Allahabad Address

1930
By
Shahid Jamil
Background
• Quaid e Azam was in London for the first round table conference in 1930
• So, Allama Iqbal was asked to preside over the annual session of the
Muslim League at Allahabad in 1930.
• Iqbal said;
India is a continent of human groups belonging to different races,
speaking different languages, and professing different religions Personally, I
would like to see the Punjab, North-West Frontier
Province, Sindh and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single State. Self-
government within the British Empire, or without the British Empire, the
formation of a consolidated North-West Indian Muslim State appears to me
to be the final destiny of the Muslims, at least of North-West India.
Background
• Allama Iqbal narrated the basic principles of the Islam and loyalties of
the Muslims to their faith.
• He gave the idea and concept about a separate homeland and had a
right that they got the identification and passed their lives in order to
the Islamic principles.
• On the one side, Hindus were creating the restrictions in the way of
the Muslim and hurting the feeling of the Muslim to propose the
Nehru report as the ultimate constitution for India.
• On the other side, the British government totally ignored the
Muslim’s rights and other facilities were not being provided to them.
Continue
• In his address, Allama Iqbal explained that Islam was the major and
determining factor in the life of Indian Muslims. He defined the
Muslims of India as a nation and recommended there could be no
possibility of peace in India without recognizing them as one.
• The difference in the mind, difference in thoughts and religion
furthermore, difference in the customs and tradition make them
unable to live together.
• He expressed that the northwestern part of the country should be
established to unite as a self-governed unit, within or without the
British Empire.
Islam and Nationalism
• Islam was the major formative factor in the life history of Indian Muslims.
• Islam as a complete code of life.
• He claimed that the only way for the Muslims and Hindus to prosper in
accordance with their respective cultural values was under a federal system
where Muslim majority units were given the same privileges that were to
be given to the Hindu majority units.
• nationalism comes through Islam in Muslims, Islam provides a different way
of life.
• Iqbal explained that Islam was not a private matter, the demand of separate
homeland was based on Islam as it did not neglect the common life
Significance
• Iqbal's address was known to have a forceful and logical presentation
of the Muslim case in India.
• His address arises the awareness why should Muslims be treated as a
political entity rather than a minority.
• His address highlights the following views that would prove highly
beneficial in future.
• Territorial adjustments will enable the Muslims to develop themselves
in accordance with their ideas and serve the cause of Ummah.
• Redistribution of territory developed later on the concept of a Muslim
homeland.
Continue
• He further expressed these ideas in letters to Jinnah from May 1936 to
November 1937.
• He talked of a separate federation of Muslim provinces. The North
Western India and Bengal can be considered as entitled to self-
determination like other nations in India and outside.
• Shariah's development is impossible without a free Muslim state or states.
• He advised the Muslims to be above self-interest and devote themselves
to Islam.
• In difficult times, Islam has saved the Muslims.
• Faith, culture and historical traditions are more important than patriotism.