أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the name of ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Breaking Free from Slavery in the Digital Age
It was a pleasant Sunday evening, and Hamid Mian’s spacious, book-lined lounge was livelier than usual. Hamid Mian belonged to an affluent, well-educated middle-class family where the fragrance of books and intellectual discourse had always been a cherished tradition. Today, the entire household was in a festive mood, celebrating the brilliant success of Hamid Mian’s eldest granddaughter, Nawal, in the entrance examination of a prestigious university.
The whole caravan of life had gathered around Hamid Mian and his wife, Salamat Begum, who was smiling warmly as she attended to everyone’s hospitality. Seated on the sofas were Hamid Mian’s two sons, Shariq (accompanied by his wife, Farzana) and Tariq. Beside them sat his eldest daughter, Amna, and son-in-law, Sarfraz—Nawal’s parents—looking at their daughter with beaming pride, while his fourth child and youngest daughter, Khadija, added to the warmth of the gathering with her husband, Faraz, and their two young children. Around Nawal clustered the family’s Gen Z and Alpha grandchildren, absorbed in their tablets and smartphones, yet keeping their ears tuned to the elders' conversation.
Over rounds of tea and sweets, the conversation naturally turned toward Nawal’s future and her choice of major at the university.
"Nawal, my dear, you should now focus on preparing for medicine or the Civil Services (CSS); that is where true prestige and security lie," her eldest uncle, Shariq, advised in a traditional vein.
"No, Brother, times have changed," her younger uncle, Tariq, chimed in immediately. "Today, we are breathing in a breathtaking digital era that was once confined merely to the realm of science fiction. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is writing complex algorithms, quantum computing is unlocking the mysteries of the universe in seconds, and global connectivity has shrunk continents into the palm of a single hand. From autonomous robotic systems to space exploration driven by smart technologies, human intellect is reshaping existence. Nawal should choose Computer Science or AI."
Nawal’s father, Sarfraz, smiled and added, "Tariq is right, Nawal, but remember one thing: amidst this dazzling digital revolution, the entire world today is sharply divided into two camps. One camp consists of those who design these digital wonders, write their code, and own them; the other camp consists of those who have been reduced to mere consumers."
Hamid Mian, who had been listening quietly until now, adjusted his glasses and spoke in a dignified voice: "Sarfraz has hit the nail right on the head. My children, to make genuine progress in this transformative age, we must look beyond the blind imitation of outsiders and turn toward that timeless philosophy which, not so long ago, was a part of our own civilization."
Every pair of eyes turned toward Hamid Mian. Khadija’s husband, Faraz, asked eagerly, "Father, you are referring to Allama Iqbal’s philosophy, aren't you?"
"Precisely!" Hamid Mian nodded. "Remember that dark era in the history of the subcontinent when Muslims were bound in the chains of slavery and had fallen prey to mental and intellectual stagnation. In those trying times, Providence blessed us with a great thinker like Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the Poet of the East. Iqbal did not use poetry merely for entertainment; he forged it into a weapon for national awakening. He spread the revolutionary message of 'Khudi' (Selfhood), which shook the slumbering nation awake and reminded them of their lost glory and hidden potential. Iqbal made it clear that honor and supremacy belong only to those nations that choose the path of action and creation."
Hamid Mian paused for a brief moment before reciting that immortal couplet from the poem "Mehrab Gul Afghan Ke Afkar" in his famous book Zarb-e-Kaleem:
جو عالمِ ایجاد میں ہے صاحبِ ایجاد
ہر دَور میں کرتا ہے طواف اس کا زمانہ
(He who is a creator in this world of creation,
The entire era revolves around him in every age.)
Nawal listened intently and asked, "Grandfather, what does Iqbal mean by 'Sahib-e-Ijad' (Creator) and 'Tawaf' (revolving around) in this verse?"
Hamid Mian replied affectionately, "My child, 'Sahib-e-Ijad' refers to the creator, inventor, and thinker who carves new paths and gives the world new ideas or inventions. And 'Tawaf' means that the world values him, orbits around his influence, and follows his lead by acknowledging his intellectual supremacy."
This time, his eldest daughter, Amna, joined the conversation: "Father, when Iqbal traveled to Europe, his far-sighted vision immediately sensed that the world was taking a new turn. Particularly after World War I, conditions in the West were shifting rapidly. On one hand, the grip of global powers and specific vested interest groups was tightening; on the other, the West had made materialism and science its sole deity, placing them on the pedestal of God. An entirely new world was being engineered. Iqbal had given a clear message back then that in the times to come, the reins of the world would belong only to those who become 'creators' themselves."
