تعمیر ملت میں عورت کا کردار: فکر اقبال کا جائزہ

The Role of Women in Nation Building: An Assessment of Iqbal's Thought

Abstract

Muhammad Iqbal (d. 1938)  is one of the most prominent Muslim thinkers of the twentieth century in the Indian subcontinent. His endeavor to identify the fundamental factors that led to the decline of Muslims is considered remarkable. He determines various religious, intellectual and social problems that need to be addressed properly in the light of Islamic teaching and modern sciences. He asserts  that a reform program is essential for the progress of Muslims who neither know their own intellectual tradition nor understand the modern society and its challenges. He  emphasizes that deep thinking and rigorous action are necessary for the reformation of Muslim society which cannot be achieved without giving the right place to women in the contemporary period.  For Iqbal, the motherly role of women in the construction of Muslim society is central.  In this paper, it has been attempted  to understand  Iqbal’s standpoint  regarding women’s education, emancipation, and their role in socio-political affairs. Iqbal asserts that the role of women is multifaceted in the formation of nations. Therefore, an appropriate education is necessary that  must be based on Islamic principles and Muslim tradition. Iqbal seems critical of the women's role as outlined in modern western society. This paper was initially written for Iqbal Academy, Lahore in 1999. It helps the general reader to understand Iqbal’s point of view as presented in his own writings.