THE INFLUENECE OF ALLAMA IQBAL'S FATHER IN SHAPING HIS PERSONALITY

THE INFLUENCE OF ALLAMA IQBAL’S FATHER IN SHAPING HIS PERSONALITY

                                   Parents greatly influence their children. Their proper upbringing, guidance, care and help for their children do wonders in shaping useful minds and great personalities.  Therefore, their role in the proper growth of their children can never be denied or underestimated. Allama Iqbal, the national poet of Pakistan, was born in a middle class family. His father Sheikh Noor Muhammad belonged to a Kashmiri family of Sialkot. Though he was illiterate, he was endowed with great intelligence, taking extreme interest in religious gatherings. He acquired a considerable knowledge in the company of religious men. He enjoyed the reputation of being “illiterate philosopher”.

                                    Iqbal’s father was a man of average means. He had all great qualities to be admired. He was gentle, pious, and upright with a mystic bent of mind. Once, in his childhood, Allama Iqbal awoke at night to find the room of his father was illuminated and brightened with a mysterious light, although it was pitch dark, and there was no lamp or other means of light in home.

                                     Sheikh Noor Muhammad loved to see all great qualities considered essential to be summed up in the personality of Iqbal. He was very much interested in his proper upbringing and good education. Once a beggar called at their house, and incessantly demanded alms. Although the beggar was politely asked to excuse and move away, but he was adamant. His pestering demands to be given something made little Iqbal very angry. He lost his patience and hit the beggar with a stave, as a result of which all that the beggar’s bowl contained fell down and scattered on the street. This made the beggar cry. When Iqbal’s father came to know of this incident, he was very sad and distressed. Tears rose in his eyes, and taking an anguished sigh, he turned to Iqbal and said, “When on the Day of Resurrection, all people will be gathered before the Holy Prophet, this beggar will lodge a complaint and the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) will ask me, “God committed a young Muslim to your charge, but you could not make a Muslim of him”. Then, dear son, tell me, what should I say to the Holy Prophet on that occasion.”

                                           This incident and gentle reproof of his father had a desired effect on his personality, and he vowed not to be harsh on others and control and suppress his anger. On another occasion when Iqbal was reciting the Holy Quran, his father came to him and said, “Read the holy Quran as if Almighty Allah was talking to you”.

                                             These small but significant events of Iqbal’s childhood had a great impact on his personal growth. He benefited immensely from the words of wisdom of his father, whose personal interest in the personality development of Iqbal was indeed appreciable and praiseworthy. Allama Muhammad Iqbal did not let down his father, and prove to be worthy son who fulfilled the desires and dreams of his father.