Ladies and gentlemen, At the beginning, I would like to say that I am very delighted to be in Pakistan again, and I would like to express my thanks to the University of Punjab for inviting me, to the university’s president and faculty members, to students and to you all.

Dear friends, 

In our lives there are inspiring and great personalities who have made great sacrifices for us to live in peace and security, and have played an enlightening role in lifting our societies out of inertia and intolerance. We owe much to those who are fighting against underdevelopment, without whom life would have remained meaningless.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that among these greats who have contributed significantly to enriching thoughts and knowledge of humans and promoting free thinking and interfaith dialogue is the great poet and philosopher Mohammed Iqbal. 

On a personal level, I have a special affection for Iqbal, who has left a big intellectual legacy and creativity. Despite all his preoccupations, he never forgot to dream. Yes, Iqbal was a big dreamer, a great poet and a great leader, and this is the secret behind his prominence until the moment. 

Worldwide, and especially in the Arab area, Mohammed Iqbal is seen as among big names on the best-seller list, as his books and poems are widely circulated. He has become an inspiring thinker for anyone looking for inner peace.

Iqbal in his poems and verses was dreaming indifferently to artificial boundaries. Speaking of himself, he said: “My body comes from the earthly paradise of Kashmir; my heart belongs to the Holy land of Hijaz, and my song to Shiraz”

As many may know, Iqbal’s some poems have been sung by leading Arab singers such as the Egyptian Umm Kulthum who is considered the Arab region’s most renowned singer. Iqbal's poems have contributed to unveiling an important aspect of his philosophy of life.

For example, his Shikwa (complaint) sung also by Umm Kulthum is full of wisdom and faith-filled philosophy. Please listen to these verses.

If faith is lost, there is no security and there is no life for him who does not adhere to religion.

Whoever is pleased with a life bereft of faith has made total ruin to be life's substance

Iqbal passionately loved art and was aware of its importance in our lives. He says: "The finest art is that one is able to awaken our latent willpower and urges us to face life steadfastly."

 

Dear friends, 

Iqbal was very realistic and farsighted at the same time. In his view, education is like a solvent that dissolves human personality, and then reshapes it in its own way.

Education widens people's perceptions and makes them able to choose the right things, and therefore the lack of education has dire consequences. Many countries suffer from crises and armed conflicts due to educational underdevelopment, so we must care more and more about education. 

Education provides us with knowledge, and knowledge gives us power. Iqbal used to say: “To say no, I need power; to know how to say no, I need logic; to know when to say no, I need competence.”

 

Dear friends,

Iqbal’s place in the history of Pakistan stands out and needs no argument. If Pakistan has been highly interested in his intellectual, cultural and political production since early, thousands of academic works and papers in different languages have been achieved regarding his life, books, literature and philosophy, which means world-wide recognition of his great influence in the field of culture everywhere.

Iqbal was able to have a special place among the world's thinkers. It has become a source of inspiration for many. I proudly consider myself among those influenced by his religious philosophy, which was based on the liberation of religion from the authority of tradition and intellectual inertia in general.

 

Dear friends,

Nearly eighty years after the death of Mohammed Iqbal, he remains one of the most important figures in the world, especially in the Islamic part.

If he were among us today, he would be among the advocates of freedom and democracy in our Islamic world. A prominent figure like Iqbal would not accept to be a proponent of authoritarian regimes.

Our unforgivable mistake in the Islamic world lies in accepting living under backward and regressive regimes. We must clearly declare that tyranny is our enemy just like terrorism, as tyranny and terrorism prevent our Islamic nations from advancing and living a decent life.

 

Dear friends, 

We live in a turbulent world full of hatred and violence, where heads of state promote hatred and exclusionary policies. We should have strong stances against such wrong policies.

I would like to say that no one has the right to classify others arbitrarily. Doing so is a blatant and chaotic violation. Major powers and then Islamic countries have committed violations in this regard. 

We must act according to logic, justice and clear criteria regarding this issue, otherwise chaos will be everywhere for an indefinite time.

“I always say that terrorism and despotism are two sides of the same coin and feed each other. There is no terrorism without tyranny and vice versa. We should unite to fight and get rid of them. We are not slaves of tyrants or terrorists. We are natural people who want to live in peace. 

It is our right to have countries that protect our dignity and freedom, we are free, and refuse to accept slavery under any slogan.

Everywhere around us, there is a desire for progress and advancement. We are not inferior to all those who seek to prove themselves and promote their countries. We have a past with a rich heritage. It is wrong to think that we are helpless. Mr. Iqbal believed in himself and his people, and dreamed of things that no one imagined would happen. He dreamed of a new state, which eventually happened.

We also have to dream. Whoever has the ability to dream would have the ability to act.