ALLAMA IQBAL AND COMMUNISM
HUSSAIN RANDATHANI
Allama Iqbal always maintained a positive attitude towards Communism and the Bolshevik revolution of Russia. He not only spoke high of the Marxian and Communist views towards the toiling masses and the workers but also believed that Socialism is an ideology closer to Islam. When Bolshevik revolution took place in Russia, Iqbal congratulated the revolutionaries and created a poem named “Sarmaya wo Mihnath” (Capital and Labor). He proclaimed that with the Soviet revolution a new dawn had arisen for the workers of the east and the west.
Go! Hand over my message to the worker who is in bondage
What is the communication from Khizr? This is a global message
Listen, you have been swallowed by a capitalist, crooked,
Who has been cheating you for centuries, times unlimited.
Wages of hatred dropped from the hands of that cheater of wealth
Are the alms thrown out by them to the poor people in stealth?
Like the story of the enchanter uphill, he charmed the poorest
But the poor eats everything obtained as sweet meat.
Bourgeois is clever; he is extracting enough intoxication from the land,
The people, the caste-class culture and from the administrative hand
The illiterate preys are falling in to adversity for these false Gods’ sake
He is stealing the shining treasure of life for the taste of the inhaling smoke.
Harsh capitalist exploited everything as these cheaters have no shame,
You do not suspect them though you are defeated always in the game
Now come and see the order of the world society is changing
In the east and west your age is dawning.
A soul enlightened will not be satisfied with even an ocean
But like a flower bud with a dew drop, you fool gets satisfaction
Democracy awakened us from the slumber which is cause of happiness sure
Should we hear the dream stories of Jamshad and Alexander anymore?
There arose from the ovary of the earth the new sun of red
Why should we cry for the star fallen dead?
Break away the chains! That is natural for humans,
How much time should we shed tears for expulsion from paradise? 1
Iqbal had presented Bolshevik revolution as the message of liberation to the workers of the entire world. He created poems critically evaluating Karl Marx, Lenin and even Communism. Iqbal concluded that with all its shortcomings Communism and Socialism had shown the path to the working class. Iqbal said, “The laissez-faire capitalism of European industrialization has divided human society into different nationalist groups. In each national states class wars are going on. The reason is that in all those places the haves and the have-nots are fighting each other. In my country which is dominated by agriculture, though the industrial labour has not been developed, the dispute between the landlords and the tenants have become a severe socio-economic problem. The greedy money lender is cruel than the land lord. The ownership of lands is moving fast in to the hands of money lenders. They on the other hand are not doing anything for the development of the agriculture or the farmers. So I am welcoming the revolution which will eradicate such hidden and inactive land lords and money lenders.” 2
Iqbal put forward, not the socialism which completely prevent the private property and impose an artificial socialism on the people, but the concept of socialism “from each according to his capacity and to each according to his capacity” upheld by St.Simon. Islam also envisages such Socialism. But he laments that Islamic Socialism is not at all utilized by Muslims. The basis of Socialism is in conformity with the teachings of Qur-an. Islam and Socialism are having the same target- the welfare of all sections of people. The society should be based on social justice and Islam strive forth to achieve this ideal. He wrote,” If I become the ruler of a Muslim state I will make it a socialist state.” 3
“Qur-an itself is suggesting solutions for the economic ailments of human societies. When Capitalism crosses its limits it becomes the worst curse. The remedy for this is not complete eradication of Capitalism. Instead it is to keep it under control. Islam has determined the limit to Capitalism through inheritance and charity. Nobody has the privilege to deny the rights of others or exploit others. Bolshevism is the powerful response against unlimited Capitalism. But both Capitalism and Bolshevism are extremes. Islam does not discard Capital. But Capital should not be an instrument for exploitation. Labour and Capital should remain in their own positions. According to Islamic law one class should not dominate another class invoking the evilness in Capital. True Socialism will be established only when Capital and Labor perform within their boundaries. The existing Socialist methods adopted in Russia are often unpractical, and the Bolsheviks will be compelled to bring about lots of amendments. However the socialistic views closely connected with Islam.” 4
In the letter written to Sir Francis Young Husband Iqbal said: “I do not think Russians are naturally a people without religion. They are strong men and women with religious inclination. The attitude of negation existing in present Russian mindset will not sustain for long. The reason is that no society can exist continuously in an atheistic atmosphere. When the problems in that country are ended and they get time to think peacefully they will be compelled to find out a base suitable to their social system. When Bolshevism and Islam come together the result is equal to Islam. In course of time Islam will make Russia devotional or Russia will imbibe Islam.” 5
Iqbal sees Marx as the prophet and founder of a social order based on the equality of all sections of people. He evaluates the Das Capital as a holy book containing principles of a judicious social order.
