Under the auspices of Iqbal Academy Pakistan, a special lecture titled "Iqbal Studies in the Middle East" was organized in the Department of History at the University of Punjab. The event was presided over by Dr. Mehmood Hussain, Chairman of the Department of History and Pakistan Studies, University of the Punjab. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Khalid Abbas Asadi, while the closing remarks were presented by Dr. Abdul Rauf Rafiqui, Director, Iqbal Academy Pakistan. The session was moderated by Ms. Amal Islam.
In his address, Dr. Khalid Abbas Asadi highlighted that Pakistan represents the beautiful dawn of Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s modern poetry. He added that the journey of the Muslims of India, from the Green Dome of Madinah to the green flag of Pakistan, was inspired by Iqbal’s poetry. Dr. Asadi further mentioned that Egypt, often referred to as the "Mother of Civilizations," continues to embrace Iqbal’s works. He noted that the poetry of Iqbal, sung by a famous Egyptian singer, remains admired worldwide.
Dr. Asadi shed light on the contributions of various individuals to Iqbal studies, including Egypt’s ambassador to Islamabad, Abdul Wahab Azzam; Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Manzoor-ul-Haq; Hussain Jamal Al-Masri; Dr. Jamal Ibn Mehmood; and Ahmad Saeed.
Dr. Mehmood Hussain expressed his gratitude to the distinguished guests, emphasizing that the Department of History’s platform is always available for intellectual and academic pursuits. He noted that Allama Iqbal’s philosophy serves as a beacon of light for today’s youth.
Addressing the young audience, Dr. Abdul Rauf Rafiqui urged them to reshape the world with the same soil, as the Islamic Ummah holds great expectations from them. He mentioned that Africa, the Middle East, and the Arab world have numerous admirers of Iqbal’s ideas. He further noted that after the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Iqbal is one of the most written-about personalities in the world. Iqbal’s thoughts remain a source of prosperity, progress, and excellence.
In conclusion, Dr. Abdul Rauf Rafiqui congratulated Dr. Mehmood Hussain and Dr. Naumana Kiran for organizing such a remarkable event.