This refers to the article ‘Revisiting Arab glory: In footsteps of a trailblazer’ (Aug. 15) by Aijaz Zaka Syed. The article is very interesting and refreshing. Indeed, Iqbal, the great Urdu poet of the past, has mentioned elaborately the rise and fall of Muslim nation in his poetry.

As a matter of fact, he has stressed positive action so that Muslims may succeed in this life as well as in the Hereafter. His famous couplet:

Amal se zindagi banti hai jannat bhi jahannam bhi,

ye khaki apni fitrat mein na noori hai na nari hai.

It means life can be successful out of action, and if there is no action in life there is no value of human life. Iqbal also reminded that forefathers of Muslim nation succeeded by following the path of Sunnah. Iqbal put a lot of stress on unity. Islam teaches good manners, and in the past Arab merchants showed exemplary manners and succeeded in winning hearts of others. It is nice to read that Thesiger wrote very high about Muslim Arabs. I think, this will bring positivism and will help ward off the misconception about Arab world from the mind of the West. — Anees Lokhande, Alkhobar