The ECO Cultural Institute held its literary and cultural conference, “The Sun of the East,” on Monday, 18 Aban 1405 (9 November 2026), to commemorate the thought, personality and literary stature of Allama Muhammad Iqbal Lahoree, the distinguished poet, philosopher and thinker of the Islamic world. The event was attended by the President of the ECO Cultural Institute, the Secretary-General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), ambassadors of ECO member states, university professors, intellectuals, poets and a number of cultural and literary enthusiasts.
At the conference, the speakers paid tribute to Iqbal’s scholarly and literary personality and examined various dimensions of his philosophical, mystical, social and cultural thought. They emphasized the role of his works and ideas in fostering intellectual awakening and self-awareness among the peoples of the East.
Ambassador Mohammad Hassan, President of the ECO Cultural Institute, analyzed Iqbal’s place in the region’s literature and stated: “Iqbal’s poetic journey began in Urdu. In 1915, with his poetic work Asrar-e Khudi (The Secrets of the Self), he turned to Persian—a language he considered a worthy medium through which to address the Islamic East. Inspired by the great figures of Persian poetry and literature, foremost among them Rumi, he gave distinctive and contemporary expression to classical philosophical and mystical concepts in works such as Rumuz-e Bekhudi, Payam-e Mashriq, Zabur-e Ajam and Javid Nama. In the final years of his life, through Bal-e Jibril and Zarb-e Kalim, he returned to Urdu, in which some of the most mature expressions of his thought can be found.”
The President of the ECO Cultural Institute continued: “Many of us gathered here may be more familiar with his Persian poetry, but his Urdu poetry is equally significant. His Urdu poems speak to the people of the Indian subcontinent with directness, warmth and emotional resonance, while his Persian works provide a broader philosophical framework for explaining his ideas about the individual, society, history and humanity. This difference, however, does not imply a break in his thought. In whichever language he wrote, Iqbal pursued one goal: awakening the human being’s inner potential through the concept of ‘Khudi’ (the Self), and laying the foundations of a society guided by knowledge, action and moral purpose.”
Ambassador Mohammad Hassan concluded his remarks by saying: “Although Iqbal’s Urdu and Persian poetry differ in language, style and expression, a unity of thought and vision runs through them. I hope our distinguished speakers will help us recognize and understand both this unity and these differences, and, in doing so, remind us of the longstanding intellectual ties that connect the peoples of this region.”
Mr. Omran Ahmad Siddiqui, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Islamic Republic of Iran, then spoke about Iqbal’s role in the lives of the people of Pakistan and his unparalleled renown in the Islamic world. He said: “For the people of Pakistan, Iqbal is part of our collective conscience. His poetry articulated a political ideal that was ultimately realized in the creation of Pakistan. His historical vision of an independent political future for the Muslims of South Asia remains a lasting turning point in our national journey—a vision explicitly set out in his Allahabad Address of 1930.”
The Pakistani Ambassador added: “Yet Iqbal’s intellectual and spiritual world was much wider. His message addresses all humanity, and perhaps nowhere outside Pakistan does it find such a natural affinity as it does in Iran. In Iqbal’s imagination, Iran was not merely a name on a geographical map; it was an intellectual and spiritual homeland.”
Mr. Siddiqui emphasized: “Iqbal drew deeply on the Persian literary and philosophical tradition. He found inspiration in Rumi’s wisdom, Hafez’s poetry and the rich intellectual heritage of this remarkable civilization. He wrote extensively in Persian because he regarded it as a powerful language for spiritual expression and intellectual communication.”
Iqbal had undoubtedly called Rumi his spiritual guide. Through Rumi, he discovered a new world in which love became knowledge, knowledge was transformed into action, and action became a path to human transformation.
Dr. Qasem Safi, a professor at the University of Tehran, described Iqbal as the greatest contemporary poet of the Islamic world. In part of his address, he said: “Familiarity with Iqbal’s personality and adherence to his sound and elevated views on human thought and understanding have given rise to a movement that brings lofty ideals to the fields of life, management, social relations, sound beliefs and the education of the Muslim individual. This movement guides the destiny of the Islamic world towards excellence, opening the gates of the ‘Virtuous City’ until the Day of Judgment and sweeping away despotism and oppression. The time has now come to speak openly and plainly, rather than through metaphor and allusion. ‘Tell me, where can I find sincere and wholehearted empathy?’—this was Iqbal’s question to the readers of his poetry.”
The session continued with presentations on various aspects of Iqbal’s works and poetry by Dr. Nurali Nurzod, a professor at Khujand University in Tajikistan, who participated by sending a video message; Dr. Shokatali Muhammadi Shari, an Afghan poet; and Mr. Mohammad Javad Aseman, an Iranian poet. A short film about Iqbal Lahoree’s life and personal journey was also screened during the programme.
Allama Iqbal Lahoree is one of the outstanding figures of Persian and Urdu literature. Drawing on the rich heritage of Islamic mysticism and wisdom, he reflected in his works such messages as self-knowledge, self-confidence, freedom, human dignity and the unity of the Muslim Ummah. His Persian poetry holds a special place, particularly among Persian-speaking peoples, and serves as a reminder of the deep cultural and literary bonds among the countries of the region.
The conference was held as part of the ECO Cultural Institute’s mission to preserve the shared cultural and literary heritage of the countries of the region and strengthen the historical and civilizational ties among the peoples of ECO member states.
“The Sun of the East” conference provided a valuable opportunity to revisit Iqbal Lahoree’s enduring ideas and to reaffirm the role of the culture, literature and wisdom of the East in fostering understanding, solidarity and friendship among nations.