“He is the Mosses to whom God has not manifested Himself
He is the Jesus who has not carried the Cross by himself
Though not a Prophet he has a scripture close to his chest for himself.” 6
Iqbal believes that there is a hidden truth in Marx’s teachings. It is the Islamic principle that before God all are equals. Though Marx’s social establishment is having physical orientation and Marx does not recognize God, this hidden truth cannot be left unaccepted. Marx is a prophet without angels, “The author of Das Capital (being a Jew)comes from the tribe of Prophet Ibrahim. He is a prophet to whom the angel Gibreel has not been manifested. In his ‘wrong’ there is a hidden truth. In his heart he is having faith. Intellectually he is an ascetic. The westerners have lost the Paradise. They are looking for the soul in the stomach. The true soul will not accept color or smell from the body. But for Socialism there is no other thought than body. The religion of this prophet who does not know the truth (God) is created on the equality of stomachs.”7
Iqbal maintained complete reverence to Lenin, the father of Bolshevik revolution. He even wrote a poem named “Lenin in God’s presence.”(Lenin Khuda ke huzur mein). Here Iqbal praises Lenin as the world leader and representative of the working class. Lenin describes the trials and tribulations of the workers before God with tears. He narrates the cruelty of Capitalists one by one. Lenin who does not believe in God in his life time, seeing God face to face after his death is presented. He fails to negate God at that stage. He asks God with anxiety:
Oh Truth, You, whom the complete Universe and the whole living endorse
You are the only Truth, the whole living and non living are extracts of yours
How can I know whether Truth is existent or not
As the calculations of rationality changes fleetingly somewhat!
Astrological scientist or Botanist did not hear
The music eternal of nature
Today when I see You face to face I believe
Till today, God is a creation of Church, I did perceive.
Day and night we are bonded in chains
You are the creator of all molecules; builder of ages
May I put forth a question with your permission?
No essays of philosophers have given me this information
When we were dwelling under the roof of sky
When my heart pained by the prick thorny
When it is felt that my thoughts are deranged
When I failed to say as my sound faltered
What kind of humans are those who worship you?
Those who are created from mere dust under the blue
The temples of the east are paled European instruments
And for the west God is metals shining…...
This knowledge, this study, this statesmanship, this bureaucracy
They lick blood and discourse on equality
Unemployment, bare knees, intoxication of liquor, destitution
All these are the donations of culture western
There are people who are not blessed in the God’s direction
Their progress is determined by electricity and steam engine
Death to the heart and power to the machine
Machines demolish the whole human compassion…
You are strong and just, but in your world
The destiny of the labourer is sour undoubted
When shall this ship of Capitalism crash?
The world is waiting for the judgment day of yours! 8
Angels came and started singing chorus when they heard the speech made by Lenin. They had been singing that Capitalism was turning the slaves of God in to the slaves of the landlords. When God heard the words of Lenin the song of angels, He commanded the angels to destroy the existing social order. God asked the working class to fight against all miseries and ordered the angels to demolish the forts and bastions which did not cater to the needs of the weaker sections:
“Arise! awake the global poor community
Destroy the bastions owned by the wealthy
Boil the blood of the slaves with the fire of fidelity
Let the sparrow fight with the eagle, mighty.
The rule of democracy is arriving
Go, destroy all the old statues you see thriving
Put fire to the bunches of wheat in the field
The farmer will not get from that even a granule of food.” 9
The lightening was doing the duty already by leaving the forts burning
Why the blood of the farmer be allowed to flow for the garden of the King?
