Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal

Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal شیخ محمد اقبال
Dr Iqbal delivering a lecture at Kashmir University.
Born	Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal 1929[1] Sialkot, Punjab, (now Pakistan)
Residence	Srinagar, Kashmir[2]
Education	B. A. Hons. (Arabic), M. A. (Hist., Pol. Sc.), L.L.B, Ph.D. [3]
Alma mater	University of the Punjab (Lahore), Aligarh Muslim University
Occupation	Historian, Writer, Professor, Principal, Director[4]
Notable work	History of Islam and Muslims, Emergence of Saudi Arabia, Mission of Islam , Emeralds in the Crown of Islam
Spouse(s)	Jana Bibi (1946-53) Bashirah Akhtar (m. 1955)
Children	6
Website	sheikhmohammadiqbal.com

Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal is a Kashmiri^[5] educationist, academician,^[6] Islamic scholar,^[7] and historian.^[8] A globally acknowledged scholar on Islamic History and Arab-Islamic issues,^[9] Iqbal is considered an authority on Saudi Arabia and (was) a friend of Late King Faisal bin Abd al-Aziz.^[10] Being a prolific writer, he has written over forty books^[11] including his five-volume History of Islam and Muslims^[12] and numerous research papers and articles published in the local,^[4] national,^[9] and international journals.^[13] He was a visiting Asian Professor and Fulbright-Hays Senior Scholar to United States.^[4][10] He served in Kashmir with dedication for almost three decades, holding, besides others, the posts of a Lecturer,^[14] Professor,^[5] Head of Department,^[13] Principal^[15] and Director.^[4]

Early years

Dr Iqbal at Abraham Lincoln's House at Springfield in 1965-66.

Iqbal was born at Sialkot, Punjab (now in Pakistan).^[1] His parents used to go to the British Resident's Office to Srinagar for arranging civil supplies. He was 15 days old when his mother died at the age of 28 years during an epidemic. He (along with his elder brother)^{[lower-alpha 1][17]} was taken immediately to Srinagar and brought up by his maternal grandmother who managed his early education.^[14] He studied at Tyndale Biscoe School in Habba Kadal for basic education.

Education and Career

Dr Iqbal with Prof Arnold J. Toynbee in 1957-58.

Iqbal graduated with Honours in Arabic from the University of Punjab, Lahore, in 1946. He did his master's degree in History and Political Science and LL.B. in 1949 at the Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. He joined the School of International Studies, Sapru House, New Delhi in 1956, for a course of Ph. D,^[3] taking up "Political Development in Najd and Hejaz, 1901-1934" as the subject of his research.^[1] He was qualified for the award of Doctor of Philosophy in July, 1963.^[14] His fields of specialisation are Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, early Islamic History, and Arab-Islamic Issues of the 20th Century and after.^[18]

Iqbal taught and lectured^[19] in American Universities as a Visiting Asian Professor and Fulbright-Hays Senior Scholar.^[4][10] With assignments of teaching and addressing public audiences, he created deep impression among the faculty members and the Post-Graduate classes at the American institutions of higher learning.^[18] He attended the Third Islamic Summit Conference of Islamic States at Makkah/Ta'if. He was a visiting scholar to King Abdulaziz University and participated in numerous International Conferences and Seminars. He visited the Middle-Eastern countries; Saudi Arabia and Egypt since 1958 in connection with his research.

Iqbal's contributions in upgrading Education in Kashmir drew admiration but while serving his mission he did not wait for any award or reward. Instead, he had to proceed on voluntary retirement in a atmosphere of ungratefulness.^[18] As the Director of the Department of Libraries, Research, Museums and Archives, his contributions in reorganising the department are extraordinary. He left "no stone unturned in giving name and fame to the Museum movement by submitting notes proposal to the government for its recognition of Museums."^[20]

Iqbal's work and contribution has been richly commented upon by eminent scholars and statesmen of the East and West. His two publications, Memoirs and Selected Correspondence reveal his multi-dimensional administrative duties, personal exchanges, the range of relations, and, his yearning for a reformed and a confederal Islamic system free from issues, whether imported or created.^[18]

Publications

Dr Iqbal with Justice Javed Iqbal, the son of Sir Muhammad Iqbal at Lahore.

