It has been often conjectured that while Pakistan’s founding fathers had involved Islam to make a case for Pakistan, they did not truly think that it should have much of a role to play in Pakistan once that state had come into existence. This was and is still said even with reference to Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It sounds somewhat astonishing, though, that such a statement should be made by those who express great veneration for Quaid-i-Azam. It seems that such people did not even pause for a moment to consider the implications of such a statement. Does this statement not imply that Quaid-i-Aza, had for long said things that he did not believe in; that he merely said what was expedient? Now, the life-long record of Quaid-i-Azam amply testifies that he always had the courage to speak out his mind; that he was never known for hypocrisy; that he never evinced any disposition to play to the gallery. A few sentences of his inaugural address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan are quoted out of context as if reflecting the vision of Pakistan different from what he and his party, Muslim League, had been presenting up to this point.
The fact, however, is that what he said on this historic occasion does in no way negate the role of Islam in Pakistan’s polity which he had spelled out so often. Couched in modern political idiom, his statement only reaffirmed an aspect of the established relationship between an Islamic state and its non-Muslim citizens. The speech especially underlined his resolve to bestow equal rights on all citizens of Pakistan irrespective of their class, colour or creed. All this indeed reflects Quaid-i-Azam’s true vision of Pakistan which in no way contradicts his emphatic affirmation, time and again, as regards the Islamic character of Pakistan. Also, this Islamic character was not conceived as something nominal; as some mantra that would be pronounced on ceremonial occasions. He rather conceived Islam’s role to be both vital and substantial.
Even though all this is quite evident, it still needs to be reiterated for a degree of confusion has indeed been created on this question. Confining ourselves to Quaid-i-Azam alone, let us see what he said on the subject. We find that he made it clear that “Pakistan not only meant freedom and independence but the Muslim Ideology that has to be preserved”. He also explained that Muslims demanded Pakistan “where they could rule according to their own cultural growth, traditions and Islamic laws”. He thought that “our religion, culture, and our Islamic ideals” were “our driving force to achieve our freedom”. During the Indian Muslims’ struggle for the establishment of this “Muslim National Homeland”, he repeatedly declared that they stood for establishing an “Islamic State”. (Emphasis added).
After the establishment of Pakistan, too, Quaid-i-Azam did not cease to emphasise this aspect of Pakistan. With a feeling fo joyful and genuine pride, he called Pakistan “the Muslim State of Pakistan”, “the premier Islamic State”, and a “bulwark of Islam”. He could not understand “a section of the people who deliberately wanted to create mischief and made propaganda that the Constitution of Pakistan would not be made on the basis of Shariat”. (Emphasis added)
Without attempting to array any further evidence – and the available evidence on the question is overwhelming – I would like to refer only to some parts of Quaid-i-Azam’s speech in July 1948 on the occasion of the inauguration of the State Bank of Pakistan. What he said on this occasion is illustrative of the ideological orientation of Pakistan’s founding fathers.
“I shall watch with keenness the work of your [State Bank’s] Research Organisation in evolving banking practices compatible with Islamic ideals of social and economic life… We must work our destiny in our own way and present to the world and economic system based on true Islamic concept of equality of manhood and social justice. We will thereby be fulfilling our mission as Muslims and giving to humanity the message of peace which alone can save it and secure the welfare, happiness and prosperity of mankind.” (Emphasis added)
Thus Pakistan was essentially envisioned as an Islamic polity. It is quite natural that there should be diversity of views as to the detailed implications of the concept of such a polity. There was, however, no ambiguity about the fact that it would and should be an Islamic polity. It was the least surprising, therefore, that when six months after the death of Quaid-i-Azam, the Constituent Assembly met to lay down the objectives of the state of Pakistan, it categorically reaffirmed the vision of the nation and its leaders regarding the role of Islam in the state that had been established in Islam’s name.
- Excerpted from Ideology of Pakistan by Professor Sharif al Mujahid, published by Islamic Research Institute, Islamabad in 2001. The author is a renowned scholar of the Pakistan Movement and the founder of the Quaid-i-Azam Academy, Karachi.
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