Iqbal Symposium

Allama Muhammad Iqbal Symposium on Islamic Thought & Civilization

Members of the Muslim community conceived of the annual Muhammad Iqbal Symposium on Islamic Thought and Civilization to nurture a deeper understanding of the rich history and living tradition of Islamic thought and civilization, and its impact on the world we share. The series will aim to:

• Appreciate the interconnectedness of world civilization and the impact of Islamic civilization in today’s world.
• Explore the Islamic science of art, philosophy, poetry, humanities, social studies, spirituality, and theology, taking into account its ancient precursors and its subsequent influence.
• Understand the history of Islam in the Americas, the evolution of Islam in America, and the contributions of American Muslims.
• Foster interfaith dialogue and explore the place of religion in the American context.
• Examine Islam’s intellectual heritage and its complementary and critical relationship to important strains of Western and Eastern thought.

The Iqbal Symposium is funded through an endowment at the University of Michigan-Flint. If you would like to support this annual symposium through a contribution to the endowment, you can do so by going to Michigan Giving.

Seventh Annual Iqbal Symposium

Save the Date: March 16, 2027

About Muhammad Iqbal

Muhammad Iqbal (1877–1938), widely known as Allama Iqbal, was an extraordinary poet and philosopher from South Asia, now Pakistan. He received his advanced education from the University of Cambridge and the University of Munich. He was fluent in English, Persian, Urdu, Punjabi, and Arabic. He was knighted in 1922.

Iqbal considered Jalaluddin Rumi his spiritual teacher and was highly influenced by Friedrich Nietzsche. Best known for his articulation of the concept of Self and the reassertion of humanism based in the Islamic tradition, his exceptional command of both Western and Islamic philosophy at the turn of the century placed him in the unique position of blending and critiquing both.

Our Founder

The symposium is the brainchild of Dr. Macksood Aftab. Dr. Aftab is a Harvard-trained neuroradiologist and serves as a clinical assistant professor at Michigan State University, Central Michigan University, and A.T. Still University. He also earned a master’s degree in history of science and is a founding editor for the Journal of Islamic Philosophy. Dr. Aftab, a University of Michigan alumnus, was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. He serves on the board of directors for the American Society of Islamic Philosophy and Theology and the American Muslim Community Services, which serve as institutional co-sponsors for the Iqbal Symposium.