 The well documented influence of Muhammad Iqbal on Jinnah , with regards to taking the lead in creating Pakistan , has been described as " significant " , " powerful " and even " unquestionable " by scholars . He 's also cited as an influential force in convincing Jinnah to end his self @-@ imposed exile in London and re @-@ enter the politics of India . Initially , however , Iqbal and Jinnah were opponents , as Iqbal believed Jinnah was aloof from the crises facing the Muslim community in India . According to Akbar S. Ahmed , this began to change in Iqbal 's last days , before his death in 1938 . Iqbal gradually succeeded in converting Jinnah over to his view , who eventually accepted Iqbal as his " mentor " . Ahmed comments that in his notes to Iqbal 's letters , Jinnah expressed unanimity with Iqbal 's views : That Muslims required a separate homeland . 
