Unity Faith Discipline

We will be celebrating our 61st so-called “independence” day just after 5 days. Despite the fact that very few people know the real ideology behind Pakistan Movement I would like you people to recall at least what we all agree upon and have studied in our schools. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan began the period of self-awakening and identity; Allama Muhammad Iqbal provided the philosophical explanation and Mr. Jinnah translated into a political reality of a nation-state and many unknown names struggled hard to help them achieving this objective. But what was this movement for? Different people have different answers to this question but I feel that this movement was very similar to the one raised in Arab 1400 years ago.

The system that Qur’an suggests can only be implemented if the control of the state is in the hands of people who understand it deeply. I would like to clear one thing here that, except few clear orders, Qur’an tells you only principles and points in bold, and their implementation may vary depending on existing circumstances in the society but at least autocracy, secularism or theocracy may not be considered as Qur’anic philosophy of a state. Islamic Ideology of a State is like a hockey game in which you have boundaries, some rules, someone to watch it carefully and the players. Few muslim intellectuals had understood this and they struggled to have a separate homeland but it was very surprising that not only other nations resisted against this movement but also majority of muslims opposed it. It was really weird that few people were demanding a separate homeland on the name of Islam and muslims themselves did not agree with it. Perhaps they considered Islam as a private relationship between God and Men that’s why Iqbal once said:

Mullah Ko Hai Hind Mein Sajde Ki Ijaazat
Nadaan Samajhta Hai Ke Islam Hai Azaad

And

Jalal-e-Badshahi Ho, Ya Jamhori Tamasha Ho
Juda Ho Dee’n Siyasat Se To Reh Jaati Hai Changezi

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was intensely criticized as a liberal interpreter of Islam, Iqbal was criticized for his concept of Ijtihad and Mr. Jinnah was called “Kafir-e-Azam” instead of “Quaid-e-Azam”. All active leaders of this movement knew from the beginning that there will be another war fought inside the separate homeland against this mind-set.

Please be patient and read all following excerpts from speeches of Mr. Jinnah.

“I know there are people who do not quite agree with the division of India and the partition of the Punjab and Bengal. Much has been said against it, but now that it has been accepted, it is the duty of every one of us to loyally abide by it and honorably act according to the agreement which is now final and binding on all.” [First presidential address to the constituent assembly of Pakistan on 11th August 1947]

“The great majority of us are Muslims. We follow the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed (may peace be upon him). We are members of the brotherhood of Islam in which all are equal in rights, dignity and self-respect. Consequently, we have a special and a very deep sense of unity. But make no mistake: Pakistan is not a theocracy or anything like it.” [19th February, 1948]

“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 principle 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 fair play to everybody. 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. In any case Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic State to be ruled by priests with a divine mission. We have many non-Muslims –Hindus, Christians, and Parsis –but they are all Pakistanis. They will enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other citizens and will play their rightful part in the affairs of Pakistan.” [February, 1948]

“You will no doubt agree with me that the first duty of a Government is to maintain law and order, so that the life, property and religious beliefs of its subjects are fully protected by the State……. The second thing that occurs to me is this: One of the biggest curses from which India is suffering –I do not say that other countries are free from it, but, I think, our condition is much worse –is bribery and corruption. That really is a poison. We must put that down with an iron hand…. Black marketing is another curse……. The next thing that strikes me is this: Here again it is a legacy which has been passed on to us. Along with many other things, good and bad, has arrived this great evil –the evil of nepotism and jobbery. This evil must be crushed relentlessly”. [On August 11, 1947]

But when I see around I found everything same as it was in 1947. Nothing has been changed even became worse than that. The same happened to Pakistan that happened to Islam. Islam went into the hands that did not deserve it and then Pakistan too.

Manzil Unhein Mili Jo Shareek-e-Safar Na They

Everybody had to play his/her role in the development of this country but unfortunately nobody did what anybody could have done. People completely forgot the ideology behind Pakistan or misinterpreted it. They actually had no time to discuss this and when they discussed they always discussed non-issues. I gave you an example that I came across few months ago. We all have heard about three words of Mr. Jinnah “Unity, Faith, Discipline” but you will find different sequence of these three words on different national logos, in government offices and on hilltops. As per my knowledge first time Mr. Zia-ul-Haque rewrote this sequence to “Faith, Unity and Discipline”. Obviously for this he would have to reprint all government stationary. He might have considered “Faith” as “Islam’ but don’t you think Mr. Jinnah could have said “Islam” himself instead of “Faith” in his motto if he wanted to? Mr. Jinnah gave no importance to the sequence as it can be identified from an excerpt from his speech in which he used both sequences.

“We are going through fire: the sunshine has yet to come. But I have no doubt that with unity, faith and discipline we will not only remain the fifth largest State in the world but will compare with any nation of the world. Are you prepared to undergo the fire? ….. We are passing through a period of fear, danger and menace. We must have faith, unity and discipline.” [December 28, 1947]

Then why people raised this issue? We are actually habitual of making issues out of non-issues and putting ourselves into things that outputs nothing. We don’t understand, we don’t follow, but we make issues to entertain ourselves or to keep others busy so they can’t see the real problems. You can see such examples nowadays around you. Our great politicians are engaged in activities that give no solution to a common man’s problems. You will find people “United” but on falsehood, they have “Faith” but neither in the laws defined by Allah nor in themselves. They are “disciplined” but in groups and each group have a different objective and different destination and according to their interpretation of principles they all consider themselves on the right path. We have made a few stupid people sit on ourselves and now they are pinching in our head. We are either dependent on a dictator so he could enforce monarchy, investor politicians whose religion is only profit or religious missionaries who are our guide to a paradise hereafter by spending our lives in a hell here. And if someone sometimes tries to come outside of this or want to help others in their development then we don’t allow them to do so. Do you call it “independence”? But still a lamp of hope is kindled in my heart. And I hope this post will kindle a fire in your heart as well. Don’t let this fire come to an end. I don’t need to tell you what to do; you know it all; I just want you to recall it and then practice it accordingly.

Mere Seene Mein Nahin, To Tere Seene Mein Sahi
Ho Kahin Bhi Aag, Lekin Aag Jalni Chahiye

Please Think, You Can Think

!mran