Islamic Spiritual Humanism in the Poetry of Allama Iqbal and Kazi Nazrul Islam: A Quest for a Justice-Based Society

Abstract

This paper explores the Islamic spiritual foundation in the poetic visions of Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Kazi Nazrul Islam as a transformative force for establishing a justice-based society. Both poets, emerging from the colonial context of South Asia, envisioned a moral and spiritual awakening rooted in divine justice, human equality, and ethical responsibility. Iqbal’s concept of Khudi (selfhood) and Mard-e-Momin (the true believer) inspires the reconstruction of the self through faith and action, envisioning a community grounded in spiritual freedom and justice. Similarly, Nazrul’s revolutionary voice in poems like Bidrohi and Manush embodies Qur’anic ideals of equality, denouncing social oppression, class hierarchy, and colonial tyranny. While Iqbal’s spirituality seeks transcendence through self-realization and divine connection, Nazrul’s spiritual rebellion calls for justice through compassion and struggle against injustice. Through a comparative textual analysis of their poetic works—such as Iqbal’s Bang-e-Dara, Bal-e-Jibril, and Nazrul’s Agniveena and Dhumketu—this study reveals how their Islamic humanism aims to construct a society where faith, justice, and freedom harmonize. The paper concludes that both poets transformed Islamic spirituality into a dynamic moral philosophy capable of guiding humanity toward social justice and universal brotherhood.