How Pakistan Misunderstands Iqbal's Legacy

Iqbal’s philosophy

It is timely to assess the enduring relevance of his legacy within Pakistan. Widely regarded as the spiritual father of Pakistan, Iqbal envisioned a state guided by intellect and compassion in its governance, where the spirit of inquiry and respect for humanity superseded rigid dogma. However, present-day Pakistan has reduced Iqbal to a mere symbol and name, separating him from his multifaceted and progressive ideals, rendering his thoughts easily disregarded or misrepresented. Rather than upholding the philosopher's ideals, we have constructed a distorted representation that adheres to an inflexible, officially approved understanding, deviating significantly from his original vision.

Iqbal’s philosophy was grounded in his belief in Ijtihad, the concept of evolving religious thought to meet modern contexts. He warned against rigid adherence to outdated laws that did not serve future generations. Yet, ironically, Pakistan today is a society reluctant to embrace his call for flexibility in thought, preferring to uphold outdated and rigid laws. Gen Zia’s infamous disregard of Iqbal’s stance on Hudood laws is emblematic. Iqbal believed in a humane and flexible Sharia, one responsive to the context of its times, yet his ideas were sidelined for a brand of orthodoxy that disregards human compassion and progress.

Consider the essence of Masjid-e-Qurtuba, a poem where Iqbal reflected on the grandeur and spiritual resilience of Muslim civilization. It’s a poem that reflects on both heritage and loss, envisioning a future where Muslims regain their dynamism. But rather than the self-renewal he urged, Iqbal’s memory is now locked in nostalgia, a static monument rather than a living legacy. His complex ideas, once a fusion of Nietzschean individualism and Islamic solidarity, are rarely understood in the full intellectual breadth he intended.

It’s also vital to note that Iqbal’s vision of Muslim empowerment was not about isolationism but a pluralist society where Muslims could contribute vibrantly alongside other communities. His ideas about a separate homeland were born of a pragmatic response to rising communalism in pre-partition India, not a desire for divisive theocracy. Jinnah and Iqbal, both trained in Western law and philosophy, envisioned a state governed by universal principles of justice and equality, where religious identity was personal, not a tool for state coercion.

Today, Pakistan faces the dissonance between Iqbal’s vision and its realities. While Iqbal foresaw a vibrant, intellectual Muslim society where reason and spirituality harmonized, the current interpretations of religion often overshadow reasoned discourse and hinder progress. Iqbal’s true legacy isn’t in verses selectively quoted but in his lifelong call to revive Islamic thought through humanistic and philosophical lenses. To honor him authentically, Pakistan must embrace the intellectual dynamism he championed, exploring faith as a source of strength rather than constraint. Only by rediscovering Iqbal’s unfiltered ideas, liberating them from state-approved interpretations, can Pakistan hope to fulfill the visionary spirit he once embodied.