THE CONFLICT OF EAST & WEST IN IQBAL'S POETRY

Abstract

Iqbal must be considered the last flag-bearer of Persian poetry in the subcontinent. He poeticized his thoughts and ideas and used Urdu & Persian as a mode of expression to introduce Eastern traditions to the world. On one hand, he criticized the shallow culture and civilization of the West, on the other side he also targeted Eastern monasticism and passivism. According to Iqbal, the West is led by trade and commercialism while Eastern thoughts are still dominated by monasticism; that is why the West undergoes continuous change while the East is stranded and resists change. Iqbal desires to change the Muslim world and encourages Muslims to learn and benefit from modern Western knowledge. While the West is thriving with modern knowledge and technology, the East is rusted with old traditions and myths. Mainly Muslims were surrounded by a lot of superstitions.