Project Reports

Sahabzada Sultan Muhammad Ali

Founding Father of MUSLIM Institute

Sahibzada Sultan Muhammad Ali, founder of the MUSLIM Institute, in his address stated that Iqbal did not belong to any particular age rather he would continue guiding the entire Ummah of the Holy Prophet. Iqbal’s ideology of Hurriat became foundation of Pakistan movement. During Iqbal’s age, imperialistic system was controlling the entire world. In this backdrop, contemporary era is more challenging than Iqbal’s age. According to Iqbal, political emancipation was not possible without intellectual and economic independence. Once fate of Pakistan is decided in Islamabad without any extraneous influence, then it would be real Pakistan of Iqbal.

Yousaf Raza Gillani

Former Prime Minister

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, expressing his views, stated that it was good luck and a matter of pride for the Sub-Continent that Iqbal belonged to this region. In the light of Iqbal’s views, I consider Afghanistan as critical for peace in the region. Peace in Pakistan is conditioned with peace in Afghanistan. Iqbal exhorted Mashaikhs not to remain confined to shrines, instead lead the nation.

Raja Zafar ul Haq

Chairman PML(N)

Chairman PML(N) Raja Zafar ul Haq described the event as ‘exemplary” among all intellectual gatherings in connection with Iqbal Day. He urged on the need to study and comprehend Iqbal’s views about Ijtihad. He was a blessing for Muslims. His intellectualism is an asset. Revolutions in Iran and Egypt were byproducts of his thoughts. There is increasing interest among youth from Morocco to Pakistan towards Islam and Iqbal’s views are great inspiration behind the same. Iqbal’s works should also be distributed free among youth on the lines of free laptop for youth scheme (of the Punjab Govt).

Sardar Ateeq Ahmed Khan

Former Prime Minister Azad Kashmir

Former Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Sardar Ateeq Ahmed Khan, addressing the conference, stated that people in Germany are still proud of the fact that Iqbal studied there. Iqbal’s thoughts are in fact Sufi thoughts, very similar to the thoughts of saints like Hazrat Sultan Bahoo. The same are in fact a message of religious harmony, tolerance, love and affection. He added that Iqbal negated the capitalism and its exploitative thoughts and not the capital itself. Iqbal’s thoughts revolved around the sacred personality of the Holy Prophet. Iqbal’s teachings should be included in academic syllabus at all levels. The Kashmiris are proud of the fact that Iqbal’s forefathers were also Kashmiris and their love for Pakistan and Iqbal is still alive. 

General (R) Hamid Gul

Former DG ISI

Ex-DG ISI Gen ( R ) Hameed Gul stated that Iqbal’s message was of revolution. According to Iqbal, Afghans are a Ghayoor nation and that is the reason they defeated world powers five times. America has also been defeated in Afghanistan and planning to flee. Iqbal’s thoughts are immortal as these are in fact derived from the Holy Quran. The future system would be Islamic one and according to Iqbal’s thoughts. Pakistan would be guardian of the same as Islam is in its very foundation.

Senator Akram Zaki

Senator Akram Zaki lauded MUSLIM Institute’s initiative for promotion of Iqbalian vision. He regretted that our youth was being distracted towards decline due to wrong use of cellular network packages. Only Iqbal’s thoughts and inspiration can bring us on the right track. We should adopt modernism in the light of Iqbal’s views as Aligarh was the start of modern education and lifestyle and the same culminated in Iqbal. 

Sahibzada Sultan Ahmad Ali

Chairman MUSLIM Institute

Chairman MUSLIM Institute Sahibzada Sultan Ahmad Ali said that the MUSLIM Institute is a research organization with the aim to ascertain through analytic research solutions to problems being faced by Pakistan as well as the Muslim world. Shedding light on Iqbal’s philosophy, he said that the past two generations claimed that Iqbal was for them only but I think Iqbal is for me, while those coming after me will claim him for themselves. Iqbal predicted fall of capitalism and today we find the same in shape of Occupy Wall Street movement. He added that addressing the Arab nationhood Iqbal stated that they (Arabs) were one Ummah but became divided into many Ummahs. The Europe was victim of nationalism and sowed the same seeds among Arabs.

Prof Fateh Muhammad Malik

Former Rector International Islamic University

Former Rector International Islamic University Prof Fateh Muhammad Malik, discussing Iqbal and contemporary Islamic world, opined that Iqbal’s thoughts reformed the dynastic system of the Arab world and wave of mass awakening has begun in number of Muslim countries. The youth of these countries is following the philosophy of Iqbal in rejecting monarchial rule for spiritual democracy. In 1973, renowned intellectual Al Buti of Damascus University published a paper and impact of the same is being observed today. In this paper, Al Buti described Iqbal as his Murshid (spiritual mentor). With his prophetic political vision, he instructed Muslims on the issue of Palestine that the Arabs and Turks should live united like brothers to face challenges from the modern world. We witnessed practical demonstration of this thought recently at an event in Turkey which was chaired by the Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi.

