Identity: Eminent Iqbal scholar, researcher, critic, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Delhi.

There has been considerable disagreement regarding the date of birth of Professor Abdul Haq. However, Nazia Rais, in her book “Professor Abdul Haq: Munfarid Iqbal Shanas,” writes that, “Through school records, personal conversations, and various books, I was able to obtain evidence of his correct date of birth, which is 4 Rabi al-Awwal 1358 AH, corresponding to 24 April 1939.”

Professor Abdul Haq was born in the village of Paharpur, located in Machhlishahr, district Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh. His early upbringing took place in a deeply religious and rural environment. After receiving his education at Government City High School and Government College, he joined Gorakhpur University, where he benefited from the guidance of distinguished teachers such as Professor Mahmood Ilahi. Under the supervision of Professor Mahmood Ilahi, he completed his PhD and, at a relatively young age, became associated with the Department of Urdu at the University of Delhi. He initially joined as a part-time teacher and later, in 1968, became a full-time faculty member, serving the department for nearly four decades through teaching and research.

The brightest aspect of his scholarly career is his contribution to “Iqbal Studies.” Professor Abdul Haq is regarded as one of the most authoritative Iqbal scholars of the modern era. He devoted his intellectual life to the poetry and philosophy of Allama Iqbal. His notable books include “Iqbal ke Ibtidai Afkar,” “Fikr-e-Iqbal ki Sarguzasht,” “Iqbal ka She’ri Uslub,” and “Iqbal ki Ghalib Shanasi.”

The services of Professor Abdul Haq are not confined merely to writing and scholarship; he also established a strong tradition of research at the University of Delhi. Under his supervision, dozens of students completed doctoral research on Iqbal Studies and related subjects. Even after retirement, he has remained remarkably active in academic circles, and more than three dozen of his books have been published so far.