"And look around today," Faraz carried the thought forward. "In the digital age, Iqbal’s prophecy is coming true word for word. The nations innovating in technology and AI are compelling the entire world to orbit around them economically, intellectually, and culturally."
"But Grandfather, why did we fall behind in this race?" asked the youngest Alpha-generation grandson with childlike innocence.
Hamid Mian took a deep breath and recited the very next couplet of the poem:
تقلید سے ناکارہ نہ کر اپنی خودی کو
کر اس کی حفاظت کہ یہ گوہر ہے یگانہ
(Do not render your Selfhood useless through blind imitation;
Guard it well, for it is a rare and matchless pearl.)
A deep silence fell over the room for a moment. The resonance of Hamid Mian’s stirring voice had compelled everyone to reflect. His eldest daughter-in-law, Farzana, picked up the thread of the conversation: "Father, we achieved independence, yet why are we still dependent on others in the fields of knowledge and creativity?"
Hamid Mian took off his glasses, placed them on the table, and spoke with deep emotion: "My daughter, in this verse Iqbal warns us not to waste our individual capabilities and Selfhood by blindly imitating others. Selfhood is a rare and matchless pearl—a Gohar-e-Yagana—so we must rely on our own intellect and consciousness rather than blindly following outdated traditions or foreign cultures. Sadly, despite achieving geographical and territorial freedom, the Muslim world today remains trapped in deep intellectual, economic, and psychological slavery."
His younger son-in-law, Faraz, an avid reader, spoke up immediately: "You are absolutely right, Father! Testimony to this mental subjugation and colonial hangover is also found in renowned author Amal Chatterjee’s book, Prisoners of Empire. The book brilliantly captures how nations remain intellectually and psychologically captive to their former masters or dominant civilizations long after gaining physical freedom. Looking at the core message of this book, this slavery has permeated every foundational dimension of our state and society—whether it is the colonial-minded elite, the system of governance, the structure of law and justice, the economic order, the education system, or international public relations. All of these appear submerged in an ocean of intellectual slavery and blind imitation."
"And Iqbal already gave us the cure for this ailment," his eldest son, Shariq, said passionately. "We must abandon imported ideologies and subservient policies to formulate an independent and sovereign national policy—one whose true essence and fountainhead are the eternal teachings of the Quran and Hadith and the golden era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs (Khulafa-e-Rashideen), where justice, consultation, accountability, and genuine public welfare formed the bedrock of the state."
Salamat Begum, who had been quietly listening to her children, spoke up: "But my children, when a nation abandons hard work and indulges in luxury, how can change ever come?"
Hamid Mian smiled and replied: "Begum, in the next couplet of the poem, Iqbal delivers a piercing satire on this very practical and moral decay of the nation:
اُس قوم کو تجدید کا پیغام مبارک!
ہے جس کے تصّور میں فقط بزمِ شبانہ
(Congratulations to that nation on its message of renewal,
Whose imagination is confined only to nocturnal revelries!)
In other words, hollow slogans of reform and revolution (Tajdeed) belong to a nation whose thoughts and actions are limited to luxury and frivolous nightlife. For nations that abandon hard work, research, and lofty ideals in favor of comfort and indulgence, claims of progress are nothing more than a mirage. And continuing this thought, Iqbal expresses a profound intellectual concern in the final couplet of the poem:
لیکن مجھے ڈر ہے کہ یہ آوازۂ تجدید
مشرق میں ہے تقلیدِ فرنگی کا بہانہ
(Yet I fear that this call for renewal
In the East is merely an excuse to imitate the West.)
Iqbal opposes both the blind adherence to stagnant past traditions and the blind mimicry of the West, because in both cases, a person stops seeing with their own eyes. The discourse on Ijtihad (independent intellectual reasoning) in Iqbal’s famous work, The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam, is the scholarly manifestation of this very creative philosophy—teaching us to break free from both past stagnation and Western mental slavery to carve our own path."
Nawal’s father, Sarfraz, added: "Father, the practical dimension of this philosophy is also reflected in Iqbal’s well-known verse:
اس قوم کو شمشیر کی حاجت نہیں رہتی
ہو جس کے جوانوں کی خودی صورتِ فولاد
(That nation has no need for the sword,
Whose youth possess a Selfhood forged like steel.)
