Freedom, Absurdity, and Ethical Reconstruction: Iqbal in Dialogue with Sartre, Camus, and Kafka

Abstract

This paper examines the modern human condition through the lens of existentialist thought and the philosophical poetry of Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Sartre, Camus, and Kafka articulate the crises of freedom, absurdity, and alienation that define contemporary existence, revealing a world where meaning is fragile and human agency is constrained. Iqbal, however, accepts the incompleteness and paradox of existence while reconstructing agency as ethical co-creation within an unfinished universe. Through close textual analysis, the study demonstrates how Iqbal transforms freedom from a burden into a responsibility, offering a framework in which human action itself constitutes meaning. By juxtaposing Western existentialist diagnosis with Iqbal’s constructive philosophy, this paper highlights a path from despair toward purposeful engagement, positioning the human being as an active participant in shaping reality. The study contributes to comparative philosophy by providing a novel lens to understand modern existential challenges and the potential for human agency.