Re-Envisioning Muslim Identity: Unity and Diversity in Muhammad Iqbal’s Political Thought

Abstract

This paper analyses modern divisions in Muslim societies, especially those based on ethnicity, language, and sectarian affiliations. It critically examines the political philosophy of Muhammad Iqbal on Muslim unity and diversity based on his key concept of millat (community) and khudī (selfhood). The study employs a qualitative research method using content analysis and critical hermeneutics to analyze the key works of Iqbal, such as The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam and The Message of the East, as well as the corresponding academic interpretation. The discussion shows that the idea of Muslim unity advanced by Iqbal is based on the equilibrium between communal unity and individual spiritual growth in the morally oriented social structure. Rather than supporting western form of nationalism or sectarian politics, Iqbal suggests tawḥīd (divine unity) as a more spiritual and ethical basis, which can cut across race, language, and region. He also claims that the true unity of people can only be created in the acknowledgement of diversity when placed on a common moral basis and the reinterpretation of Islamic tradition through ijtihad (independent reasoning). The research concludes that Iqbal offers a valuable intellectual framework to address the recent discussions on Muslim identity, pluralism, and political identification. His focus on unity through diversity, ethical leadership, and intellectual renewal is also very applicable in the contemporary debate surrounding Muslim societies and political thinking.