Birthday of Muhammad Iqbal in Pakistan

Iqbal is widely known as one of the most important figures in Urdu and Persian literature, having written numerous volumes of poetry in both languages. After returning to Lahore in 1908, Iqbal taught philosophy and English literature while practicing law. In Iran, where he is known as Iqbāl-e Lāhorī (Iqbal of Lahore), he is highly regarded for his Persian works.

In 1940 in Lahore Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the man who founded Pakistan, gave a seminal speech setting out the need for a separate state for Muslims on the subcontinent. Prior to the division of India in 1947, Hindus and Muslims had lived together across the country. But Jinnah described them as two separate nations.

Iqbal is a name and surname meaning "good fortune” and “prosperity” but also the Punjabi meaning of “power” “force” and “one who is strong”. It can also be spelled as Eqbal, Ikbal, or Eghbal. It is a common name in Middle Eastern, Central Asian, and South Asian countries.