You must have seen the beehive. You are aware of the taste and colour of honey. You also know that the honey gets this colour after so many days of hard work and sacrifices of the bees. But have you ever realised that the flowers, which contribute to its taste and colour, comprise of many colours? However, those colours are not reflected in it. In fact, the flowers sacrifice their colours for the sweetness and the delicacy of the honey. No flower claims its separate identity. They all become honey and the honey is their identity. “One drop from a red tulip is distilled, One from a blue narcissus; none proclaims, “I am of jasmine, of lily I!” So our community the beehive is Of Abraham whose honey is our Faith.” Our Millet-e- Ibrahimi is also like a beehive and the Ibrahimi religion is our honey. The honey produced by Islam is a universal society. This society is composed of different flowers, having different colours. But they all become one, when they become part of this honey. The taste, which they produce, is all new and it is combination of all the fragrances. The Muslims belonging to various tribes and races are cast into one Islamic identity. Pre-eminent Pakistani poet Mohamed Iqbal had presented this point while explaining Sura Ikhlass in his early collection, Ramooz-e- Bekhudi (published April 10, 1916). Iqbal conceived it after spending a best part of his life in studying the Islamic system of law and politics along with its culture and history. After that, Iqbal himself acquired the insight of watching Islam in a universal position. “I have given the best part of my life to a careful study of Islam, its law and policy, its culture, its history and its literature. This constant contact with the spirit of Islam, as it unfolds itself in time, has, I think, given me a kind of insight into its significance as a universal fact.” In the light of this insight, Iqbal concluded: “Islam is a social system standing on the pillars of equality and valour.” He also said that whatever he wrote was for the benefit of humanity and nothing else. “To me, Islam is the only feasible way, from the practical approach, to achieve the humanitarian ideal. The rest are mere philosophies which look attractive, but they are impractical.” He further mentioned: “The other religions, unlike Islam, made themselves limited by getting fortified in the circles of nation, race and family. Islam is a practical method for eliminating the discriminations of race and nation. It raises the humanity above all geographical limitations. It is, therefore, more successful than the other religions.” According to him: “Islam, in the popular interpretation, is not a religion. It is an approach of freedom which invites for competition with the universe. In fact, Islam represents a protest against all concepts of the primitive world. In short, Islam is the real expression of man." Religion has a deep relationship with civilisation, especially the one in which it emerges. After accepting Islam as the ideal religion, Iqbal explored the question as to which should have been a standard civilisation for the Muslims. He selected the Arab civilisation. He declared that the civilisation in which Islam took birth was vital for its existence and progress. In Iqbal's opinion, these were Arabs whose religious consciousness gave birth to Islam, which united the various races of Asia with remarkable success. He, therefore, presented the Arab culture, the Arabic language and the Arab civilisation as ideals. He believed the Arabs were superior because of their cultural qualities, and also had an edge over some of the Western nations because of their race. “Pitch your tent in the desert of Arabia again, For Persia (Non-Arab World) is convivial company, Which has stale wine And breakable wine-cups.” He believes that in order to understand Islam, it is imperative to have the knowledge of the Arabic language and the Arab culture. He has expressed these thoughts on a number of occasions. While explaining his Masnavi (A Long Poem), Iqbal wrote in a letter: “The Indian Muslims have been under the Iranian influence for many centuries. They are unaware of the Arabian Islam and its purpose. Their literary as well as the social ideals are also Iranian. I want to introduce the real Islam in this Masnavi as propagated by the Prophet (PBUH).” For this purpose, he declares the Arabic language as equally important. He said: “It is unfortunate for the Indian Muslims that they have lost the knowledge of Arabic language.” He ends his debate on an advice from Sheikh Ahmad Rifai ( 512 AH - 578 AH/1183 AD) in order to become Muslim one must adopt the Arabic morality and character. While expressing the greatness of the Arab culture and Arabic language, he is mindful of the fact that he himself is a non-Arab. He admits this fact, saying: “I am unaware of the Arabic melody, but due to my love and passion, I join the song of the camel-riders.” He considers himself a non-Arab, who has unfolded the mystery of life and solved the problems of past and future. However, in order to open the mystery of soul, he yearns to have the Arabic tongue and tone. “I have scanned the whole world through my eye, So past and future tips I would untie. Thus ope more and more life's secret tips, Give the Arab's tone on this Ajmi's lips.” He says that the desert-dweller knows the secrets of nature. Therefore, he is the real custodians of nature. He is simple, which makes him a standard for good and bad. He is brighter than the stars and sharper than the sword. He is the maker of his destiny. Iqbal is impressed by the Arabs not because of their racial qualities but because of their fabulous role in history. This nation destroyed the mighty dictatorships of Rome and Iran (Qaisar and Kissra). Islam was born there and they grasped its message. They were the very first custodians of the Qur'an and Qur'an honoured them with the Aaya (verse) “Fa Asbahtum bi Nimatihe Ikhwana”. They are the transferors of knowledge. They solved the problems of the East and the West with their chivalry. This nation will remain glorious till the end of the world. Whenever Iqbal discusses the Arab world, a unique enthusiasm is reflected from him. This enthusiasm has been evident on many places in his last Masnawi ‘Pas che bayad kard, ae aqwam-e- sharq' (published in 1936). He tells his readers about the history of Arabia: “I relate to thee the history of the Arabs that thou mayest know its good and bad aspects” I tell you the history of Arabia so that you may know every aspect of it. They destroyed the fake gods. They lived in Arabia but reached out to all corners of the world. They broke away with the old traditions. The world could not resist their might. All this was due the kalma-e- la illah. They created a new world and spread the light of knowledge. When the Arabs got rid of the fake gods, they performed wonders. Their rise was due to the great personality of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He propagated the concept of freedom, which was later adopted by the modern world. According to Iqbal, the sweetheart called knowledge was born in Arabia. However, the Arabs ignored it and the Europeans adopted it. Addressing the Arabs, Iqbal says: “The modern world is a product of your past. It owes its progress to you. The mysteries of the present world were unfolded by you. The sweetheart of knowledge was your child but has been adopted by the Europeans. It has lost its sanctity and honour ever since. Although it looks beautiful there but it has lost its religious character. You should try to get back its sanctity and tell the world of its true character which you had given to it.” Amir is a regular contributor to The Egyptian Gazette. He is the author of 28 books and has a PhD in Oriental literature. His poetical works are translated into Arabic, English, French, Persian and Punjabi. He is a visiting professor in Urdu & Pakistan Studies at Al-Azhar University, Cairo. [email protected]