The Sun of modern thoughts is arising with fastness
What is the use in conservatism spreading anymore darkness? 10
In the poem Iblis Ki Majlis e Shura Iqbal is discussing with Socialism. He further says that it is because Muslims abandoned Qur-an it became necessary for them to follow other ideologies. The abandonment of Qur-an by Muslims made Satan happy:
I know this community will not hold Qur-an any longer
Now Capitalism has become the religion of the believer.11
Iqbal who believed that it is Socialism which is envisaged by Qur-an, quotes 219th dictum in second chapter of Book to prove himself: “They are asking you what to spend. Reply, what is remaining (the surplus).” He did not like Muslim Lords spending extravagantly: “Let the soul control your hands. Whatever be the surplus after your needs, you give away the same.”12 In his poem named Isthirakiyyath (Communism) quoting the above dictum Iqbal wrote that Russia’s progress is a model to all nations and all nations are bound to follow this model.
While watching the nature of nations, I felt
Many advantages for Russian progress swift
Oh, Muslim, into Qur-an you expedite
May God give you a character, swift
The truth inherent in the word ‘surplus’
May be the single truth getting revealed nowadays.13
Iqbal disregards the negation of God in Russia. Instead he regards that it gives equality to people. In Russia a society as envisaged by Qur-ran is being built. Those definitely are divine rules. Without much delay Russia may be compelled to accept God. Iqbal’s solicitation is that why the societies which regard Qur-an as their own, do not implement Qur-anic laws.14 Iqbal believes that Russia’s denial of God actually is a response against the clergy of Catholic Church and their theism which is supporting Capitalism. In his poem named Bolshevik Russia he writes:
Will the establishment of Church provide redemption?
No, Church will be the instrument for destruction of salvation
In Russia’s negation of God there is an inspiration of God too
To destroy the uncultured idols of religious maniacs I knew.15
Iqbal wrote in a Persian Masnavi named “Pas Che Bayad Kard” that Russia’s negation of religion turned helpful in demolishing the bastions of Capitalistic exploitation. This denial of God is the antagonistic attitude ‘La’ of Russian Communism. Islam comes through the attitude ‘La Ilaha’ (There is no God) to the attitude of ‘Illallah’ (Other than Allah). Islam denies the old decrees by starting with La Ilaha. But existence is not possible with denial alone. A new system must follow such a negation. Islam is establishing that favorable order by adding Illallah (other than Allah). Iqbal foretells that Russia may recognize that new order of monotheism envisaged in the Qur-an, if not, that may culminate in the fall of that country because by denial alone nobody can sustain.
It can be seen during the period of western colonization
The fight between Labour and Capital, intensification
And when the heart of Russia pained then came the intonation
From the depths of her heart in the form of negation (No or La)
She toppled the old order completely
She cut the vein of the world with a knife sharply
I scrutinized her situation with care very much
Her people had no King, no God or no Church
Her thoughts are connected to ‘No’, the tempest (La-Arabic)
But that connection has not reached ‘Except’, the target (Illa-Arabic)
A day may come by the compulsion of tranquility
When she escape from the cyclonic storm in her individuality
Life cannot exist on nothingness
The world always target on existence
Nations always need nothingness and existence
If nothingness alone, it is certain of nation’s demise.16
Iqbal who said that Russian people are implementing the direction of God, requested the Russian authorities to switch from negation of God and adopt faith in God:
Oh! Russians, you who established a new world order
You who shifted your hearts from obscurantism of yore
You who broke up the bones of autocracy
In this world we Muslims did the same with theocracy
You accept advice from this fly
That will enkindle the light which is your heart. 17
Iqbal writes that Islam is the greatest enemy of Imperialism and so eradication of Islam is the target of Imperialism: “The laissez faire theory propounded by western industrialization has changed the human society into different nationalist groups fighting each other. Adding to the woes in each national state class wars between haves and have-nots also occur. In the countries where industrial workers are not developed the enmity is between landlords and labor. The pawn brokers are heartless than landlords. They are harassing the people with the help of British judicial system disregarding all customs and practices. The agricultural land is being snatched away by the pawn brokers. On the other hand, they are not doing anything at all for the development of agriculture, too.” Iqbal said that he is welcoming any kind of revolution against this policy. 18
In the poem ‘Karl Marx ki Awaz’ he criticizes the western economists who do slavery for Capitalism. He established with examples that Islamic religion also is projecting Socialism. He wrote that Communism and Islam were differentiated in the matter of God only and in principles both are the same. Russia’s negation of God is a response against the corruption and disregard of the Catholic Church. But he adds that Russia will not be able to sustain long without God.19 Iqbal’s invention is that Bolshevism and God sum up to Islam.20
From the poem Bolshevic Russia:
They (the Bolsheviks) were entrusted to break the Cross
Those were the same babbling earlier the Cross as safety and bliss
This is the divine revelation over Russia’s impiety
‘Destroy the pseudo Gods associated with the clergy.’ 21
From the poem Navaaye Mazdoor (Voice of the Labour):
“It is the labour of the worker wearing coarse cloths
Enables the lazy Capitalist to wear silky dress high class
The diamond shining on the rings of the Capitalist
Are the sweat drops oozing on his eye brows.
