Overcoming Nihilism Through Human Perfection:

A Study into the Philosophical Thought of Allam Muhammad Iqbal

Abstract

This research attempts to argue that one of the central concerns of Iqbalian thought is to counter nihilism in the world of Islam, which he felt is responsible for causing the decadence, decay, and downfall of the Muslim world. During his philosophical speculations, Allama Muhammad Iqbal grasped the presence of nihilism in the world of Islam, which exists in different shapes and forms. Iqbal through his poetry and prose attempts to demonstrate that the Islamic world is under the glooms of metaphysico-ontological, epistemological, religio-mystical, moral, and political nihilism, and his poetic-philosophical thought is a reply to these various dimensions of nihilism. Nihilism in these various moods has resulted in causing rigidity, orthodoxy, and stagnancy in the world of Islam, which finally led it towards depravity, dissolution, and decadence. Iqbal’s main aim is “the renaissance of the dormant Muslim community by countering the forces of decadence”, (I.Khan, 1977, p.4) which the research scholar argues is nothing but nihilism. To realize this objective of countering and overcoming nihilism in the world of Islam, Iqbal has introduced his famous ideal, the Mard-e-Momin, since he thought that humanity in the present era requires superior and unique individuals as the world again has developed into an idol house. Due to certain unique characteristic features and attributes, these specially superior and unique individuals would be capable to fight against the nihilistic forces of disintegration and dissolution.