Iqbal and Intellectual Bankruptcy of the Muslims

تصوف تمدن شریعت کلام حقیقت خرافات میں کھو گئی بتان عجم کے پجاری تمام یہ امت روایات میں کھو گئی

(tasawwuf, tamaddun, shariat, kalaam; haqeeqat khurafat mein kho gayi; butan-e-ajam ke pujari tamam; ye ummat riwayat mein kho gayi)

Sufism, civilization, shariah, theology, reality is lost in myths; All follow their primordial faith of worshiping idols! The true Islamic doctrine has been lost in absurdities!

Iqbal’s ideas on Qur'an can be best understood through his following couplet :

The Ummat-e-Muslima has abandoned Qur'an

وہ زمانے میں معزز تھی مسلماں ہو کر اور تم خوار ہوئے تارک قراں ہو کر

(wo zamane mein muazziz thay musalman ho kar; aur tum khuwar huwe tark-e-quran ho kar)

They were honoured in the World because they were true Muslims,and You live disgraced life as you have abandoned the Qur'an.

Iqbal believed Qur'an has become incomprehensible in terms of words as well as message, moreover, the ways and methods which could help Muslims to develop an informed understanding of the Qur'anic language are beyond the reach of Muslims. Iqbal’s poetry “Touheed” highlight this aspect of intellectual bankruptcy of Muslims interpreters or exegists of Qur'an.

اہ اس راز سے واقف ہے نہ ملّا نہ فقیہ وحدت افکار کی بے وحدت کردار ہے خام قوم کیا چیز ہے قوموں کی امامت کیا ہے اس کو کیا سمجھیں یہ بے چارے دو رکعت کے امام

(ah! Iss raaz se waaqif hai na mulla na faqih Wahdat ifkaar ki be-wahdat kirdaar hai khaam; Qaum kya cheez hai qaumon ki imaamat kya hai Isko kya samjhen ye bechare do rakaat ke imaam)

Ah! Neither Mullah nor faqih envisages the fact that Unity of thought without unity of actions is imperfect! What is a community, and what is the meaning of leadership to the community? These Ulema who lead community prayers have no clue of that!

Iqbal was well aware about the methods of tampering with the scriptures including the Qur'an meaning the Qur'an will not change but those who explain the Qur'an can make it look, what it's not, and he gave special emphasis on one aspect of it and that was Fiqhization of the Qur'an. Iqbal Said:

خود بدلتے نہیں قراں کو بدل دیتے ہیں ہوئے کس درجہ فقیہان حرم بے توفیق

(khud badalte nahi Qur'an ko badal dete hain; huwe kis darje faqihan-e-haram be tawfeeq)

The jurists do not change their outlook but would prefer to change the Qur'an as per their outlook. Upto such extent Jurists have become corrupt and ignorant!

احکام ترے حق ہیں مگر اپنے مفسر تاویل سے قراں کو بنا سکتے ہیں پاژند

(ahkam tere haq hain magar apne mufassir; taweel se Qur'an ko bana sakte hain pazand)

The rulings are truth, but their interpreters; transformed Quran into the footnote of Avesta-e-Zand through inauthentic, biased exegesis!

The Muslims are being annihilated across the globe due to their ignorance of Original doctrine of the Qur'an. Iqbal addressed them as Ignorant and conditioned falcon in these couplets:

وہ فریب خوردہ شاہین جو پ ال ہو کرگسوں میں اسے کیا خبر کے کیا ہیں شاہ بازی راہ و رسم

(wo farib-e-khor da shaheen jo pa al ho kargason mein; usey kya khabar ke kya hai shah bazi raao wa rasam)

A falcon who has been raised and nurtured among the vultures remains ignorant of its strengths and strategies of hunting.

According to Iqbal, following steps are needed to revitalize the Ummah and to actualize the statement of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) i.e., "Islam will return as it began" - Tirmidhi

1. Restoration of Original doctrine of the Qur'an through reinstatement of Qur'anic language, and informed understanding of the Qur'an.

2. Replacement of prevalent Islamic educational curriculum with the restored Qur'anic curriculum.

3. Restoration of Qur'anic Curriculum shall be followed by Qur'anic Science.

To conclude, Iqbal in his famous poem “The Rise of Islam” says:

سبق پھر پڑھ صداقت کا عدالت کا شجاعت کا لیا جاے گا تجھہ سےکام دنیا کی امامت کا

(sabaq phir padh sadaqat ka, adalat ka, shuja'at ka; liya jayega tujhse kaam dunya ki imaamat ka)

Once again read the lesson of Truthfullness, Justice, and Valour; You will be asked to lead the World!