IMPACT OF QUR’ANIC NARRATIVES ON JALAL-UD-DIN RUMI AND ALLAMA IQBAL

Abstract

Qur’anic influence on the works of Rumi and Iqbal is equally recognized by poets, critics, and general readers. The researchers have tried to establish Qur’anic influence on their poetic themes, their mystical ideology, and their poetic style. There was a need to explore how the channel of influence from Qur’an to Rumi and Iqbal was completed. The current article examines the extent to which Iqbal’s technique of story writing has been influenced by Rumi’s art of narration inspired from the stories of the Holy Qur’an. The significance of this study can be judged through keeping in view the globally recognized status of both poets. The study is based on Harold Bloom’s model, the Anatomy of Influence. In the light of Bloom’s model, different features of Iqbal’s narratives including, Characters from the Qur’anic Narratives, Retelling the Existing Stories, Figures from the Islamic History, Description of Human Nature, Confrontation of Characters and their dialogues, Expressiveness, and Lack of Formal Style, have been analyzed to trace Rumi’s influence. Surprisingly, Rumi’s impact on all features of Iqbal’s stories has been noticed. It has been concluded that Rumi’s influenced on Iqbal’s narrative technique is confirmed. It has also been established that, Bloom’s model is an appropriate approach for similar research in Comparative study of literatures, religions, and politics.