عابد علی عابد کی کتاب ’’ شعرِ اقبال “ کا تحقیقی و تنقیدی مطالعہ

A research and critical study of Abid Ali Abid's book "Sher-e-Iqbal"

Abstract

This research article presents a comprehensive critical and analytical study of Syed Abid Ali Abid's seminal work, Sher-e-Iqbal (The Poetry of Iqbal). While traditional Iqbalian scholarship has predominantly focused on the poet's philosophical message, socio-political vision, and religious reformism, Abid Ali Abid shifts the paradigm toward the aesthetic, technical, and linguistic excellence of Iqbal's verse. The article explores the book’s tripartite structure: the historical-cultural backdrop of Muslim decline in the subcontinent; the intellectual revolution triggered by Iqbal's journey to Europe—including a unique psychological analysis of his "sense of loneliness" and its creative sublimation; and the intricate mechanics of his poetic expression. Central to this study is Abid’s masterful application of classical Eastern rhetoric (Ma’ani, Bayan, and Badi) to Iqbal’s modern thought, demonstrating how the poet utilized artistic devices like metaphors, brevity (Ijaz), and suggestion (Khayal Afroozi) to immortalize his philosophy. The research highlights Abid’s re-evaluation of Iqbal's symbols—such as the Shaheen (Eagle), Lala (Tulip), and Qalandar—revealing how they serve as dynamic vehicles for self-realization (Khudi). The article concludes that Abid Ali Abid’s work is an indispensable document that bridges the gap between philosophy and art, establishing a new standard for aesthetic criticism in Urdu literature and providing a profound understanding of the creative consciousness of the "Poet of the East."