Iqbal’s Integration of Thought and Intuition Overcomes the Duality of Cartesian Philosophy and Presents a Richer, Non-dual Understanding of Reality

Integrated Understanding:

• Iqbal advocates combining thought (analysis, reason) with intuition (direct perception of unity and transcendence).
• Intuition bridges the gap created by thought, dissolving the rigid subject-object divide:
  • Thought gives structure to what we observe.
  • Intuition reveals the interconnectedness and spiritual essence of all things.

Wholeness and Submission:

• The wholeness Iqbal describes affirms belief by allowing one to experience the transcendent directly through intuition while articulating and grounding that experience through thought.
• By submitting to this experience (as a transcendent reality beyond rational fragmentation), one transcends duality and experiences true non-duality.

Example of Wholeness:

• Consider the same flower. Through thought, we learn its biological and physical properties. But through intuition, we perceive its symbolic beauty and its connection to the Divine. The flower becomes both a material object and a sign (ayah) pointing to God.

Hindu Non-Duality (Advaita Vedanta):

• In Advaita Vedanta, non-duality (Advaita) asserts that the individual self (Atman) is ultimately identical to the universal reality (Brahman). This leads to the dissolution of individuality in the ultimate unity.
• The world and its distinctions are considered Maya (illusion), and liberation (moksha) involves realizing the illusory nature of duality.

Iqbal’s Non-Duality:

• Iqbal rejects the negation of distinctions found in Advaita. For him:
  • The individual (ego) is real and meaningful, not an illusion.
  • True non-duality is achieved through affirmation, not dissolution: recognizing the interconnectedness of the self, the world, and the Divine while maintaining their distinctions.
• This view aligns with Islamic monotheism (Tawhid), where everything is interconnected under the oneness of God, but the individual and the world retain their unique roles and identities.

Comparison:

• Hindu non-duality seeks liberation by dissolving individuality.
• Iqbal’s non-duality seeks transcendence by affirming individuality, understanding its relationship to the Divine, and submitting to God’s ultimate Reality.

The Role of Thought:

• Thought analyzes, categorizes, and organizes. It gives clarity and reason to beliefs but risks becoming mechanistic and fragmented when used in isolation.
• Over-reliance on thought results in Cartesian-style dualism, where subject and object are disconnected.

The Role of Intuition:

• Intuition unites what thought separates, offering an immediate experience of Reality’s interconnectedness.
• It resolves dualities by revealing the deeper unity beneath apparent distinctions.

Combined Effect:

• By integrating thought and intuition, one avoids the pitfalls of dualism and mechanistic thinking.
• This integration allows a believer to:
  • Rationally affirm their beliefs.
  • Directly experience the transcendent unity of God, self, and the world.
  • Submit to this unity, achieving a lived, non-dual state of being without negating individuality.