IQBAL AND SARTRE ON FREEDOM AND CREATIVITY IQBAL AND SARTRE ON FREEDOM AND CREATIVITY Syed Latif Hussain Kazmi – 1 – IQBAL AND SARTRE ON FREEDOM AND CREATIVITY ISBN : 978-3-639-24895-1 2009 © Author Typesetting at Zainab Computer Services 131/A-1, Lane 6, (Tayyeb Colony) New Sir Syed Nagar, Aligarh (U.P.) India. – 2 – IQBAL AND SARTRE ON FREEDOM AND CREATIVITY DEDICATED TO MY PARENTS AND TEACHERS – 3 – IQBAL AND SARTRE ON FREEDOM AND CREATIVITY FOREWORD So far several studies of Iqbal have been done from various angles, mainly concentrating on his socio-religious ideas on the basis of his poetry and prose writings. Some attempts have also been made to place Iqbal in modern perspective with reference to Western philosophy. One of the earliest and the most scholarly works in this regard is B.A.Dar’s Iqbal and Post-Kantian Voluntarism. Other important studies in this field include S.A.Wahid’s English work, Iqbal: His Art and Thought, and the Urdu works of Yusuf Husain Khan, Khalifa Abdul Hakim and Jagan Nath Azad. All these studies are of a general nature. Few attempts have yet been made to focus on a single theme. One such work that is both scholarly and original is Alam Khundmiri’s doctoral thesis on Iqbal’s Conception of Time, which unfortunately still remains unpublished. The present study by Syed Latif Hussain Kazmi is another work of this kind that is focused on Iqbal’s conception of freedom and creativity, a very significant theme in the present historical context. The author worked for his M.Phil. Degree on the Existentialist Elements in Iqbal’s Philosophy (culminating into the already published work entitled Philosophy of Iqbal (Iqbal and Existentialism), a theme, which was taken up seriously for the first time by the writer of this foreword. I advised Dr. Kazmi to make an elaborate study of this theme, which he accomplished successfully and was awarded M.Phil. Degree by Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh for this study in 1985. The element that is strikingly common to Iqbal’s thought and existentialist philosophy is the emphasis on freedom. The existentialist who made freedom the central issue of his ontology as well as socio- political thought was Jean-Paul Sartre. Dr. Latif most appropriately selected Sartre for comparing and contrasting Iqbal’s idea with the existentialist notion of freedom. For this study Ph.D. degree was conferred on the author by the Aligarh Muslim University in 1988. – 4 – IQBAL AND SARTRE ON FREEDOM AND CREATIVITY The present book, based on the author’s doctoral dissertation, is an important work in comparative philosophy, particularly in the context of Iqbalian studies, in which a theist Muslim thinker is compared with an atheist western philosopher. Both the thinkers are stalwarts of literature and they have creatively synthesized conceptual tools of logic with extra- rational intuitive consciousness. Just as Iqbal’s ideas cannot be properly studied and interpreted without referring to his poetical works, similarly no study of Sartre’s philosophy is complete without taking into consideration his novels, plays and short stories. Both Iqbal’s and Sartre’s creative writings are complementary to their philosophical ideas. Dr. Latif’s present work is comprehensive enough because of his frequent references to both the thinkers’ literary works as well. The thesis consists of seven chapters. In the first chapter, freedom is discussed from general, legal, political, social and religious points of view. A pertinent point made out in this chapter is the distinction between liberty and freedom highlighting the fact that while the former has no ontological import, the latter is ontologically loaded. The second chapter deals with the existential conception of freedom in the light of the basic notions of existential philosophy with special reference to Sartre. The third chapter is an exposition of the relevance of existentialist approach to contemporary socio-political conditions and the impact of an all-embracing physicalism as a result of technological advancement in which human individual has lost his identity and is alienated from his self. The fourth chapter deals with the Islamic view of freedom from the perspectives of theology, Kalam and Hikmah with special reference to the Mu‘tazilite, Ash‘arite and Shi’ite positions regarding this issue that has both doctrinal as well as philosophical significance. This chapter provides a background for understanding Iqbal’s views on freedom and creativity. The fifth chapter is a detailed analysis of Iqbal’s positions regarding this problem. Iqbal’s views are discussed on the basis of an extensive study of Iqbal’s prose – 5 – IQBAL AND SARTRE ON FREEDOM AND CREATIVITY writings and poetical works in English, Persian and Urdu. While the third chapter discusses Sartre’s philosophy extensively, this