Iqbal's Thought: A Brief Overview and Its Impact on Pakistan

Abstract

Alluding to the development of human personality as a seed that flourishes through education and environment, this study examines Allama Iqbal’s intellectual growth and how it shaped his influence in Pakistan. Influenced by familial roots, early mentors like Maulana Mir Hassan, and the philosophical guidance of Professor Thomas Arnold, Iqbal’s unique synthesis of Eastern spirituality and Western intellectualism emerged. His poetry reflects not only his philosophical introspection but also his engagement with nationalism, capturing an intense longing for Pakistan's emancipation and cultural pride. This article discusses the phases of Iqbal’s thought, from romantic reflections on nature and mystical philosophy to his evolving nationalistic fervor, particularly during his Lahore college years. His early poetic works reveal both his patriotism and a deep-rooted desire for unity, with timeless messages of selfhood, societal ethics, and resistance against colonial rule, all of which continue to inspire Pakistan’s ideological and cultural discourse.