Pakistan marks the 144th Birth Anniversary of Allama Iqbal today. To celebrate his extraordinary contribution to this country and his larger-than-life words, here are 7 interesting lesser-known facts about him you probably didn’t know!

1. His First Book Was Written In Persian

Iqbal’s first book of poetry “Asrar-e-Khudi”, was written in the Persian language and deals with the philosophy of religion.
2. Allama Iqbal Was Accredited With Two Titles

Allama Iqbal was attributed with two titles “Mufakkir-e-Pakistan” or “The Thinker Of Pakistan” and “Hakeem-ul-Ummat” or “The Sage Of The Ummah.”
3. Allama Iqbal Got Married Three Times

Allama Iqbal married three times. In 1895, he was married to Karim Bibi followed by a second marriage with Sardar Begum in 1910 and finally Mukhtar Begum in 1914.
4. He Obtained His ‘Doctor Of Philosophy’ Degree From Germany

Allama Iqbal qualified for a scholarship from Trinity College, University of Cambridge and obtained Bachelor of Arts in 1906 and earned his ‘Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich in 1908.
5. A Street Is Named After Him In Germany

There is a street named after Iqbal in Heidelberg, Germany and there is also a plaque outside his house in Germany to commemorate his stay there.
6. His Higher Education Was Funded With The Help Of His Brother

The poet’s father, Shiekh Noor Muhammad was a tailor by profession. Hence, he did not grow up surrounded by an excess of economic privileges. Therefore, Allama Iqbal’s brother Atta Muhammad who worked as a contractor with the British Army, helped the poet obtain a higher education.
7. Allama Iqbal Was Given The Title Of “Sir”

In 1922, the great poet was accredited with the title of “Sir” by King George V.
Which one did you know already? Let us know!
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Sources used in this article: Dawn Images, Parhlo