“Iqbal’s Conception of the Prophet's Ahl al-Bayt as a Unifying Axis for the Muslim Ummah”

Abstract

This research paper explores the concept of Ahl al-Bayt (the Holy Family of the Prophetﷺ) within the intellectual and spiritual framework of Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Although Iqbal refrains from explicitly naming members of the Ahl al-Bayt in his philosophical lectures, their ethos is deeply reflected in his core ideas—Khudi (selfhood), Ishq (divine love), Faqr (spiritual renunciation), Millat (Muslim community), and Ijtihad (dynamic reasoning). In his poetry, Iqbal presents figures such as Fatima al-Zahra (A.S) and Imam Hussain (A.S) as embodiments of ideal Islamic virtues—patience, sacrifice, insight, resistance, and spiritual courage—that hold a timeless message for the Muslim Ummah. The paper situates these themes within the contemporary socio-religious context, addressing sectarian fragmentation, intellectual decline, and spiritual voids in the modern Muslim world. By reinterpreting Iqbal’s thought in light of the universal message of Ahl al-Bayt, this study argues for their role as a unifying spiritual heritage rather than a sectarian symbol, offering a foundation for Muslim unity, intra-faith harmony, and ethical revival across the Ummah.