تحریکِ مساوات ِ مرد و زن اور علامہ اقبال

The Impact of Colonial Educational Systems and the Discourse on Feminism: An Iqbalian Perspective

Abstract

This article critically examines the socio-cultural and educational repercussions of the British Raj on the Muslim Ummah in the Subcontinent, focusing on the transition from traditional Persian and Arabic systems to Lord Macaulay’s English-centric model. The author argues that this pedagogical shift alienated Muslims from their spiritual and historical roots, fostering a post-colonial intellectual dependency on Western/American paradigms.

Central to the discussion is the critique of contemporary Western-influenced feminism in Pakistan, exemplified by slogans like "Mera Jism Meri Marzi." The author asserts that this movement is a byproduct of a secularised education system that fosters scepticism toward Islamic heritage and the status of women in Islamic jurisprudence. By analysing Allama Iqbal’s Javid Nama (specifically the "Martial Prophetess" in the Sphere of Mars), the paper contrasts Iqbal’s visionary warnings of "de-feminisation" and the destruction of the family unit with the mandates of the Beijing Conference and UN-backed liberal agendas.

The article concludes that while the West sought liberation due to a lack of divine guidance, the Muslim world possesses a comprehensive ethical framework in the Quran and Sunnah. It calls for a rejection of "blind imitation" (taqlid) of Western secularism in favour of an Islamic intellectual revival.