Tomb of Allama Muhammad Iqbal

The Tomb of Allama Muhammad Iqbal is a simple but impressive structure located in Lahore, Pakistanin the Hazuri Bagh lawn between the Badshahi Mosque and the Lahore Fort where both the grand structures (the Mosque and the Fort) face each other.^[1] Official guard is maintained by Pakistan Rangers. The architecture reflects a combination of Afghan and Moorish styles and is entirely constructed of red sandstone.^[2] Hundreds of visitors come to the mausoleum every day to pay their respects to thepoet-philosopher.^[3]

He was one of the major inspirations behind thePakistan Movement, and is revered in Pakistan asMuffakir-e-Pakistan (The Thinker of Pakistan) orShair-e-Mashriq (The Poet of the East).^[4] Iqbal died on April 21, 1938 in Lahore at the age of 60. Since theindependence of Pakistan, an academy named after him (Iqbal Academy) has been established to promote and disseminate his poetical and philosophical messages and teachings. As another tribute, the recently renovated Lahore airport has also been named after him as Allama Iqbal International Airport

Structure

The rectangular structure of the mausoleum has two gates at the eastern and southern side respectively, inlaid with marble. The grave is built of white marble. The tombstone is made of lapis lazuli and inscribed with Quranic verses in calligraphy. The tombstone was a gift from the people ofAfghanistan. On the inside walls, six couplets of a ghazal are carved from Iqbal's peotical work Zabur-e-Ajam (Persian Psalms).^[5] Outside, there is a small garden, distributed into small plots. The mausoleum was designed by Hyderabad Deccan’s then Chief Architect, Nawab Zain Yar Jang Bahadur and took thirteen years to build at a cost of about one hundred thousand (Rs.100,000)Pakistani rupees. The major reason for delay was the stoppage of red-stone from Jaipur in post-independence India.^[6]