QUAID
-E- AZAM MUHAMMAD ALI JINNAH (R.A)
“TRUE PROPONENT OF AN ISLAMIC REPUBLIC”
by Rohail Khan
On the occasion of 14th August 2014,
let us study the life, works, and message of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali
Jinnah(R.A), Founder of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Let us implement his guidelines and legacies in
letter and spirit.
Quaid e Azam is best described by Professor Stanley
Wolpret in his book ‘Jinnah of Pakistan’ as: “Few individuals significantly
alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly
anyone can be credited with creating a nation-state. Muhammad Ali Jinnah did
all three.”
Quaid e Azam
Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876 - 1948) was an ardent supporter and a strong
proponent of a separate state for Muslims of the sub-continent based on Islamic
values and teachings.
The able leadership and struggle of Quaid e Azam
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, culminating in the creation of Pakistan on 14th August
1947 as an independent Islamic republic, brought unprecedented vitality to the
Muslims of the sub-continent producing in its wake an Islamic renaissance and
Islamic idealism.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s pre-occupation with political
issues left him little time to devote himself to writing; but his speeches and
sayings have been compiled by his staff and admirers into a series of volumes.
Most of his
speeches and reflections are all permeated with the need to establish an Islamic
Republic for the 100 million Muslims of British India.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah firmly believed in Islam as a ‘dynamic religion and a way of life’.
“The discipline of the Ramadan fasting and prayers
will culminate today in an immortal meekness of the heart before God”, he said
in a broadcast speech on Eid day, “but it shall not be the meekness of a week
heart, and they who would think so are doing wrong both to God and to the
Prophet. For it is the outstanding paradox of all religions that the humble shall
be the strong, and it is of particular significance in the case of Islam. For
Islam, as you all know, really means action. This discipline of Ramadan was
designed by our Prophet to give us the necessary strength for action.”
Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s passion
for Islam had a long lasting impact on the minds and souls of the 100 million
Muslims struggling for a separate Muslim state, turning their intellectual
activities towards tackling traditional Islamic ideals in terms of modern
standards and requirements.
Religion for
Muhammad Ali Jinnah implied not only as a duty towards God but also as a duty
to Mankind.
“Man has indeed been called God’s caliph in the
Quran, and if that description of man is to be of any significance, it imposes
upon us a duty to follow Quran, to behave towards others as God behaves towards
his mankind, in the widest sense of word, His duty is to love and to forebear.
If we have any faith and love for tolerance towards God’s creations, to
whatever community they belong, we much act upon that faith in daily round of
our simple duties and unobtrusive pieties. It is a great ideal and it will demand
effort and sacrifice. Not seldom will your minds be assailed by doubts. There
will be conflicts not only material, which you perhaps will be able to resolve
with courage, but spiritual also. We shall have to face them and if today, when
our hearts are humble we do not imbibe that higher courage to do so, we never
shall.”
At the inaugural session of Jamiat Ulema Islam in
Calcutta in November, 1945, Maulana Ghulam Murshid, Imam of Badshahi Mosque,
Lahore, met with Quaid e Azam and received a definite assurance from him that
the injunctions of the Holy Quran alone would be the basis of law in the Muslim
state.
In a letter to Pir Sahib of Manki Sharif in
November 1945, Quaid e Azam said, “it is needless to emphasise that the
Constituent Assembly which would be pre-dominantly Muslim in its composition,
would be able to enact laws for Muslims, not inconsistent with the Shariah
laws, and the Muslims will no longer be obliged to abide by the un Islamic
laws.”
In a public meeting with Maulana Shabbir Ahmad Usmani
in June 1947, the Quaid vehemently assured that an Islamic constitution would
be implemented in Pakistan.
Speaking on a reform scheme at Sibbi Darbar on 4th
February 1948, Quaid e Azam proclaimed:
“In proposing this scheme, I have had one
underlying principle in mind, the principle of Muslim democracy. It is my
belief that our salvation lies in following the golden rule of conduct set for
us by our great law-giver the Prophet of Islam. Let us lay the foundations of
our democracy on the basis of truly Islamic ideals and principles”.
In a broadcast talk to the people of Australia, in
February 1948, the Quaid spoke of the Islamic characteristics of Pakistani
society in these words:
“The great majority of us are Muslims. We follow
the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). We are members of the brotherhood
of Islam in which all are equal in rights, dignity and self respect. Not only
are most of us Muslims but we have our own history, customs and traditions and
those ways of thought, outlook and instinct who go to make up a sense of
nationality.”
In a radio broadcast to the people of the United
States of America in February 1948, he spoke of Islamic system of government to
be adopted in Pakistan.
“The constitution of Pakistan has yet to be framed
by the Pakistan Constituent Assembly. I do not know what the ultimate shape of
this constitution is going to be, but I am sure that it will be of a democratic
type, embodying the essential principles of Islam. Today they are as applicable
in actual life as they were 1,300 years ago. Islam and its idealism have taught
us democracy. It has taught equality of man, justice and taught us democracy.
It has taught equality of man, justice and fair play to every body. We are the
inheritors of these glorious traditions and are fully alive to our
responsibilities and obligations as framers of the future constitution of
Pakistan”.
Whenever Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah got an
opportunity to speak on Islam, he advocated a rational approach.
“In the pursuit of truth and the cultivation of
beliefs,” he said, “we should be guided by our rational interpretation of the
Quran, and if our devotion to truth is single-minded, we shall, in our own
measure, achieve our goal. In the translation of this truth into practice,
however, we shall be content with so much, as so much only, as we can achieve
without encroaching on the rights of others, while at the same time not ceasing
our efforts always to achieve more.
“In another context, the great Quaid remarked: “The
test of greatness is not the culture of stone and pillar and pomp but the
culture of humanity, the culture of equality. Only a man who is dead to all the
finer instincts of humility and civilization can call a religion based on
exploitation a heritage.”
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was out spoken in his
condemnation of reactionary elements which generate negative tendencies.
Dealing with the contribution of Pakistan movement
towards eradication of fundamentalism, the great Quaid said: “We have to, a
great extent, free our people from the most undesirable reactionary elements.
We have in no small degree removed the unwholesome influence and fear of a
certain section that used to pass off as Islamic fundamentalists”.
The great Quaid Muhammad Ali Jinnah championed the
cause of womanhood, advocating for women an equal share with men in social and
national life as per the Islamic teachings.
“In the great task of building the nation and
maintaining its solidarity, women have a most valuable part to play. They are
prime architects of the character of the youth who constitute the backbone of
the state. I know that in the long struggle for achievement of Pakistan, Muslim
women have stood solidly behind their men. In the bigger struggle for the
building up of Pakistan that now lies ahead let it not be said that the women
of Pakistan had lagged behind or failed in their duty.”
Like a true Muslim, the great Quaid was
incorruptible.
The Last British Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten
rightfully admitted when he said: “I tried every trick I could play to shake
Jinnah’s resolve. Nothing would move him from his consuming determination to
realize the dream of Pakistan.”
QUAID E AZAM
MUHAMMAD ALI JINNAH (R.A) WAS INDEED A TRUE PROPONENT OF AN ISLAMIC REPUBLIC.
LET US STUDY QUAID’S MESSAGE AND WORK TOWARDS PAKISTAN’S
PROGRESS AND SOLIDARITY.
Rohail Khan
Chairman,
Enterprise Pakistan
“Think Tank to serve Pakistan and Pakistanis’