Iqbal: Around the world
The British Indian government decided to hold the second-round table conference in London in the month of Oct 1931 and Allama Iqbal was invited to be part of it for being on of the representative of Indian Muslims. In order to be part of conference Allama left from Lahore on 9th of September and reached Delhi. From where he went to Bombay (now Mumbai) before setting out for London. Allama had made his mind that besides attending the conference he will visit other places in and outside Europe. Allama started his typical sea voyage from Bombay to London. He was accompanied by four Muslim delegates which included justice Suhrawardy, Shaikh Mushir Hussain Kidwai, Khan Bahadur Hafiz Hayat Hussain and Sayyid Ali Imam.
Allama finally reached London as on 27th sept 1931. Apart from participating in second round table conference he was visited by well-known dignitaries like Sir Samuel Hoare (secretary of state for India) and Sayyid Zia Uddin Tabatabie (former prime minister of Iran). A number of receptions were thrown in the honour of Allama and freedom fighters from Chechnya and Turkey visited him as well. During his visit Allama also visited Cambridge University to deliver a lecture for the International Muslim Association. At the train station Chaudary Rahmat Ali along with others receive d him with warm welcome.
During his England visit one of the most important persons Allama meets is Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It was Iqbal who urged Jinnah to end his self-imposed exile in London and return home. As Iqbal realised it was none other than Jinnah who possessed the best qualities to lead the Muslims of India. With this Allama ended his London visit and was now marching to Paris. One of the close friends of Iqbal Umrao Singh Sher Gill received Iqbal at Paris train station with a warm hug. From Paris Allama travelled to Rome wherein he was received by Professor Airastco who taught philosophy at Rome University. On his very next day in Rome Allama visited Rome University and met the scholars there. During his visit Allama visited the former king of Afghanistan Aman Allah Khan who was living in Rome as a political refugee.
Iqbal being in Rome, Italian Dictator, Benito Mussolini sends him an aid, seeking a meeting with great poet of the east. Benito Mussolini being impressed with Iqbal invites to visit him in his office on Nov 27, 1931. When Iqbal visited Mussolini and comes closer to the dictator, Mussolini stands up and welcomes Iqbal by shaking his hand. The meeting between the two lasts for around forty minutes.
From Rome Iqbal travelled to Egypt. While in Cairo he was given a warm welcome and was visited by members of Shahab Al Muslimeen, and by students of Al Azhar University from Indian Origin. Iqbal also visited historical monuments around Cairo: the pyramids, the gardens by the Nile and other places.
Iqbal is surprised when well-known Sufi Sayyid Muhammad Madi Abu Al Azam visits Iqbal in his hotel and topics with respect to betterment and unity among Muslims were discussed. Iqbal also meets prime minister of Egypt Mustafa Al Nahas Pasha on his invitation. Before leaving Egypt Iqbal also visited Al Azhar University.
From Cairo Allama and his companion Mehr took train that takes them through Khan Yunus, the Gaza strip and Ludh. From there they take a final train to Jerusalem. Once Iqbal arrived in Jerusalem, he was given a warm welcome by Mufti Amin Al Husseni who has invited Allama to attend the Muslim World Congress in Palestine.
By 1931 the Zionist hold on Palestine was becoming stronger. As Allama was a staunch supporter of the Muslim brotherhood that was one of the reasons of Allama’s participation in Muslim World Congress. Iqbal expressed his views on different proposals such as Hejaz railway committee should be transferred to a Muslim international administrative company and the establishment of a university of excellence in Jerusalem.
During the conference Allama warned of two great dangers “materialism and excessive nationalism” among Muslims. “I don’t worry much about the enemies of Islam as much as I worry about Muslim themselves”. Whenever I recall these words, I hang my head in shame. Are we Muslims today in a condition that the Prophet would be proud of us? Iqbal also visited the Christian Holy sites including the Mount of Olives. Allama Iqbal departs from the holy land of Jerusalem on Dec 15, 1931 along with his companion Ghulam Rasool Mehr. boarded a ship from port Saeed to Bombay on December 18.
One of the long- cherished dreams of Allama Iqbal was to visit Spain and this dream comes true in january 1933 when Iqbal enters Spain as a tourist. The trip provided him an opportunity to experience Spain’s rich islamic heritage. The heritage which has its reminders in every nook and corner of Spain. Iqbal’s first stop was in Madrid, where from he visited Andalusia. Spain’s minister of education received him and arrangements were made for his visit to legendary mosque of Cordoba (long back converted to cathedral). Iqbal becomes the first Muslim to offer prayers in the mosque – converted to church in more than four hundred years in January 1933. Allama was much fortunate that he was allowed to offer the prayers in the mosque because Spanish authorities strongly prohibited it. There he composed the poem Masjidi Qurtaba “The Masjid of Cordoba”. In this poem Allama takes pride in its beauty as a reflection of the greatness of Andalusia under the rule of Muslims for almost 800 years.
During the visit of Europe, Iqbal received a letter from his son Javed. Javed has asked his father to bring a gramophone for him. Iqbal, instead composed a message for his son through a poem,’Javed ke Naam:’
Dayare Ishq mein apna maqam paida kar
Naya zamana naye subha I shaam paida kar
Mera tareeqay amiri nahi faqiri hai
Khudi na bech gareebi mein naam paida kar .
Iqbal breathed his last on 8th of April 1938 at the age of 60 .
By: Sameer-ul-Haq
