Official Response Regarding Fake Audio of
Allama Muhammad Iqbal

An audio file of 9 minutes and 33 Seconds (4.4 MB on Mobile Phone) wherein a reciter is singing some verses from Allama Iqbal’s peom Shikwa (The Complaint) is surfacing on internet/social media. It is alleged that “this is voice of Allama Iqbal recording in 1937-38”. It is hereby clarified that this is not Allama Iqbal’s voice at all. The claim is categorically rejected on the following grounds:-

  1. Allama Iqbal recited Shikwa in the 26th Annual Session of Anjuman Hamayat-e-Islam in April, 1911.1,2,3
  2. Allama Iqbal, with a few exceptions including Shikwa, always sung his poetry. But, he recited this poem and a very few others in Teht-ul-Lafz.4
  3. Allama Iqbal’s voice was fainted in January, 1934.5,6
  4. Lahore Radio Station started working in December, 1937 (http://www.radio.gov.pk/chronology-of-pbc). However, Allama Iqbal’s voice was fainted due to illness and Throat problem before it.
  5. Allama Iqbal’s new year message on January 1, 1938 couldn’t be broadcasted due to his reduced voice.
  6. This audio cannot be a voice of any scholar, linguist and a decent poet having full grip on Urdu Language.
  7. In 2010, the Iqbal Academy Pakistan bought all archives related to Allama Iqbal from Radio Pakistan Lahore and there was no such recording.
  8. No such recording exists in ISPR archives.
  9. Grandson of Allama Iqbal, Mr. Munib Iqbal has clarified about fake audio of Allama Iqbal too: https://youtu.be/n2CPOzdMw2A.
  10. Renowned scholar and authority on Iqbal Studies Dr. Rafiuddin Hashmi has also clarified it:
    https://www.facebook.com/drrdhashmiofficial/videos/705394036326105/
  11. Moreover, Mr. Jamal Nasir, whose actually this voice is, also clarified it in this link: https://youtu.be/WcaMclY9h4Y.

NOTES

1. Sir Muhammad Iqbal, Shikwa (Lahore: Kapur Art Printing Works, 1933), p.1
2. Muhammad Hanif Shahid, Iqbal aur Anjuman Himayat-i-Islam (Lahore: Kutabkhana Anjuman Himayat-i-Islam, 1976), p.82
3. Abdullah Chughtai, Iqbal Ki Suhbat Main (Lahore: Majlis-e-Tarraqi-e-Adab, 1977), p.75
4. Khurram Ali Shafique, Iqbal: Tashkili Daur, 1905 se 1913 (Lahore: Iqbal Academy Pakistan, 2013), p. 368.
5. Syed Taqi Abdi, Chun Marg Ayed: Allama Iqbal ki Bimarion aur Marz-ul-Maot ki Tashkhis-Khatoot, Mustanid Hawalon aur Jadeed Tibbi Tehqiqaat ki Roshni main (Lahore: Iqbal Academy Pakistan, 2007), p. 55.
6. Sir Muhammad Iqbal, Kuliyat-e-Makateeb-e-Iqbal Vol: 4. ed. by Syed Muzaffar Hussain Barni (Delhi, Urdu Academy, 1998) p.322