His child’s cry is that which transforms
Ornaments gold and silver gorgeous”22
Iqbal gives the call to march towards the arena for revolution:
“The capitalist is making diamond ornaments
Using the blood in the heart of his workers,
But the farmer is sleeping without the knowledge
Of the oppression of the Capitalist in the village
Revolution! Revolution! Oh, Revolution!
The Sheikh dwelling in the city has entangled
Hundreds of believers on his rosary and tied,
At the same time the foolish non believers
Have become preys of the sacred thread of the Brahmins
Revolution! Revolution! Oh, Revolution!
The kings and lords are playing chess on the board
They are drinking liquor and getting intoxicated
They have extracted the life from the ruled
Still the people are sleeping tired.
Revolution! Revolution! Oh, Revolution! 23
Bibliography:
1. Bandhaye mazdoor ko jakar mera paigam de
Khizar ka paigam kya? Ye paigame kainath.
Aye ki thujko kha gaya sarmayadare heela gar
Shaake aahu par rahi swadiyon thalak theree baraath
Dasthe doulath afreen ko musd yom milthi rahi
Ahale sarvath jaise dethe hei gareebhon ko zakaath
Saahire muth nei thujko dhiya barghe hasheesh
Aur thu ye bhe khabar samjha ise sakhe nabaath
Nasal khaumiyyath khaleesa, sulthanate, thahdeeb, rang
Kwajagi nei khoob chun chun ke banaaya muskiraath
Kat mera naadan khayaali devathavom keliye
Sukar kee ladhath meim thu lutva gaya naqde hayaath
Makar Kee Chaalom se baasee le gaya sarmayedar
Inthihaiye sadhagi se kha gaya mazdoor math
Ut ke ab basme jahan ka aur hee andhaz he
Mashriqo magrib mem theri daur ka aagaz hei
Himmathe Aali tho darya bhi nahim karthi qabool
Guncha san gofil theri daman mem sabnam kab thalak
Nagmaye baydhari jamhur he samaane aysh
Khissaye khavaab aavare sikhandharo jam kab thalak
Afthaye thaza paidha bathne geethi se huva
Asman toobe huye tharon ka maatham kab thalak
Thot thalen fithrath insan ne sanjiren thamam
Doori jannath se rothi chashme adam kab thalak
(Banke dara, Page 297-299)
2. Hakim KA, Islam and Communism, Lahore Institute of Islamic Culture, 1953, p.136
3. W C Smith, Modern Islam in India, London, 1946, p.32
4. Dr.Abdul Haleem Hilal, Social Philosophy of Sir Muhammed Iqbal, Adam Publishers, Delhi, 1998, p. 230
5. Shamloo, Speeches and Statements of Iqbal, Lahore, 1944, p. 148-153
6. Vo kalim be thajally, vho masseeh be swaleeb
Nesth paigambhar vo, lekin dar begal daarad kithab- Armagane Hijaz
7. Javed Nama: p.69
8. Ye Anfuso aafaq mem paidha there aayaath
Hakh he ye ki he zindha vo paayindha theree dath
Mere kaise samjtha ki thu he ya ki nahim he
Har dam muthagayyar thhe Khird ke nazriyath
Mehram nahim fithrath ke saroode asaalee se
Beenaye kavakib ho ki daanaye nabathath
Aaj aamk ne dhekha tho vho aalam huva saabith
Mem jis ko samajtha tha kaleesa ke khurafaath
Ham banthe vo shab ho rosh mem jaghade huye bandhe
Thu khalik he aasar ho nigharindhaye aanaath
Ek bath agar mujhkho ijasath ho tho poochem
Hal karna sakhe jiskho hakim ke maqalath
Jab thak mem jiya khaimaaye aflak ke neeche
Kaande kee tharah dil mem khatakthee rahi ye bath
Gufthaar ke asloob pe khaboo nahim rahtha
Jab rooh ke andhar muthalathum ho khayalath