chapter is fully devoted to Iqbal’s philosophical position. The sixth chapter forms the main part of the thesis, comparing and contrasting the views of Iqbal and Sartre’s on freedom highlighting the basic differences between theistic and atheistic world-outlooks. The seventh chapter summaries the main conclusions drawn by the author in his painstaking research on the subject. Though some readers may find this chapter lacking in critical analysis of the theme of study, however, it brings to light a vast panorama of Western and Muslim approaches to the problem that is very crucial and relevant to our age. In the end, it may be mentioned that the author’s unfamiliarity with French, the language of Sartre’s original works, did not hinder him from fully understanding Sartre’s position. His unfamiliarity with French is duly compensated by his good knowledge of Persian and Urdu and his ability to express his ideas clearly and unambiguously. Dr. Latif’s work deserves full attention of the experts of Iqbalian philosophy and, I am sure, will open new avenues to a better understanding of Iqbal’s contemporary relevance and also pave the way for many such comparative studies. (Late) Syed Waheed Akhtar Ex-Professor & Chairman Department of Philosophy Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh (India) – 6 – IQBAL AND SARTRE ON FREEDOM AND CREATIVITY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I have great pleasure in expressing my profound sense of gratitude to late Dr. Syed Waheed Akhtar, former Professor and Chairman, Department of philosophy, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, to whose constant guidance and unfailing sympathy this work owes more than I can express in words. I have greatly benefited from his erudition, constructive suggestions and inspiring guidance. His vast knowledge of Islamic literature as well as his knowledge of Persian, Urdu and Arabic languages has proved to be of great value to my research. I must also record my special thanks to him for writing a ‘Foreword’ (in 1995 when he was alive) for the present work. I am also thankful to the faculty members, especially Dr. Sanaullah Mir and Dr. S. A. Sayeed, in the Department of philosophy, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, for their fruitful suggestions and co-operation. I may be failing in my duty if I do not express my deepest gratitude to my presents for their blessings and prayers. I am especially thankful to my younger brothers Kazim, ‘Ashiq and Shakir and sister Kulsum for their love co-operation and encouragement in the course of preparation of the present work. I must also acknowledge my thanks to my wife Dr. Asma Kazmi for her sympathy, care and unfailing co-operation during the finalization of the present manuscript for publication. My lovely daughters Farheen, Syeda and Sakina deserve special thanks and love for not disturbing me and also for extending their co-operation when required. I extend my sincere thanks to all my friends and well-wishers for their encouragement and solicitude. Dr. Khwaja M. Sayeed deserves special thanks for his constant co-operation. I am also thankful to Shujauddin and Saleemuddin for taking pains in typing the manuscript. My special thanks are due to the publisher of this book for his kind concern while bringing out the present work in commendable get-up in due time. Syed Latif Hussain Kazmi Department of Philosophy August 23, 2009. Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh – 7 – IQBAL AND SARTRE ON FREEDOM AND CREATIVITY C O N T E N T S Foreword 04 Acknowledgement 07 11-43 Chapter-I Freedom: A General Discussion (a) What is Freedom? 12 (b) Freedom of Will and Determinism 16 (c) Freedom in Law 24 (d) Freedom in Politics 27 (e) Freedom in Religion 36 Chapter-II 44-63 Existential Conception of Freedom and Creativity (a) Existentialism: A Brief Introduction 45 (b) Existential Conception of Freedom and Creativity 50 Chapter-III 64-110 Sartre’s Notion of Freedom and Creativity (a) Freedom for Individual 66 (b) Freedom for Society : Freedom and Moral 86 Responsibility Chapter-IV 111-158 Conception of Freedom in Muslim Thought (a) The Socio-political Conditions in Early Islamic 112 Society (b) The Emergence of ‘Ilm al-Kalām’ (Dialectical 128 Theology) (c) The Mu’tazilite Position regarding Freedom 131 (d) The Ash‘arite Position with regard to Freedom 138 (e) The Shi‘ite Position regarding Freedom 144 – 8 – IQBAL AND SARTRE ON FREEDOM AND CREATIVITY Chapter-V 159-196 Iqbal’s Conception of Freedom and Creativity (a) Freedom and Individuality (Khudi) 160 (b) Freedom and Creativity 162 (c) Freedom and Slavery 176 (d) Freedom: A Religio-Social Virtue 178 (e) Freedom and Immortality 183 (f) Love: A Primordial Source of Freedom and 189 Creativity Chapter-VI 197-240 Comparison Between Sartre and Iqbal’s Notions of Freedom and