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In light of the obvious political turmoil and events going on in that part of the world, I believe

that it is befitting that we take a pause and look at the life and times and legacy of one

of the greatest intellectual minds of the last century and, without a doubt, the most seminal and important figure who shaped

the political and the intellectual history of that region. And I refer here to Muhammad Iqbal,

otherwise known as the Allama Muhammad Iqbal, who lived from 1877 to 1938. Now obviously,

one small lecture after Isha cannot do justice to somebody of this nature. And what is really

makes it complicated is that those people from outside of this region, most of our Arab brothers

and sisters from Africa, they have heard the name, but they don't quite know much about him.

Whereas people from India, Pakistan, they have been memorizing, you know, his poetry since

they were in grade two.

So there's a disconnect between the two cultural paradigms.

But, inshallah, the goal is to at least introduce in the short time that we have and to talk about some of the legacy of this intellectual genius and giant.

Because Muhammad Iqbal really wasn't just a reviver. He is the spiritual father of the country of Pakistan.

Every Pakistani knows this. Pakistan would not exist without Muhammad Iqbal.

Pakistan, as we know it, would not be here.

He wasn't just a political revivalist.

He was a philosopher.

He was a poet.

He was a political thinker.

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