Allama Iqbal is certainly one of the most widely read poets in Pakistan. He has devoted his life for the sake of poetry. One of the most striking features of his poetry is that it contains the elements of hope and courage. Whenever you read this poet, you will feel an extraordinary power and motivation in yourself. Details of Allama Iqbal Poetry about Education here in this article.
Throughout his course of life, he wrote poetry that straightforwardly depicts different sorts of problems and that criticizes all those factors that are responsible for the destruction of society. Despite living in such an environment, his poetry contains optimistic thoughts and solutions that targeted the well-being of the society.
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Allama Iqbal Poetry about Education
Allama Iqbal was a great devotee of the teachers. He considers them the healers and most influential beings who can turn the fate of a nation. The revival of society is only possible if its teachers are devoted while nourishing the positive minds.
Allama Iqbal uses the following words for teachers,
- Sheikh
- Hakeem
- Saki
- Peer-e-Haram
And he uses words like haram, maktab, madrisa, and khankah for the educational institutes. Furthermore, he has devoted an entire section of “Taleem o tarbiyat” in one of his excellent books ‘Zarb-e-Kalim’.
Allama Iqbal Poetry for Students
Allama Iqbal considered students as the future of the nation. He called them ‘Shaheen’ who fly high and possess high objectives in his life. Teachers are responsible for the sharpening of the wings and if they fail to do so then there is no purpose of education at all.
Being disappointed by the educational system of that time, Allah Iqbal showed his fear and anger in the following words,
“Shikayat hai mujhe ya Rab! khudawand-e-maktab se,
Sabaq shaheen bachon ko de rahe hain khaak bazi ka!” (Bal-e-Jibril)
The meaning of the above-mentioned couplet is,
“O Lord, I have complaints against teachers for they are teaching the eaglets to grovel in the dust.”
It is the moral duty of the teachers to build positive minds and spread positivity around the environment.
“Sheikh-e-maktab hai ik emarat gar,
jiss ki sana’t hair uh-e-insani!” (Zarb-e-Kalim)
The meaning of the above-mentioned couplet is,
“A teacher is like a builder whose industry is to build and develop the soul of a human.”
So, these two couplets clearly explained Allama Iqbal’s expectations from the teachers and what role they serve in the society.
Allama Iqbal considered students as the future of the nation. He called them ‘Shaheen’ who fly high and possess high objectives in his life. Teachers are responsible for the sharpening of the wings and if they fail to do so then there is no purpose of education at all.
The very word “Ilm” is of great importance. The meaning of the word is to acquire knowledge or education that is stressed even in the Quran. Seeking knowledge helps individuals in getting their own identity and distinguishes them from the rest who are uneducated. In the English language, the term “Ilm” refers to all the knowledge, wisdom, and training related to the spiritual, religious, and material world. In Allama Iqbal’s point of view, education without practical or training is no education at all.
She stated,
“Who Ilm, kam basri jiss main hum kinar nahi,
Tajjaliat-e-Kaleem o mushahidat-e-hakeem!” (Ilm aur Deen, Zarb-e-Kalim)
The meaning of the above-mentioned couplet is,
“Such knowledge is short-sighted/ limited which does not illuminate the seeker and the surroundings like Musa (AS) and does not include deep philosophical observations.
In the modern world, the meaning of education has completely changed. Now we are running after seeking educational degrees while declining the importance of seeking knowledge or ilm. We are prone to degrees and not ilm.
Allama Iqbal asserted that,
“Ilm mein dolat bhi hy, qudrat bhi hy, izzat bhi hy,
Aik mushkil hy k hath ata nahi apna suragh!” (Tarbiyat, Zarb-e-Kalim)
The meaning of the above-mentioned couplet is,
“Modern-day knowledge brings wealth, joy, and power but the problem is that it does not develop ‘self’ awareness.”
So it is evident from this verse of Iqbal how useless contemporary education is that has no meaning and practice at all. It is merely a pursuit of seeking an education degree and nothing else. However, while stating this, I do not mean that he was against modern education, he was only against the meaningless education.
Only teachers can develop a healthy and positive influence among the students. They must teach students how to remove negative thoughts and bring out all the necessary values and behaviors that can reform this society.
Teachers should bring out all the fresh ideas, new ways at the forefront. Allama Iqbal asserted that those teachers who themselves are still struggling for their personal development are unable to be a role model for the students.
He mentioned,
“Ahl-e-danish aam hain, kamyab hain ahl-e-nazar,
Kya ta’ajjub hy k khali reh gya tera ayagh!” (Tarbiyat, Zarb-e-Kalim)
The meaning of the above-mentioned couplet is,
“There is no dearth of lettered men but people of vision are scarce. No wonder that your bowl is still empty. No wonder the students are not achieving their true potentials.”
He also advised students and teachers to develop some effective ways of learning while going beyond the conventional methods of teaching. He explained,
“Madrissa nay teri ankhon sy chupaya jin ko,
Khilawat-e-koh o baya ban me who asrar hain fash!” (Madrissa, Zarb-e-Kalim)
The meaning of the above-mentioned couplet is,
“The mysteries which schools hid from you; try to find them in the solitude of hills and desserts. Go out and observe. Do not restrict your knowledge to books.”
In our modern world, we are struggling to complete the curriculum first and then focusing on the learning process. However, ethical values should be given priority. Teachers should consider the learning process first and then focus on the curriculum.
Allama Iqbal stated that,
“Kiya hy tujh ko kitabon nay kor zauq itna,
Saba sy bhi na mila tujh ko boo-e-gul ka suragh!” (Ghazal, Zarb-e-Kalim)
The meaning of the above-mentioned couplet is,
“The books have marred your taste and zest to such a great extent that morning breeze has failed to give you the clue of rose and its scent!”
Here, Allama Iqbal is referring to the students who are only interested in scoring good grades. They have nothing to do with knowledge or the learning process. Their books have destroyed their angle of thinking and they are left with nothing but to cram notes. They are unable to discover the true meanings of life.
Educators in our society need to broaden their vision so that they may be able to uplift positive minds and attitudes among the students. Allama Iqbal has very clearly mentioned that,
“Sheikh-e-maktab h tareeqon say kushand-e-dil Kahan,
Kis trha kibriat sy roshan ho bijli ka charagh!” (Tarbiyat, Zarb-e-Kalim)
The meaning of the above-mentioned couplet is,
“The conventional teaching does not expand the heart. How can a matchstick light an electric lamp.”
Allama Iqbal has given the lesson of ‘khudi’ to the students as well as teachers. Khudi refers to ‘self’. All the educational institutes should stress the development of khudi. In order to teach students what khudi is, teachers must have to develop khudi in the first place. Teachers should advise students to unveil their potentials and talents before the world.
In Allama Iqbal’s poetry, self-realization, self-awareness, and self-development are the key factors.
He asserted that,
“Ye Zikr-e-neem shabi, ye maraqbay, ye saroor,
Teri khudi k nigheban nahi to kuch bhi nahi” (Tasawuf, Zarb-e-Kalim)
The meaning of the above-mentioned couplet is,
“Your various acts of worship in the midst of night are useless if they do not guard and protect yourself.”
Concluding Thoughts
Allama Iqbal’s poetry is indeed an inspirational one for all of us, particularly for the youth. The above-mentioned lines may be quite more demanding from the teachers’ side, but acting upon it can develop many personalities and uplift many characters. Character building is very necessary especially in a society where we are living.