A nation whose youth possess a Selfhood as strong and sovereign as steel does not need to be intimidated by an enemy’s outward military might. Living proof of this message can be seen in the ongoing Iran-Israel-US conflict and standoff, where despite severe sanctions, indigenous innovation and steely resolve have forced even global superpowers to pause and rethink."
Khadija said with a sigh of regret: "Indeed, Father, history bears witness that Iqbal’s message of awakening proved remarkably effective under the inspiring leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, resulting in the creation of a great state like Pakistan on the map of the world. Sadly, after the creation of Pakistan, we fell victim to the ravages of time, sacrificing our national purpose to luxurious desires, personal interests, and intellectual negligence."
Hamid Mian looked around at all the children and youth sitting in the room—especially Nawal—and spoke with renewed fervor:
"My children, the true purpose of our gathering and conversation today is that we wake up from our slumber of negligence and march toward our real destination. How powerfully Iqbal shook the youth awake when he asked:
کبھی اے نوجواں مسلم! تدبّر بھی کِیا تُو نے
وہ کیا گردُوں تھا تُو جس کا ہے اک ٹُوٹا ہوا تارا
(Have you ever pondered, O Muslim youth,
What firmament it was of which you are a fallen star?)
History’s verdict is immutable: those who imitate always end up at a loss. If we do not awaken our Selfhood today and adopt the path of becoming creators, we risk spending the next century enduring intellectual, economic, and cultural slavery."
Nawal spoke up eagerly: "Grandfather, our generation is often made to feel inferior, as if science, art, and knowledge are solely the heritage of the West."
Hamid Mian raised his head with pride and said: "That is the biggest lie, my child! It is vital for you to know that your own civilization and history have been extraordinarily strong and glorious. There was a time when Islam was universally regarded as synonymous with literature, art, spirituality, intellectual inquiry, cultural refinement, and above all, beauty. The pages of history testify to this grandeur!"
A fresh wave of enthusiasm filled Hamid Mian’s voice:-
"Just listen! Germany’s greatest literary figure, Goethe, inscribed 'La ilaha illallah' in his diary; numerous British officers embraced Islam in the Middle East and the subcontinent after being moved by its truth; Adolf Hitler once expressed the wish that Islam’s 'warrior and spirited religion' had reached Germany instead of 'meek Christianity'; Britain’s King George VI, inspired by Mughal architecture, commissioned an Indo-Islamic royal pavilion for himself; the renowned historian Edward Gibbon, members of the British Parliament, and the French writer Victor Hugo romanticized and paid glowing tributes to the Muslim heritage of Spain; and Napoleon, upon invading Egypt, brought a delegation of French artists and scholars with him, paying profound homage to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the hope of acquainting France with the intellectual and cultural wealth of the Islamic world."
Every elder and child in the room listened spellbound to this golden history. Hamid Mian concluded his thoughts:
"A nation whose past was so radiant and served as a cradle of knowledge and art has no need whatsoever for the blind imitation of others—it only needs to recognize its Selfhood and become a 'creator' once again. Nawal, my child, today becoming a creator does not mean reinventing the wheel; rather, this is the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital warfare. The need of the hour is for our children and youth to step forward enthusiastically into this modern arena and rise to positions of leadership instead of remaining mere consumers. This is not a difficult task; all it requires is waking up from our slumber, discovering our true selves, and breaking free from the slavery of the ego. Remember, a true believer is free and constantly engaged in purposeful action, just as Iqbal said:
میسر آتی ہے فرصت فقط غلاموں کو
نہیں ہے بندۂ حُر کے لیے جہاں میں فراغ
(Leisure is granted only to slaves;
For a free soul, there is no idle rest in this world.)"
As soon as Hamid Mian finished speaking, the entire room erupted into applause. There was no longer any hesitation in Nawal’s eyes—only a sparkling resolve. She smiled, looked around at everyone, and said:
"Grandfather, my decision is made. I will not go to university merely to earn a degree or look for a job—I will pursue research in Artificial Intelligence and technology, so that we too are counted not among those who revolve around the era, but among those who become creators!"
Salamat Begum rose and kissed Nawal’s forehead, while a deep sense of contentment spread across Hamid Mian’s face—a quiet promise of a bright and sovereign future.
