ZARB-I KALIM (1936)
Introduction
This, Iqbal's third collection of Urdu poems, has been described as his political manifesto. It was published with the subtitle "A Declaration of War Against the Present Times." He argues that modern problems are due to the godlessness, materialism and injustice of modern civilisation, which feeds on the subjugation and exploitation of weak nations, especially the Indian Muslims.
As such the Zarb-i kalim (The Blow of Moses' Staff) was meant to rescue Muslims from the ills brought on by modern civilisation, just as Moses had rescued the Israelites.
