Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal

Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal is a Kashmiri educationist, academician, Islamic scholar, and historian. A globally acknowledged scholar on Islamic History and Arab-Islamic issues, Iqbal is considered an authority on Saudi Arabia and (was) a friend of Late King Faisal bin Abd al-Aziz. He has written over forty books including his five-volume History of Islam and Muslims and numerous research papers and articles published in the local, national, and international journals. He was a visiting Asian Professor and Fulbright-Hays Senior Scholar to United States. He served in Kashmir with dedication for almost three decades, holding, besides others, the posts of a Lecturer, Professor, Head of Department, Principal and Director.

Early years

Iqbal was born at Sialkot, Punjab (now in Pakistan). His parents used to go to the British Resident's Office to Srinagar for arranging civil supplies. He was 15 days old when his mother died at the age of 28 years during an epidemic. He (along with his elder brother) was taken immediately to Srinagar and brought up by his maternal grandmother who managed his early education. He studied at Tyndale Biscoe School in Habba Kadal for basic education.

Education and Career

Iqbal graduated with Honours in Arabic from the University of Punjab, Lahore, in 1946. He did his master's degree in History and Political Science and LL.B. in 1949 at the Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. He joined the School of International Studies, Sapru House, New Delhi in 1956, for a course of Ph. D, taking up "Political Development in Najd and Hejaz, 1901-1934" as the subject of his research. He was qualified for the award of Doctor of Philosophy in July, 1956. He taught and lectured in American Universities as a Visiting Asian Professor and Fulbright-Hays Senior Scholar. He attended the Third Islamic Summit Conference of Islamic States at Makkah/Ta'if. He was a visiting scholar to King Abdulaziz University and participated in numerous International Conferences and Seminars. He visited the Middle-Eastern countries; Saudi Arabia and Egypt since 1958 in connection with his research.

Works

1. History of India, Urdu (1955) (سرتاج تاریخِ ہندوستان).
2. Under the Shade of Islam, Urdu (1958) (اسلام کے ساۓ میں).
3. The Arab Glory, The Arab Grief (1976).
4. The Mission of Islam (1977).
5. Emergence of Saudi Arabia (1977).
6. Realms of Peace (1979).
7. Saudi Arabia: Era of Reconstruction 1961-1981 (1981).
8. Saudi Arabia: Landmarks in Islamic Solidarity (1981).
9. Saudi Arabia: Epitome of History and Progress (1982).
10. Ideals of Islam and Other Essays (1982). (Co-authored with Sheikh Talal).
11. Educational System in Saudi Arabia (1983).
12. Saudi Arabia: Founding and Development (1986).
13. Sheikh Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahhab (1988).
14. History of Islam & Muslims: Life and the Mission of Muhammad (pbuh) (Vol. I) (1992).
15. History of Islam & Muslims: Caliph Abu Bakr (rdh) (Vol. II) (1992).
16. History of Islam & Muslims: Caliph Umar Faruq (rdh) (Vol.III) (1992).
17. History of Islam & Muslims: Caliph Uthman bin 'Affan (rdh) (Vol. IV) (1994).
18. History of Islam & Muslims: Caliph Ali bin Abi Talib (rdh) (Vol. V) (1997).
19. Hajj Performance and Saudi Arabia (Compilation).
20. Islamic Toleration and Justice (1998).
21. Focus: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Excerpts from the Books of Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal (2000).
22. Palestine Re-Emerging (2002).
23. Wahhabi Islam (A Misnomer) (2005).
24. Emeralds in the Crown of Islam (2006).
25. The Dimensions of Hajj: Significance & Performance (2003).
26. Ingenious, Ingenuous Jinnah and Pakistan Movement (2009).
27. Selected Correspondence of Dr Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal (Vol I) (2010).
28. Selected Correspondence of Dr Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal (Vol II) (2012).
29. Selected Correspondence of Dr Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal (Vol III)
30. Rediscovering Factual History (2013).
31. Islam and Christianity in Balance: A Study Towards Understanding (In Hand)

Editor-cum-Authorship

1. Indo-Arab Star Series, 7 Issues, 1979-80.