1. History of India, Urdu (1955) (سرتاج تاریخِ ہندوستان).^[21][22]
2. Medieval and Modern History of England (1956).^[22]
3. Under the Shade of Islam, Urdu (1958) (اسلام کے ساۓ میں).^[23]
4. The Arab Glory, The Arab Grief (1976).^[24]
5. The Mission of Islam (1977).^[25][26]
6. Emergence of Saudi Arabia (1977).^{[27][28][29][30]}
7. Realms of Peace (1979).^[31]
8. Aggression on Ka'bah (1980).^[22]
9. Saudi Arabia: Era of Reconstruction 1961-1981 (1981).^[32]
10. Saudi Arabia: Landmarks in Islamic Solidarity (1981).^[27][33][34]
11. Saudi Arabia: Epitome of History and Progress (1982).^[27][35]
12. Ideals of Islam and Other Essays (1982).^[36] (Co-authored with Sheikh Talal).^[37]
13. Saudi Arabia: Founding and Development (1986).^[27]
14. Sheikh Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahhab (1988).^[38]
15. History of Islam & Muslims: Life and the Mission of Muhammad (pbuh) (Vol. I) (1992).^[39][40]
16. History of Islam & Muslims: Caliph Abu Bakr (rdh) (Vol. II) (1992).^[39][40]
17. History of Islam & Muslims: Caliph Umar Faruq (rdh) (Vol.III) (1992).^[40][41]
18. History of Islam & Muslims: Caliph Uthman bin 'Affan (rdh) (Vol. IV) (1994).^[40][41]
19. History of Islam & Muslims: Caliph Ali bin Abi Talib (rdh) (Vol. V) (1997).^[40][41]
20. Islamic Toleration and Justice (1998).^[42][43]
21. The Builder of Modern Saudi Arabia (1998).^[22]
22. Focus: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Excerpts from the Books of Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal (2000).^[14]
23. Presidents Lincoln & Wilson: Legacies and Lessons (2000).^[22][44]
24. Palestine Re-Emerging (2002).^{[27][45][46][47]}
25. The Dimensions of Hajj: Significance & Performance (2003).^[3][48]
26. Emeralds in the Crown of Islam (2006).^[49][50]
27. Memoirs of a Life with a Mission (Autobiography) (2006).^[22]
28. Ingenious, Ingenuous Jinnah and Pakistan Movement (2009).^[22][51]
29. Kashmir Problem: Disasters of Delayed Settlement (2009).^[52]
30. Humanity's Cry For Justice and Salvation (2009).^[22]
31. Selected Correspondence of Dr Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal (Vol I) (2010).^[53]
32. Realms of Saudi Statesmanship (2011).^[22]
33. Selected Correspondence of Dr Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal (Vol II) (2012).^[54]
34. Selected Correspondence of Dr Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal (Vol III)^[55]
35. Rediscovering Factual History (2013).^[56]
36. Islam and Christianity in Balance (General History of Relations): Dialogue for an Understanding (2017).^[57][22]

Booklets

1. The United Nations As I Found It (1973).^[58]
2. Educational System in Saudi Arabia (1983).^{[27][58][59][60]}
3. Saudi Arabia: Feats of Development Planning (1985).^[58]
4. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Progress and Consultative System (1994).^[58]
5. Human Rights and Government in Saudi Arabia (1995).^[58]
6. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Issue of Palestine (2001).^[58]
7. Wahhabi Islam: A Misnomer (2005).^[27][58]
8. Focus: The Hajj of 1430 AH and the Kingdom's Efficacious Nizam (2010).^[58]

Editor-cum-Authorship

1. Fruits of Conversion to Islam (1974).^[61]
2. The Voice of Islam (1974).^[61]
3. Faisal: Ideas and Achievements (1974).^[61]
4. J&K Research Biannual (2 Issues; 1977).^[61]
5. The Culture of Kashmir (1978).^[61][62]
6. Indo-Arab Star Series (7 Issues, 1979–80).^[63]
7. Contemporary Gulf (1980).^[61]
8. Monthly Al-Hayat (2002-present).^[61]
9. Insight Islamicus (2004).^[61]
10. Monthly Crescent (2009-2012).^[61][64]
11. Hajj Performance and Saudi Arabia (Compilation).^[27]

Comments on Works

• King Faisal bin Abd al-Aziz “There is no doubt that the support we get from you and from friends all over the Islamic world for our Islamic policy encourages us to advance on the path we are going and through which we seek the happiness of the people here and the strengthening of the brotherly relations with all the Islamic peoples.” “May Allah bless you and your Islamic fervour. So far your suggestions are concerned, they have been referred to the authorities concerned so that they may get necessary attention.” “As for the matter of King Abd al-Aziz University. . . . . . . . . it would be our great pleasure to have you as one of the Visiting Professors and to deliver lectures in it.”^[65][66]
• M. Zia-ul-Haq "Your scholarly works are an important contribution to the cause of Islam and deserve appreciation. I wish you every success in your endeavours.”^[65][67]
• Richard M. Nixon “It is heartening to know that we may count on your friendship and support to make the years ahead a time of which Americans as a nation, and we as Americans, can truly be proud.”^[65][68]
• Iyad bin Amin Madani “Dr Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal, a well-known scholar, has devoted his life in the service of Islam, defending its issues, illuminating its ways, explaining its principles and frame and elucidating the fundamentals of its system and its perception. In this (vast) field he has to his credit published books and several important contributions which prove his thorough knowledge (of the subjects), dedication, sincerity and detachment. In (accomplishing) his task he does not wait for reward or compensation.”^[65][69]
• Prof. Ismail Raje’ al-Faruqi “Indeed, I am overwhelmed by your energies, your productivity and your vision. Certainly you ought to fulfil your projects and write your books. They will provide an inspiration to future generations and a contribution to knowledge.”^[65][70]
• Dr Mohinder Singh Randhawa "You deserve the gratitude of intelligentia in India as well as in Arab countries for your work. My best wishes to you.”^[65]
• Colonel Frank Borman “I am very glad that the interest in our work extends all the way to your country. I also enjoyed very much your essay entitled Space Voyage, Scientific Thought and the Quran.”^[65][71]
• Hakim Abdul Hamid “Dr Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal, admittedly a very erudite and painstaking scholar, has been contributing a great deal to cement Indo-Arab relations and inform the concerned readers about the progress being made by the Arab world. I wish Dr Iqbal all the success.”^[65]

Notes

References