Join us on Saturday 25th February as we explore a selection of Iqbal’s poetry inspired by the stillness of night.

Steeped in the celestial beauty of the night-time, these works provide a glimpse of the poet at his most unguarded as he bares his soul to the darkness. Like countless other poets, the night proved to be a source of endless wonderment for Iqbal, with nightfall stirring much soul-searching. The moon, in particular, appears to have held the poet especially captivated and, in these poems, is cast as a steady companion for those listless hours after dusk. Unsurprisingly, he leaves behind a vast canon of poetry in ode to those small, slumbering hours.

Known as Shair-e-Mushriq (the Poet of the East), Allama Iqbal's poetry, written mostly in Urdu and Persian, is regarded among the greatest of the modern era.

The workshop will be conducted by Tasnim Firdaus, Director of Language & Literature Programmes at The Mehfil and Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society. Tasnim's academic interests include classical Urdu and Persian poetry and Persian in the Indus valley. Tasnim has worked as a lecturer of Urdu and Persian language and literature in Pakistan and has a teaching career spanning over 30 years.

The session will be held on Saturday 25th February from 1-3 pm. Venue: Maida Vale, London (W9). Knowledge of Urdu is required - material will be provided in Urdu and Romanised Urdu. Tickets are available to purchase here.

***Refreshments will be provided. Doors open at 12.45 pm, and the session will begin promptly at 1 pm***