Bandar Seri Begawan - The Pakistan High Commission in Brunei yesterday hosted a seminar to celebrate the 133rd anniversary of famous Muslim poet and philosopher Allama Sir Dr Muhammad Iqbal.

Addressing the seminar at the Pakistan High Commission, speakers said that Iqbal was not only a national poet of Pakistan but also a a great asset of the Muslim community who always advocated the unity among Muslims around the world.

Sir Dr Muhammad Iqbal, born on November 9, 1877, was a Persian and Urdu poet, philosopher and politician whose vision of an independent state for the Muslims of British India was to inspire the creation of Pakistan.

"Iqbal was a strong proponent of the political and spiritual revival of Islamic civilisation across the world, and he always urged Muslims to educate themselves to bring the Muslim community at par with other developed nations of the world," said Professor Datuk Anwar, a prominent Pakistani scholar in Brunei.

Keeping in view the problems of the Muslim community in 20th century, Dr Anwar said Iqbal had stressed the need for Ijtihad (a technical term of Islamic law that describes the process of making a legal decision by independent interpretation of the legal sources, the al-Quran and the Sunnah).

Newly appointed High Commissioner of Pakistan to Brunei Darussalam U Gen (Rtd) Sallah Ud Din said Iqbal was a multidimensional personality.

"He was not only a political philosopher and religious scholar but also a great leader of Muslim Ummah during 20th century," he said.

Iqbal is respected in Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan for his poetry in Persian and many of his books have been translated in Arabic, English and German languages, he said.

The ambassador said the Muslim community, especially youth can benefit greatly from the teachings of Iqbal.

"Iqbal was a practical person and he always urged Muslims to become practical and hardworking to regain their lost glory," he said. The seminar was attended by prominent members of Pakistani community in Brunei.

Dr Iqbal who is also called, the Poet of the East, is best known for his poetic works, including Asrar-eKhudi which brought a knighthood Rumuz-e-Bekhudi, and the Bang-eDra, with lts enduring patriotic song Tarana-e-Hind.

In India, he is widely regarded for the patriotic song, Same Jahan Se Achcha. In Afghanistan and Iran, where he is known as Iqbal-e-Lahori (Iqbal of Lahore), he is highly regarded for his Persian works.

He is officially recognised as the national poet of Pakistan. The anniversary of his birth is on November 9, and is a national holiday in Pakistan.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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