e-Shura" (Devil's Executive Meeting) (read full at bottom). He said:

Jis ki khaakister mein hai ab tuk Sharaar-e-Aarzoo"

Ho na jaye aashkaara Shar'a-e-Paighambar kaheen"

Doctor Israr Ahmad explains Iqbal's poem 'Iblees ki Majlis-é-Shurah':

All sorts of efforts are being made and conspiracies have been crafted to curb the potential of Pakistan. But as Iqbal predicted, a wave of self-realization is propagating across the country. Despite all the frustration, problems, evil designs of both internal and external elements, the awakening is happening.

"Millat-e-Bayza ki phir sheeraza bandee hai
Shakh-e-Hashmi karnay ko hai phir barg-e-bar paida"

"Ata momin ko phir dargah-e-haq say honay wala hai
Shikoh-e-Turkamani, zehen-e-Hindi, nutq-e-Araabi"

We, the youth of Pakistan are now geared up with all our passion to realize the unfulfilled part of Iqbal's dream. We now stand together to serve, build, protect and defend our beloved Pakistan. Our elders brought Pakistan into existence by Allah's will after countless sacrifices and we are also ready to shed our lives for our country if need be.

On this day, we promise Hakeem-ul-Ummat, our spiritual leader, guide and mentor, Allama Iqbal, that we'll bring his mission to accomplishment. We will do anything to take Pakistan to its destiny. We will do what we can to put in place the system the ideology on the basis of which Pakistan was created. We'll put in all efforts to bring justice, peace, harmony and prosperity to our beloved land in accordance with our religious teachings.

We promise that we will prepare Pakistan to take up its fated role in the world and we will Insha’Allah take Pakistan towards its ultimate Takmeel.

"Aflaak say ata hai naaloon ka jawaab aakhir
Kartay hein khitaab aakhir, uthtay hein hijaab aakhir
Mein tujh ko batata hoon taqdeer-e-umam kia hai
Shamsheer-o-sinaa awwal, Taoos-o-rabaab aakhir
Khilwat ki gharhee guzree, jalwat ki gharheee ayee
Chhutnay ko hai bujli say aaghosh-e-sahaab aakhir"

Iqbal's prayer for the youth of Pakistan:

"Jawaanoon ko meri aah-e-sahar dey
Phir in Shaheen bachchoon ko baal-o-par dey
Khudaya! aarzoo meri yehi hai
Mera noor-e-baseerat aam kar dey"

Pakistan Zinda-o-Paindabaad...