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Abstract

This article explores the dynamic and revolutionary concept of ethics (akhlaq) in the Urdu poetry of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, emphasizing its foundations in spiritual elevation, selfhood (khudi), and the collective well-being of humanity. Iqbal does not present ethics as a passive or individualistic moral code, but as an active, transformative force deeply rooted in monotheism (tawheed) and the spiritual legacy of Islam. His vision of ethics transcends religious, racial, and territorial boundaries, promoting universal values such as justice, love, humility, dignity, knowledge, and action. Iqbal envisions the mard-e-momin (true believer) as a morally upright individual whose life is a manifestation of divine attributes—simultaneously soft in compassion and firm in the face of falsehood. The article shows how Iqbal's poetry acts as a call to awaken the moral conscience, develop character, and inspire purposeful life through the fusion of knowledge, action, and sincerity. In doing so, Iqbal redefines ethics as the foundational principle for personal development, social cohesion, and spiritual evolution, aiming ultimately to cultivate the “complete human being” who can fulfill the role of God’s vicegerent on Earth.