The Tradition of Iqbal Studies in Iran

This research paper examines the historical development and intellectual tradition of Iqbal Studies in Iran, focusing on the reception, interpretation, and scholarly engagement with the works of Muhammad Iqbal within Iranian academic and literary circles. Although Iqbal was born in the present day Pakistan and never visited Iran, his deep engagement with the Persian language and classical Persian intellectual tradition enabled his ideas to transcend geographical boundaries and secure a prominent place in modern Iranian literary discourse. The study investigates three major dimensions: Iqbal’s choice of Persian as a medium of poetic expression, the role of Iranian scholars and intellectuals in introducing and interpreting his thought, and the extent of Iqbal’s popularity and influence within Iranian society. A significant portion of Iqbal’s philosophical poetry was composed in Persian, a deliberate choice that allowed him to communicate his intellectual vision to a wider Muslim audience across Iran. Persian literature had a profound influence on Iqbal’s intellectual development, particularly the works of Persian mystics and poets such as Jalaluddin Rumi, whose spiritual philosophy significantly shaped Iqbal’s conception of the self (Khudi). The emergence of Iqbal Studies in Iran began gradually during the mid-twentieth century, when Iranian intellectuals and literary critics started to recognize the philosophical depth and literary brilliance of Iqbal’s Persian poetry. Iranian scholars, poets, and political thinkers played a crucial role in introducing and popularizing his thought. Among them were figures such as Muhammad‑Taqi Bahar, who praised Iqbal’s poetic genius and helped establish his reputation among Iranian literary circles, and Ali Shariati, who regarded Iqbal as an intellectual model and a source of inspiration for socio-religious reform. The study further highlights the institutional and cultural dimensions of Iqbal’s reception in Iran. His works are widely available in Persian translations and critical editions, and numerous seminars, conferences, and academic theses have been devoted to his thought in Iranian universities. His poetry is discussed not only in literary studies but also in philosophy, political thought, and Islamic intellectual history. In fact, Iqbal’s works have inspired several Iranian thinkers and political leaders, including Ali Khamenei, who has written extensively about his intellectual legacy.