IQBAL AND YOUTH

           IQBAL AND YOUTH 

Muhammad Abdullah

• Introduction

• Power of youth

• Iqbal and youth

• Iqbal’s poetry for youth

• Message in his Poetry

• Duty of youth

• Conclusion

Introduction

                   Youth is the spring of Life. It is the age of discovery and dreams. The entire world is eyeing youth as a source of technical manpower. They are looking at their youth as a source of talents for their future super profits.

Youth is defined as;

              “Youth is the time of life when one is young, but often means the time between childhood and adulthood (maturity).”

It is said that youth is not an age it is a mindset that a person possess.

In words of James;

           “Youth is the joy, the little bird that has broken out of the eggs and is eagerly waiting to spread out its wings in the open sky of freedom and hope.”

        According to United Nation, the term youth will be fixed on those who are in between 15-25 years of age.

Power of Youth
                  Let us first take into account what power really means. Power means “the ability and the energy to do something spectacular.”

For example there is muscle power, money power, youth power.

Like the other powers, youth power is a power of sorts which can generate opportunities. The power of the youth is very great, it has the potential of achieving targets.

Allama Iqbal and Youth

                           Iqbal is known as Shair-e-Mushriq meaning Poet of the East. He is also called Muffakir-e-Pakistan "The Inceptor of Pakistan", and Hakeem-ul-Ummat "The Sage of the Ummah".

Allama Iqbal delivered his message to youth through his poetry. He knows the power of youth.He knows that youth has been a revolutionary force. It is the precious asset that can revive a nation going through hard time. Youth of a nation can do wonders if groomed well, well educated and have the sense of proportionality.

Literally the future of a country depends upon youth of the state, if the young generation is good no other country will be able to compete that country in any field of life.

Therefore, he mentioned youth in his poetry especially and used
a special word “SHAHEEN” for youth.

Iqbal’s Poetry for Youth 

                   He wrote his more than 90% poetry for youth. The basic idea given by iqbal in his poetry for youth is optimism and Khudi.

It is the best quality of the poetry of Iqbal he always try to  teach about enthusiasm, exception, Khudi, idealism, optimism and encouragement.

Because he was knowing that Muslim Youth is very talented, intelligent and brilliant and they only need right direction.

There is sizable list of Allama Iqbal poems in which he directly addressed to youth, These are some famous poems out of them.

*Jihad         *Shikwa          *Jawab e Shikwa 
  

*Javed Ke Naam         *Aik Nojawan ke naam 

*kabhi a haqeeqat e muntazir    

*khitaab ba jawanaan e Islam      

*Tariq ki Dua ( yeh ghazi yeh tere)

*Sitaron se aagay jahan aur bhi hain

*Na tu zameen ke liay na asmaan ke liay  

*Khudi wo behr hai jiska koi kinara nahi  

           Iqbal has said a lot for the youth of muslims. Iqbal’s poetry is so dynamic and ever lasting that it applies 100% fit today as it was fit then.He was a man ahead of his time; he not only saw the present but foresaw the future and stirred a revolution in the apathetic masses through his words.

Have ever you pondered, O Muslim youth, On deep and serious things?
What is this world in which this you is only a broken star?

(Bang-e-Dra-114 : Khitab Ba Jawanan-e-Islam)

Message in his Poetry

                           A very dynamic and potent symbol in his poetry is “that of Shaheen” (Eagle in English) and Iqbal has several times referred to Muslim youth as “Eagle”.

Iqbal could have used the symbol of a Tiger or Leopard or Lion or some other ‘fast and furious’ animal when he addressed the Muslim youth., but he keenly selects Eagle because of its courage, great strength, self-reliance, superb aerial skills and spectacle.

Can anyone even guess at the strength of his arm?

By the glans of the man who is a true believer even destiny is changed.

         In his poetry, Shaheen stands for courage and self-respect, purity of soul and character, devotion and dedication, struggle and endurance, prestige and perseverance, self-control and self-reliance.

The hawk is never tired of flight, Does not drop gasping on the ground;

If unwearied it remains on wings, From hunters dread is safe and sound.

                 “You are eagle! Your duty is to flight freely! You have even more horizons before you”, this is the translation from the famous poetry of Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Iqbal has told the youth that eagle always fly towards the heights of horizons freely. Eagle is not bound to any cage and he is free by nature.

The abode is not on the dome of a royal palace;
You are an eagle should live and on the rocks of mountains.

(Bal-e-Jibril-139:Aik Naujawan Ke Naam)

                       Same thing is for the youth of the Muslims that the Muslim is free for his flights towards horizons of knowledge, hard work & progress by nature. Iqbal truly said that the slavery is not in the nature of any Muslim, so it is the duty of the Muslim Youth to lead the life and find new & new horizons of progress & prosperity.

In slavery, neither swords or plans are effective,

But when the taste for certainty is created, then the chains are cut.

Duty of youth

                                      The role of youth has most importance in today’s time. We the youth of Pakistan may also referred as "Nation Builders".

Because youth plays significant role for development of nation not only economically also morally and practically.

We pakistani youth has trying to do on its own behalf, and trying to fulfill 3 basic principles gave by our great leader Quaid-e-Azam such as

(FAITH, UNITY & DISCIPLINE).

We are not only Balochi, Punjabi, Pathan, Sindhi or even and Urdu speaker, we realize from where and what we belongs to which is the only one thing, Islam & Pakistan.

Break the idols of colour and blood and become lost in the community;

Let neither turanians, Iranians nor Afghan remain.

We, as youth build skills relevant to young people's personal development, as well as their role within a group.

Because this will help to analyze their strength and weaknesses and set personal and vocational goals.

But on a group level, we develop the ability for new comers to work with us and with others to create a shared vision and to draw on the talents, skills, and energy of others.

Conclusion

            We could save and change the destiny of our country. That it was the need of the hour that patriotism should be promoted as well as negative approaches must be discouraged.

             Youth power is a power that can work wonders if led properly and make blunders if left without a mature leader.

It is our responsibility to fought against injustice, illiteracy. And fight for Allah and his Prophet, for their teaching, way of life, rules for survival, humankind, for justice, equality, trade, and for peace for the sake of truth.

We are full of patriotic feelings and our future will be very bright. And in the last, I would like to share one verse of Iqbal:

A nation whose youth are endowed

With self as strong and hard as steel;

No need of piercing swords in war

Such people brave can ever feel.

(Zarb-e-Kaleem-077 : Asrar-e-Paida)