How Allama Iqbal’s Poetry Written Decades Ago Still Holds Relevancy Today
On November 9th, people across Pakistan celebrate Iqbal Day. Iqbal Day marks the birthday of Pakistan’s national poet, Allama Muhammad…
On November 9th, people across Pakistan celebrate Iqbal Day. Iqbal Day marks the birthday of Pakistan’s national poet, Allama Muhammad Iqbal. He is regarded as one of Pakistan’s founding father because he envisioned Pakistan to be a separate Muslim state. His poetry revolves around themes of reform, Islam and mysticism.
I came across a poem of Iqbal as I Google’d English translations of the poetry he’s written in Urdu and Persian. I read To A Young Man and immediately became captivated by Iqbal’s words. The words he wrote decades ago still hold so much relevance and value today that I wanted to share the profound lessons found in his poem.
I’ve been in Pakistan for a month now. The words of these poems resonate deeply with me because I have observed the state of the youth here. And it’s no different than how Iqbal describes it in his poem.
The line my eyes weep blood when I see the youth in such luxury and ease is a testament of how monetary wealth drives people to positions of privilege and power. Much of Iqbal’s poetry gives insights on a higher purpose, God’s divinity and the ultimate definition of being a Muslim. In this poem, he points out the inclination of man to possess to splendour of worldly luxuries whilst forgetting that there is a higher purpose. And this purpose is being a believer and among the confidants of God. What does this really mean?
I’ve interpreted this poem to be a much-needed message — as it was when it was written and in the present day. Pakistan is divided in so many different ways (religious sects, caste system, etc) but the most visible division one sees in this country is amongst the wealthy and the poor. I wonder how people can believe that wealth brings about a meaningful life when you lack an ultimate purpose. The mere reality that once you die the wealth you possess will be valueless should be enough for man to realize that life holds a greater purpose.
In Pakistan, and many other parts of the world I have heard people say that if one is making money, they should use it to upscale their lifestyle. This implies that people earn and make money to live a certain kind of lifestyle — which is true. Some people earn money to live comfortably while others earn money to live lavishly. This is an individual’s personal prerogative. But I wonder if earning money for a certain kind of lifestyle is the sole purpose? Do people not think of the comforts of those less fortunate? Is our purpose in this world to earn wealth and consume it all for ourselves? Should our sole purpose as humans be to earn money while forgetting about other meaningful things life has to offer?
To have too much wealth is a test. And to not have any wealth at all is also a test. But to have wealth is a greater test because the more you have, the more you’ll be accountable for. I think it’s a scary thing — to be rich. The way in which one spends tells a lot about someone’s morals and character. And truth be told, wealth can distract you from so many things. It distracts you from meaningful relationships. It distracts you from finding a divine purpose. And if you follow a particular faith, wealth can deviate you from that as well.
Iqbal writes “Do not look for this in the glitter of today’s civilization.” I assume that this in this context means materialistic wealth. Not everything that shines is gold. And perhaps what Iqbal is asking us to recognize is that what makes life meaningful is not your sofas from Europe or your carpets from Iran but rather being content with what you have, having the desire to attain knowledge and believing in the divine power of God.
I found the last stanzas of the poem to be the most profound. Iqbal writes “Your dwelling is not the dome of a royal palace, You are an eagle, make your dwelling on the highest of mountains.” These stanzas have forced me to think of human behaviour. How as humans we correlate success with the amount of money we have and in result feel obliged to showcase that wealth by building houses the size of palaces and living a lavish lifestyle. By doing this, we are showing our youth that there is nothing more to life but the monetary assets you collect.
Perhaps, this is what our nation is missing: The recognition that a successful life is not one in which you make xyz amount of money or build xyz number of houses but rather a successful and meaningful life is one in which you were just to your family and the less fortunate. A life in which you spent your days working towards a meaningful cause. A life which allowed you to attain knowledge and spread it amongst those around you. But most importantly, a successful and meaningful life is one in which you are content with what you have rather than competing in a race for more and more. Iqbal’s words hold true decades later and perhaps will always be valuable in the world we live in today.