ALLAMA IQBAL'S LOVE FOR IMAM ALI(A.S.) IN ASRAR-E-KHUDI

Allama Iqbal was called “The Thinker of Pakistan” as he spear-headed the Muslim Renaissance in British India which ultimately culminated in the creation of Pakistan in 1947. He obtained his Doctorate from Germany and was a Barrister, the highest law affiliation in England. He was a Sunni Muslim but had a profound love for Prophet (s)’s Progeny. In one of his Persian books, Asrar-e-Khudi, he had expressed his respectful love and admiration for Imam Ali (a). Some of its extracts are reproduced below:

                                  Muslim e awwal shahe mardan Ali

                                       Ishq ra sarmaya e iman Ali

Ali (a.s.) is the first Muslim and the king of men, In Love’s eyes, Ali (a.s.) is the    

                                         Treasure of the faith.

                                  Az wilae dood manish zinda um

                                  Dar jahan misle guhar tabinda um

Devotion to his family inspires me with life, so I am shining like a pearl.

                                  Az rukhe uo faal Paighambar grift

                                  Millat e Haq az shikohish far grift

From Ali (a.s.)’s face, the Prophet(s.a.w.s.) drew many a fair omen, by his majesty the

                                     true religion is glorified.

                                  Quwwat e deen e mubeen farmudaish

                                      Kainaat aaen pizeer az doodaish

His commandments are the strength of Islam, all things pay allegiance to his House.

                                  Mursal e Haq kard namish Bu Turab

                                  Haq “Yad Allah” khawnad dar Ummul Kitab

The Apostle(s.a.w.s.) of God gave him the name Bu Turab (Father of soil), God in the Quran called him

                                        “The Hand of Allah”

                                  Sher e Haq ien khaak ra taskheer kard

                                        Ien gile tareek ra akseer kard

Ali (a.s.), “The Lion of God” subdued the body’s clay and transmuted this dark

                                                Earth to gold.

                                  Murtaza (a.s.) kaz taigh e uo Haq raushan ast

                                      Bu Turab az fathe aqleem e tan ast

Murtaza(a), by whose sword the splendor of truth was revealed, is named

                      Bu Turab from his conquest of the empire of body (clay).

                                  Hark e dar afaaq gardad Bu Turab

                                   Baaz gardanad za maghrib aftaab

Whosoever in the world if become a Bu Turab, turns back the Sun from West.

                                  Zaire paaish ienja shikohe Khyber ast

                                  Dast e uo Unja khaseem e Kauser ast

Here the Might of Khyber is under his feet and in Hereafter his hand will distribute

                                              the water of Kauser.

                                  Az khud aagahi Yadullahi kunad

                                  Az Yadullahi shahinshahi kunad

Through self-knowledge, he acts as God’s Hand and by virtue of being God’s Hand

                                          he reigns over every thing.

                                  Zaat e uo darwaza e shahre uloom

                                  Zair e farmanish Hijaz o Cheen o Room

He is the GateWay of the City of Knowledge; Arabia, China, and Greece are under

                                              his governance.