New Title: ‘The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam’ by Muhammad Allama Iqbal
Start Date: 15th Aug 2026, 6PM UK Time
First delivered as a series of lectures in Madras, Hyderabad and Aligarh between 1928 and 1930, before being published in book form, The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam represents Iqbal’s bold attempt to rethink Islamic philosophy in light of the profound intellectual, scientific and political transformations of the modern world. This is not Iqbal’s call to reform Islam, but to recover its intellectual vitality by returning to the Qur’an and re-engaging its deepest philosophical insights.
What was Iqbal’s vision with this title?
Unlike many Muslim thinkers of his time who sought either to imitate Europe or retreat into the past, Iqbal has a different path in mind. He enters into conversation with both the Islamic intellectual tradition and the greatest minds of the modern West: Jalalludin Rumi, Imam al-Ghazali, Ibn Sina and Mulla Sadra alongside Kant, Bergson, Nietzsche, Whitehead, William James and Einstein. Throughout these lectures, he asks a key question: how can revelation, reason and human experience come together to produce a civilisation that is spiritually alive, intellectually confident and morally creative?
Across seven lectures Iqbal explores some of the most enduring questions in philosophy and religion: the nature of religious experience, faith and certainty, the relationship between reason and intuition, the reality of the human self (Khudi), freedom, destiny, time, immortality, ijtihad, democracy and the future of Muslim civilisation. Running through the entire work is his conviction that reality is not static but dynamic; that human beings are not passive spectators of history but active participants in God’s ongoing act of creation; and that Islam itself is a religion of movement, creativity and continual renewal.
During this course, we will read through all seven lectures, and then in interactive sessions critically examine the text and discuss the concepts and implications for our modern world and our own place within it.
Please note: This semester is independent of the previous Iqbal courses, and is open to those new with Iqbal. Access to recordings from previous semesters will be made available to those who register.
| Pay for Course (£90 for the full course)
Schedule and Format
Virtual Classes will be held every Saturday at 6pm UK times starting 15th August 2026. With a total of 7 classes. Each class will include interactive conversations between the teacher and students. All participants will be required to use audio and video during each class. Recordings will be available for participants to review and watch later. All course material will be provided in digital format.
To confirm your spot, please register for the course with the link above, and then make the full-payment.
Who is it for?
Anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Muhammad Iqbal and his vision for Islamic revival, those who feel a need for personal awakening and a stronger sense of purpose in their faith Individuals looking to better understand the condition of the Muslim Ummah in the modern world Students, professionals, and thinkers interested in reconnecting faith with thought and action Those familiar with Iqbal, as well as complete beginners No prior knowledge of Urdu or Persian is required, all material will be taught and explained in English.
How will it be taught?
Seven sessions, each lasting 2 hours, held weekly delivered virtually by Zirrar Ali, the author of two translations of the poetry of Muhammad Iqbal. The sessions will allow participants to join from anywhere. Each session follows a structured format:
- Guided text engagement, group discussions, focused concept exploration, personal reflection, and a closing summary
- Engagement with the works of Iqbal and other Islamic scholars Emphasis on both understanding and application
- Connecting Iqbal’s ideas to contemporary realities
- Digital reading materials and selected extracts provided in advance to support learning and reflection
Class Structure
Class 1 – Lecture One: Knowledge and Religious Experience
Class 2 – Lecture Two: The Philosophical Test of the Revelations of Religious Experience
Class 3 – Lecture Three: The Conception of God and the Meaning of Prayer
Class 4 – Lecture Four: The Human Ego – His Freedom and Immortality
Class 5 – Lecture Five: The Spirit of Muslim Culture
Class 6 – Lecture Six: The Principle of Movement in the Structure of Islam
Class 7 – Lecture Seven: Is Religion Possible?