Ho konsa adam he kee thu jis ka he aabud
Vo aadame khaki ke jho he saire samaavaath
Masrikh ke khudavanth safedhane firangi
Magrib ke khudavanth darkhshantha filissaath
Ye ilm, ye hikmath, ye thadabbur, ye hukmath
Peethe he lahoo dethe he thaleeme musavaath
Bekari vo uryani vo meqwari vo ikhlas
Kya kam he firangi madaniyath ke futhuhath
Vo khaum ki faisaane samaavi se ho meharum
Had us ke kamaalath ki hai bar ke mukhaaraath
He dil keliye mauth masheenom khi hukumath
ihsaase maravvath ko kuchal dethe he aalath…
Tho qadiro adil he magar there jahan mem
He thalaq bahuth bandhaye mazdoor ke auqaath
Kab toobega sarma ya parasthi ka safeena
Dunya he theree munthasire rose makafaath
Bale Jibreel, pp.144-147
9. Uto meri dunya ke gharebhon kho jagha dho
Kakhe umara ke daro deevar jala do
Garmao gulamon ka lahu sose yakheen se
Kunchishike firo maya kho saheen se lata do
Sulthani jamhur ka aatha he samaana
Jho nakshe kuhan thum kho nasar aaye mita dho
Jis kheth ke dahkhan kho mayassar nahim rosi
Us kheth ke har khousaaye gandum kho jala do
Bale jibreel, p.49
10. Sai afghan he jwala bharkh deevan sos ka
Aaj sirfe baghe sulthan khoone dahkhan he tho kya
Manzilem pe kar chukha he afthab fikar nau
Aaj agar roohe khidamath dulmath afsaan he tho kya
11. Jaantha ho mem ye ummath amale Qur-an nahim
He vahi sarmayedhari bandhaaye mu’min ka deen
(Ibliees ki Majlis e Shura)
12. Javed Nama, p. 91
13. Dharbe kalim, p.138
14. Riyaz Hussain, Iqbal Poet and His Politics, Uppal Publishing House,
New Delhi, 1987, p.118
15. Hoye he kazre chaleepa ke vasthe mamoor
Vahee ki hafse chaleepa kho janthe the’ najath
Ye vahy dahriyathe roos par hoyi nasil
Khi thot dal kaleesaiyom ke laath vho manaath
(Bolshevik Rus, Darbe Kaleem)
16.Ham chunan buni ka dar dor firang
Bandhagi ya Kwajaghi aamad bajang
Rus ra qalb vho jigar gardeda khun
Ar sameerash harf la aamad baron
Aan nisam kahnaye ra bar ham sadasth
Thez ayshe burkh alum sadasth
Karda am andhar makhamatish naghah
La salatheen la kaneesa la ilaah
Fikar oh dartnad bhadila be maanad
Markab khud ra soye illa naraand
Aayadash rose ki as sor junoon
Khuis ra sain thand bad aarad baroon
Dar makhame la niya sayad hayaath
Soye illa mee qaramad kainaath
La o illa saso bhurg ummathaan
Nafee be asbath marg ummathaan
(Pas che bayad kard)
17. Javed nama, pp. 87-88
18. Khalifa Abdul Haklim, Islam and Communism, p.136
19. Shamloo, Speeches and Statements of Iqbal, p.167
20. Riyaz Hussain, Iqbal, Poet and Politics, p.119
21. Huve he kasre saleeba ke vasthe mamoor
Ohi she hifse saleeba kho janthe the’ najath
He vahy darhiyath roos par huyi nasil
Ke thod daal kaleesavon ke laatho manaath
22. Asghar Ali Enginner, Some Socio Political Motivations of Iqbal’s thought,
Iqbal Centenary Symposium, p.47.
23. Khwaja as khun dile masdoor saso la’ale nab
As jafaaye vho khudayaan kunthe dahkanan kwaab
Inquilab! Inquilab! Oh, Inquilab!!
Sheikh shahar as rasthaye thazbeeh sad mu’min bedaam
Kafiran ne sada dil ra brhaman sanaar thab
Inquilab! Inquilab! Oh, Inquilab!!
Meero sulthan nird baso kaabthane sane vagal
Jaan muhkaman bar dand asthano mahkuman be kwab
Inquilab! Inquilab! Oh, Inquilab!!