Journal of Modern Researches in Islam and Iran History Studies

Journal of Modern Researches in Islam and Iran History Studies

The Evolution of Muhammad Iqbal Lahori's Poetic Thought from Poetry to Criticism of Western Civilization

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Abdollah Motevali 1
Mohammad Hasanbeigi 2
Rahman Etezadi 3
1 Professor, Department of History, Arak University, ARAK, IRAN
2 Associate Professor, Department of History, Arak University, ARAK, IRAN
3 Master of Arts in Islamic History, Faculty of Humanities, Arak University, ARAK, IRAN
10.22034/nriihs.2026.2089160.1088
Abstract
Muhammad Iqbal Lahori is one of the most prominent Muslim poets and thinkers of the twentieth century, who considered poetry a means of awakening man and reviving the spiritual and social life of Islamic societies. The evolution of his poetic thought begins with the stage of romantic and lyrical experiences and gradually manifests itself in the form of poems with epistemological, moral and social themes. The present study, based on the analysis of Iqbal's original works, examines how the intellectual and artistic elements in his poetry have changed and shows that Iqbal, in the transition from youth to maturity, has reconstructed his language, imagery and poetic worldview in connection with the intellectual and historical developments of the time. The findings of the study indicate that Iqbal's poetry is initially based on spiritual passion, oriental lyricism and a kind of human optimism; however, with the increase in philosophical reflections and his encounter with the crises of the modern world, his poetry becomes a tool for criticizing the status quo and presenting a new perspective on man and society. Poems such as "The Parliament of the Devil" show that Iqbal, using symbolic language, allegory, and philosophical satire, criticized the moral and identity collapse of contemporary humanity and spoke of the necessity of returning to spiritual and moral values.
Keywords
Muhammad Iqbal Lahori
Poetry
Intellectual Evolution
Islamic Awakening
Devil's Parliament
Subjects

  • Receive Date 20 May 2026
  • Revise Date 27 May 2026
  • Accept Date 02 June 2026
  • Publish Date 02 June 2026