The Tomb of Allama Iqbal or Mazar-e-Iqbal () is the final resting place of Muhammad Iqbal, the national poet of Pakistan. Designed in the Mughal architectural style, the mausoleum is located next to the walls of the iconic Mughal-era Badshahi Mosque, within the Hazuri Bagh in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Background
Iqbal was one of the major inspirations behind the Pakistan Movement, and is revered in Pakistan as the Mufakkir-e-Pakistan (the Thinker of Pakistan) and Shair-e-Mashriq (the Poet of the East).Annemarie Schimmel, Muhammad Iqbal 1873–1938: The Ascension of the Poet, Die Welt des Islams, New Ser., Vol. 3, Issue 3/4. 1954. pp. 145–157 Iqbal died on 21 April 1938 in Lahore at the age of 60. Thousands of visitors come to the mausoleum every day to pay their respects to the poet-philosopher.Mushirul Hasan, H., A Nationalist conscience: M. A. Ansari, the Congress and the Raj, Manohar New Delhi. 1987 It is said that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (the founder and first president of Turkey) had sent earth collected from the tomb of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (whom Iqbal regarded as his spiritual mentor) to be sprinkled on this grave.
History Soon after Iqbal's death in April 1938, a committee was formed that was presided over by Chaudhary Mohammed Hussain.Muhammad Baqir, Lahore, Past and Present. University of the Panjab. Panjab University Press. 1952. p.429
A major problem in the realisation of this monument was a lack adequate funds. The committee resolved not to accept any donations from the local governments and state rulers, and so funds were raised through the contributions from Iqbal's friends, admirers and disciples.A great eastern poet, philosopher, Subhash Parihar, The Tribune India, 10 July 1999
Architecture
The architecture has a combination of styles; however, it reflects mainly the Mughal style. The structure is entirely constructed of red sandstone,Mohammad Waliullah Khan, Lahore and Its Important Monuments, Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Pakistan. 1964. p.89-91 which was brought from Jaipur, British India, and building marble from Makrana, Rajputana. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, construction was affected due to export restrictions of red stone from India. Six couplets of a ghazal are carved from Iqbal's poetical work Zabur-e-Ajam (Persian Psalms) on the mausoleum's interior surfaces.Annemarie Schimmel, Islam in the Indian Subcontinent (Handbuch Der Orientalistik), Brill. 1980. Outside, there is a small garden, distributed into small plots. The mausoleum was designed by Hyderabad Deccan's then Chief Architect, Nawab Zain Yar Jang Bahadur and took thirteen years to build at a cost of about one hundred thousand (Rs. 100,000) Pakistani rupees. The major reason for delay was the stoppage of red-stone from Jaipur in post-independence India.Iqbal’s final resting place, Amna Nasir Jamal, 20 April 2002, Dawn
Grave and cenotaph The rectangular mausoleum has two gates at the eastern and southern side respectively, inlaid with marble, while the cenotaph itself is made of white marble. The tombstone was a gift from the people of Afghanistan, and is made of lapis lazuli and inscribed with Quranic verses in calligraphy inscribed in Afghanistan.
Conservation The tomb complex is listed on the Protected Heritage Monuments of the Archaeology Department of Punjab.
Gallery
See also Tomb of Asif Khan Tomb of Jahangir Tomb of Nur Jahan Architecture portal Iqbaliat Category:Iqbal scholars List of mausolea
References
External links
Iqbal Databank Tombs in Pakistan 3D Model of Tomb