Muhammad Ayub Sabir () was a Pakistani writer and academic better known as a scholar of Muhammad Iqbal. He was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Iqbal award and Pride of Performance by the Government of Pakistan for his literary works.
He died on 17 November 2022 in Islamabad.
Early life and education Sabir was born on 2 January 1940 in Haripur, NWFP, British India (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan). He received his Master of Arts degree in Urdu language from Peshawar University, Peshawar, Pakistan. He obtained an M.Phil. degree in Iqbal studies from Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad and a PhD in Urdu language from Punjab University, Lahore.
He had three children, Faiza Khan, a daughter, and two sons, Fahd Ayub and Faiq Ayub. His wife Shirin Ayub is a painting artist.
He lived in Abbottabad and later in Islamabad.
Academic career Sabir researched on Iqbal studies, Urdu language and Islamic philosophy. He had thirty-two years (1963 to 1995) including sixteen years of teaching of post-graduate level at Government Post Graduate College Abbottabad and Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan. He served as the head of the department of Iqbal Studies at Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad from 2006 to 2008 and as chairman of the Department of Urdu at Government Post Graduate College Abbottabad from 1981 to 1986. He traveled to the United Kingdom for the study and research on Iqbal. He attended and been invited to many conferences in India.
Books His published books include:
Iqbal studies
Iqbal Ki Shakhsiyat Par Etrazāt Ka Jaiza (Critique of Objections to Iqbal's Personality) – 2003 A rebuttal of critical claims against Allama Iqbal’s personality and ideas, based on scholarly review.Sabir, Ayub. Iqbal Ki Shakhsiyat Par Etrazāt Ka Jaiza. National Language Authority, Islamabad, 2003.
Iqbal Dushmani: Ek Mutālā (Hostility Towards Iqbal: A Study) – 1993 (rev. ed. 2022) Analyzes ideological and political opposition to Allama Iqbal, detailing the motives and arguments of his critics.Sabir, Ayub. Iqbal Dushmani: Ek Mutālā. Jang Publishers, Lahore, 1993; revised edition, International Urdu Publications, 2022.
Allāmah Iqbal Ka Tasawwur‑e‑Ijtihād (Allama Iqbal’s Concept of Ijtihad) – 2008 Discusses Iqbal’s approach to Islamic jurisprudence and renewal through independent reasoning (ijtihad).Sabir, Ayub. Allāmah Iqbal Ka Tasawwur‑e‑Ijtihād. Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu, 2008.
Mū’atrizeen‑e‑Iqbal (The Critics of Iqbal) – 2004 A critical study of intellectual opposition to Iqbal, engaging with contemporary and historical critiques.Sabir, Ayub. Mū’atrizeen‑e‑Iqbal. International Urdu Publications, Delhi, 2004.
Iqbal Ka Urdu Kalām (Iqbal’s Urdu Works) – 2008 Explores Iqbal’s contributions to Urdu poetry and prose, highlighting his linguistic and thematic mastery.Sabir, Ayub. Iqbal Ka Urdu Kalām. Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu, 2008.
Language and sociolinguistic studies
Āzād Kashmir Mein Nifāz‑e‑Urdu (Implementation of Urdu in Azad Kashmir) – 1984 A sociolinguistic study of Urdu’s institutional role in the Azad Kashmir's education and administration.Sabir, Ayub. Āzād Kashmir Mein Nifāz‑e‑Urdu. National Language Authority, Islamabad, 1984.
Pakistan Mein Urdu Ke Taraqqiyātī Idāre (Institutions Promoting Urdu in Pakistan) – 1985 Documents the evolution and function of Urdu-promoting institutions in Pakistan.Sabir, Ayub. Pakistan Mein Urdu Ke Taraqqiyātī Idāre. National Language Authority, Islamabad, 1985.
Literary surveys of the Hazara region
Adabistān‑e‑Hazāra (The Literary Culture of Hazara) – 1989 A regional survey of Hazara’s literary heritage, with focus on Urdu and Pashto literary trends.Sabir, Ayub. Adabistān‑e‑Hazāra. Bazm-e-Ahl-e-Qalam Hazara, 1989.
Abbottābād Ke Ghazal‑go Shuarā (Ghazal Poets of Abbottabad) – 2000 An anthology edited by Sabir compiling Urdu ghazals of regional poets from Abbottabad.Sabir, Ayub (ed.). Abbottābād Ke Ghazal‑go Shuarā. Bait-ul-Hikmat, Lahore, 2000.
Editorial and historical works
Intikhāb‑i‑Khatūt‑e‑G̲h̲ālib (Selected Letters of Ghalib) – c.1998 Annotated selection of letters written by Ghalib, edited and introduced by Ayub Sabir.Sabir, Ayub (ed.). Intikhāb‑i‑Khatūt‑e‑G̲h̲ālib. Sarhad Urdu Academy, Peshawar, c.1998.
Urdu Ki Ibtidā Ke Bāre Mein Muḥaqqiqīn Ke Nazariyāt (Scholarly Theories on the Origins of Urdu) – c.2000 A historiographical analysis of scholarly views on the development and early history of Urdu.Sabir, Ayub. Urdu Ki Ibtidā Ke Bāre Mein Muḥaqqiqīn Ke Nazariyāt. International Urdu Publications, Delhi, c.2000.
See also List of Pakistani writers List of Urdu language writers
References
External links Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan