"We Squandered the Inheritance We Received From Our Ancestors"

Allama Dr Muhammad Iqbal was the great mystic Poet of the Sub Continent India-Pakistan. Iqbal is also the philosopher of East and national poet of Pakistan. Allama Muhammad Iqbal has given a comprehensive message about the downfall of Muslims and method to rise again in his poetry. This write up is an essay on Muslims' downfall and message for rise again with the help of Iqbal's message of Khudi related verses keeping the main theme in focus.

أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

"We Squandered the Inheritance We Received From Our Ancestors"

Introduction and Textual Exposition

When the Philosopher of the East, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, penned his lament over the decline of Muslims, he diagnosed the root cause of the ailment in this timeless couplet:

"We squandered the inheritance we received from our ancestors,

The sky has hurled us down from the heights of the Pleiades to the bare earth."

In this verse, Iqbal reminds Muslims of their glorious past and the magnificent legacy inherited from their righteous predecessors (Aslaaf). The "Pleiades" (Surayya), a brilliant cluster of stars high in the night sky, serves as a metaphor for the zenith of intellectual, moral, and political leadership. The poet's philosophy is clear: as long as Muslims remained anchored to the moral, scientific, and practical heritage of their ancestors, they shone like stars on the horizon of history. However, the moment they abandoned this inheritance, the law of cosmic retribution cast them down from the heights of glory into the abyss of degradation.

The Glorious Past: The State of Madinah and the Righteous Caliphate

The foundation of this great heritage and glorious past was laid by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) with the establishment of the State of Madinah. This was not merely a geographical territory, but the world's first ideal manifestation of justice, equality, sublime character, and human rights. The core axis of this state was not the lust for power, but the sovereignty of God and the selfless service of humanity.

This foundational spirit was vastly expanded during the era of the Four Righteous Caliphs (Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Uthman, and Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with them). The Righteous Caliphate represented the pinnacle of justice, where the ruler considered himself accountable before the law just like an ordinary citizen. The mighty empires of Rome and Persia fell at their feet, yet their personal asceticism, piety, and dedication to public welfare remained unchanged. It was an era that taught humanity its true dignity.

The Rise of Monarchism and the Dynastic Eras

A major turning point occurred after the Righteous Caliphate, as the democratic institution of the Caliphate was gradually replaced by monarchism (dynastic rule), beginning with the reign of Hazrat Muawiyah bin Sufyan and subsequently Yazid bin Muawiyah. This system was rooted in personalized power, which gave rise to severe political and intellectual schisms within the Muslim Ummah.

Later, the Umayyad Dynasty and subsequently the Abbasid Dynasty ruled for centuries, during which Muslim rule was also established in Spain (Andalusia). Although this era of rulers was not politically or morally ideal like the Righteous Caliphate, a vital essence of Islamic principle remained embedded within it. The foundational spirit of Islam was visible in the governance to some degree: mosques remained vibrant, the judiciary largely adhered to Islamic jurisprudence, and Muslim rulers prioritized the promotion of knowledge and science. Consequently, the fabric of society did not completely disintegrate.

Divine Retribution: Hulagu Khan and Western Colonialism

However, it is an immutable law of history that when ingratitude toward a blessing exceeds all bounds, decline becomes inevitable. Over time, Muslim rulers and monarchs became morally decadent, decadent, and arrogant. They abandoned absolute justice, severed their ties with knowledge, and prioritized personal ego over faith. Consequently, the Divine law invoked its wrath.

The first catastrophic manifestation of this retribution came via the Mongols, when Hulagu Khan drenched Baghdad in blood and dismantled the intellectual and political framework of the Islamic Caliphate. What little remained was dismantled in subsequent centuries by the colonial subjugation of Western nations, which enslaved Muslims politically, economically, and mentally, pushing them to the absolute nadir of their decline.

Today, the Islamic world remains a living embodiment of the phrase: "The sky has hurled us down from the heights of the Pleiades to the bare earth." The ultimate irony is that a vast multitude of the Muslim world remains comfortably oblivious in this deep abyss, content to subsist on the scraps thrown by their masters—namely, interest-laden foreign loans and conditional aid.

The situation has deteriorated to the point where, today, the Islamic world possesses neither its own independent system of governance nor its own framework of law and justice. It lacks an autonomous structure for education and has lost its distinct economic and social systems. What remains is an all-encompassing intellectual and material bondage that holds the entire Ummah in chains.

The Original Message of Islam: A Civilization of Knowledge and Action

Despite this widespread ruin, the true core of Islamic civilization remains rooted in the very first word revealed in the Cave of Hira: "Iqra" (Read!). Islam elevated the pursuit of knowledge to an act of worship. Its earliest manifestation was seen in the distinction of the Ahl al-Suffah (The Companions of the Bench), who, despite living in extreme poverty, kept the flame of sacred knowledge alive.

This intellectual fervor later manifested globally in the form of the "House of Wisdom" (Bayt al-Hikmah) in Baghdad and the intellectual journey of Spain. The libraries and universities of Baghdad and Cordoba bore witness to a civilization of knowledge and action that illuminated a dark world. From the natural sciences to philosophy and medicine, the modern world remains deeply indebted to Muslim scholarship.

The Reflection of Abu Darda and True Awakening

The venerable Companion of the Prophet, Hazrat Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him), used to articulate a profoundly thought-provoking warning, frequently stating:

"What I fear most on the Day of Judgment is that it will be said to me: 'O Abu Darda! You possessed knowledge, so how did you act upon what you knew?'"

This profound statement is the ultimate proof that true awakening does not consist of merely skimming books, accumulating heaps of information, or singing praises of the past. Rather, true awakening means molding one’s knowledge into practical action, recognizing moral responsibilities, and actively striving for social justice.

It is this Islamic concept of awakening that rescues an individual from the slumber of compromise, selfishness, and apathy, transforming them into an active and responsible citizen. Today, if we are to reclaim our lost heritage and return to the heights of the Pleiades, we must move beyond mere romanticization of the past. We must adorn our knowledge with action and walk in the footsteps of our ancestors to establish a just society.

Conclusion

The ultimate takeaway and the absolute verdict of history is that if the Islamic world wishes to regain its lost ascendancy and rise from the abyss of humiliation, it must return to the ancient alchemy of its ancestors. Muslims must once again grasp the pen and revive the culture of deep reading that once birthed Baghdad and Cordoba.

However, it must be remembered that merely decorating libraries or collecting academic degrees will not alter our destiny. Alongside extensive reading, we must build a new world of action. Only when our knowledge reflects in our practical lives, our character, and our social justice will the heavens restore us to the heights of glory. The only way to end this dark night of decline is to make beneficial knowledge and righteous action the very fabric of our existence.