Discourse on Nationalism: Political Ideologies of Two Muslim Intellectuals, Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madani and Allama Muhammad Iqbal

Abstract

The chief purpose of this paper is to understand and compare the political ideologies of two key thinkers and leaders of twentieth century Muslim India on the question of nationalism. These thinkers are Dr Muhammad Iqbal and Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madani (1879Madani ( -1957. Firstly, concept of nationalism has been explored in the political writings and statements of these thinkers. Secondly, debate between Muhammad Iqbal and Maulana Madani over their conceptions of "nation" has been discussed. Thirdly these theories of nationalism have been compared in the historical context as well as in the overall conceptual framework of these thinkers. Finally, the study has been concluded by discussing what the contemporary Muslim world can learn from the intellectual heritage of Iqbal and Maulana Madani.

Religion as Nation: The Muslims of India and the Debates on <i>qaum</i>, <i>millat</i>, and <i>umma</i> in the 1930s

“…This is the quintessential and the defining statement in favour of a religious nationalism in Islam. Whereas Azad and Madani's composite nationalism reconciled secular nationalism and theology, Iqbal rejects secular nationalism totally, but lays down the groundwork for another form of modern Muslim nationalism (Rehman, 2018, p. 13) [20,31]. 17 Weighing in on the South Asian Muslim debate on nationalism, Mawdudi too, like Iqbal, attacked Madani's articulation of composite nationalism.…”