Dialogues in Resistance: A Literary Analysis of Akbar Ilah Abadi and Allama Iqbal Correspondence

Abstract

The correspondence between Akbar Ilah Abadi and Allama Dr. Muhammad Iqbal extends beyond personal communication, functioning as a scholarly dialogue on the intellectual and social challenges confronting the Muslim ummah in colonial India. Akbar Ilah Abadi, through satire and wit, critiqued the erosion of Islamic values under the influence of Western modernity, while Iqbal responded with philosophical reflections rooted in KHUDI (selfhood), IJTIHAD (independent reasoning), and spiritual renewal. Although their literary styles differed Akbar’s sharp humour contrasting with Iqbal’s visionary rhetoric, their letters reveal mutual respect, tolerance of intellectual diversity, and a shared commitment to the reform and awakening of Muslim society. This study employs close reading and postcolonial literary analysis to examine the intertextuality, metaphorical language, rhetorical strategies, and socio-political insights embedded in these letters. It argues that the correspondence is not only historically significant but also analytically relevant for contemporary debates on Islamic identity, modernity, and cultural resistance. By highlighting the complementary nature of their worldviews, the paper situates the Akbar Iqbal dialogue within a vibrant tradition of Urdu prose that integrates aesthetics with ideology and personal conviction with collective responsibility, offering enduring lessons for present-day intellectual engagement in Muslim societies.