Orya Maqbool Jan

Columnist and Analyst

Renowned columnist and analyst Orya Maqbool Jan stated that Iqbal laid foundation of two nation theory in Hindustan. The opponents of two nation theory should know that Allah has also mentioned two groups in the Holy Quran – Allah’s group and Satan’s group. The same is in fact two nation theory. In Iqbal’s teachings, Shirk means bowing in front of non-believers in any facet of life. Revolution in Iran was due to Iqbal’s thoughts. We are lucky that Iqbal was born here.

Advocate Waleed Iqbal

Grandson of Allama Iqbal

Advocate Waleed Iqbal, grandson of Allama Iqbal, said that Iqbal urged youth to adopt love for the Holy Prophet, determination, Faqr and independence while unfortunately opposite values have been adopted by us. Iqbal insisted on discarding fear and submission. Today there is dire need for youth to be pro-active and adopt Iqbal’s vision as the same can help us eliminate sectarianism.

Rana Abdul Baqi

Columnist

Eminent columnist Rana Abdul Baqi said that Iqbal is among founders of Pakistan. Today our social, economic, defense and religious policies are against the vision of founders of Pakistan. Our ruling elite, instead of protecting Islamic ideological frontiers of the country, is engaged in promoting secularism. Iqbal had expertise in oriental and occidental thoughts but he was advocate of Islamic thought. He adopted it as “ideology of nationhood” and Jinnah completed it through his struggle.

Muhammad Sohail Umer

Nazim Iqbal Academy Pakistan

Muhammad Sohail Umer, Nazim Iqbal Academy Pakistan, said that Allama Iqbal attained three degrees from three different leading universities in three years and he had proficiency in seven different languages; which are unique distinctions. During first five centuries of Islam, Ijtihad was part of Islamic thought. However, during the sixth century, practice of Ijtihad was discontinued and thereafter there has been no consensus on it. Despite that, we had instances of Ijtihad in shape of Fatwa (degrees) of Muslim scholars. Iqbal laid emphasis on Ijtihad to solve our problems. Iqbal’s Islamic democratic system is also a manifestation of his Ijtihad. Similarly, declaring Qadianis as non-Muslims or announcing not to make any legislation contrary to the Holy Quran and the Holy Sunnah are also instances of Ijtihad in our country, inspired by Iqbalian insistence on the same.

Tariq Ismail Sager

Author

Eminent author Tariq Ismail Sager said that the Westerns wanted the Muslims to be entangled in geographical nationhood instead of unity of Ummah. They wanted the Muslims to be confined to articles of faith of Islam instead of thinking about Muslim nationhood and political dimensions of Islam. Allama Iqbal forbade the youth from following secular thoughts of the West and urged them to adopt the Islamic thought as success lies in the same.

Professor Dr. Riaz Ahmed

Professor Dr. Riaz Ahmed said that Iqbal’s religious philosophy and Sultan Bahoo’s teachings have close and deep relationship. Iqbal analyzed the philosophy of the west and the entire Muslim world and explained how western thinkers learnt from the traditions of the East, just as we are learning modern sciences from them today. Iqbal referred to those verses of the Holy Quran in his renowned lectures, which pertain to the universe and relationship between man and society. If the same approach is adopted today, we can overcome the scourge of sectarianism. He said that the Holy Prophets conveyed their message through discourse and logic, whereas this approach is missing in today’s world. 

Professor Dr. Sabir Ayub

Author

Professor Dr. Sabir Ayub in his address stated that in the light of Iqbal’s thoughts there should be Islamic Parliament instead of SAARC Parliament and the same can pave way for Muslim unity, enabling us to face contemporary challenges. The Muslim nationhood is byproduct of Islam while state nationhood is byproduct of liberalism and secularism.

Dr. Talib Hussain Sial

Director Iqbal Academy, International Islamic University

Dr. Talib Hussain Sial, Director Iqbal Academy, International Islamic University, said that Allama Iqbal’s efforts to acquire education are beacon for our youth. According to Iqbal’s education policy, there should be blend of religious and scientific education. Allama Iqbal opined that for being a perfect human, spiritual journey is necessary. If we do not adopt Iqbal’s thoughts, we may become good doctors and engineers but cannot be good humans. If we include Allama Iqbal’s thoughts in our curriculum, only then we will be able to transform Pakistan according to dreams and aspirations of Allama Iqbal.

Adnan Haneef

MUSLIM Institute’s Research Associate

MUSLIM Institute’s Research Associate Adnan Haneef made a presentation on the international recognition enjoyed by Iqbal’s philosophy and said that Iqbal’s thoughts have been translated in over eleven languages. Besides explaining the academic literature produced regarding Iqbal, he also shed light on the recognition given to Iqbal by international scholars and philosophers. 

 Usman Hassan

MUSLIM Institute’s Research Associate

MUSLIM Institute’s Research Associate Usman Hassan said that Allama Iqbal, due to his vision and foresight, eighty years ago advised laying of railway track from Kakul to Istanbul, that would connect the entire Muslim world. Now the same has been established as fact and we are late in adopting Iqbal’s vision.