To achieve your own dreams it takes a lifetime but to achieve the dream of millions, it’s a feat only a few can perform in the history of mankind. And Jinnah was one of them. Quaid-e-Azam was a 20th century lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. Father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam’s achievements as the founder of Pakistan, dominates everything else he did in his long and crowded public life spanning some 42 years. He was a great constitutionalist, a distinguished parliamentarian, a top notch politician, an indefatigable freedom fighter, a dynamic Muslim leader and a great human being. Pakistan, one of the largest Muslim states in the world is a living and exemplary movement of Quaid-e-Azam. With his untiring efforts and dauntless courage he united the Indian Muslim under the banner of the Muslim League and carved out a homeland for them where they could pursue their destiny according to their faith and sacred ideology. He was a man of great integrity and benevolent character.
Prof. Stanley Wolpret in his book 'Jinnah of Pakistan' says:
"Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the maps of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation-state. Jinnah did all three."
He was an enigmatic figure and more powerful than any of his contemporary leaders; indeed, he was one of recent history's most charismatic leaders.
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| Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah (r.a) |
Pathetically people around allegedly make him a secularist. Nothing could be more authentic than Jinnah’s own confession about his faith. On August 6, 1939, he said: “I was born Muslim; I am a Muslim and shall die a Muslim.” On another occasion he said: “I am no Maulana or a Maulvi but I also know a little of my faith”.
As for those who, while swearing by democracy, opt for an authoritative style of governance, a phenomenon much too familiar in Pakistan, he warned:
“I cannot understand the logic of those who have been deliberately and mischievously propagating that the Constitution of Pakistan will not be based on Islamic Shariat. Islamic principles today are as much applicable to life as they were 1300 years ago." (January 25, 1948)
“We do not demand Pakistan simply to have a piece of land but we want a laboratory where we could experiment on Islamic principles”.
He had invoked the Madinite model of statehood in his reply to Lord Mountbatten on August 14, 1947, and that model was based on the Misaq-i-Madina, which is described as the first written constitution in the world. The Misaq-i-Madina, promulgated by the Prophet (PBUH), had envisaged a pluralist state (articles 1, 2, 25-35, and 46), bearing in mind the multi-racial, multi-lingual and multi-religious character of Madina, and its defence was made the collective responsibility of all its citizens (articles, 24, 44, 45a, and 45b). Hence Jinnah’s pluralist doctrine for Pakistan is, by no means, in conflict with his declaration of Pakistan being an “Islamic democracy”. And his pluralist doctrine continues to be extremely relevant in the context of the divisive forces and voices that have for long plagued Pakistan.
Spiritual dimension of Quaid-e-Azam:
Quaid-e-Azam (r.a.) was a spiritually elevated personage. This aspect of his character was concealed from public view by the deliberate efforts of a nasty but resourceful lobby, unfortunately including a band of Mullas, which wanted to portray him as a secularist. But, how can anyone hide the fragrance of a tree laden with ever blooming flowers? Quaid-e-Azam’s speeches, statements, actions and ideas are a mirror of his strong faith and spirituality. His thoughts on building up Pakistan and on the political and economic matters were derived from Islamic teachings.
Maulana Thanvi was a great supporter of Quaid. The reason for Maulana Thanvi’s strong support for Mr Jinnah was explained by his nephew, Maulana Zafar Ahmad Usmani. He narrated that one morning Maulana Thanvi called him over and said:
I seldom dream, but last night I had a strange dream. I saw a huge gathering, as if it was the day of resurrection. In this gathering, saints, scholars and pious men are seated in chairs. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, clad in Arabian clothes, is also seated in a chair in the company of these men. I question in my mind, how is he included in this company? I am informed that right now Mohammad Ali Jinnah is doing great service to Islam; that is why he has been given this status.
I have seen in a spiritual vision (Kashf) that Allah The Omnipotent will grant success to Mohammad Ali Jinnah. The Pakistan Resolution of 1940 will triumph. My days are numbered. Were I to live, I would have certainly helped. It is Allah's Will that Muslims should have a separate State. Do whatever you can for creation of Pakistan; encourage your followers also to do the same. One of you two Usmanis will lead my funeral prayer, the other will lead Mr Jinnah’s funeral prayer.
Quaid's enthusiasm for Islam:
Among the many captivating stories about Mr Jinnah’s keenness on seeing Islam in practice and his profound religious knowledge, is one told by Ata Rabbani, his ADC as a young flight lieutenant, in his memoirs:
Tuesday, 18 August (1947) was Eid-ul-Fitr, the gift of Almighty Allah to the Muslims for having fasted through the month of Ramadan. It was the first Eid of the Muslims of Pakistan. Quaid-e-Azam was ready early that morning and already descending the stairs where I met him. “I am early. We shouldn’t be late,” he remarked. He was in a cheerful mood and had all the zeal of the young going to the Eidgah for prayers. He walked to the car briskly, and we left for the Eidgah at M.A. Jinnah Road, to offer Eid prayers. I was the fortunate one to accompany the happy and relaxed Quaid, and of seeing yet another side of that remarkable man. We had known him as a leader, a politician, a legislator, a lawyer, a well-dressed, well-mannered, westernized man. That day he surprised me pleasantly by starting on a masterly discourse on the philosophy and significance of Ramadan and Eid.
As we left the Governor-General House he asked me how many days in Ramadan I had fasted. “About half of the month, Sir,” I replied. “Why half of the month? Why not the full month? You are young and healthy,” he exclaimed. “I was on the move, Sir, for most of the month.” I submitted meekly.“You should complete the count now that you are settled.” His suggestion was as good as an order. He then went on to explain to me the significance and the philosophy behind fasting in some depth. He said that besides helping the religious spirit and the purification of the soul.“Fasting teaches mankind discipline, self control, self sacrifice and devotion. Abstention from all evil for one month prepares him to face all forces of evil with discipline and determination. Besides it tones up the physical system and is good for health. But one has to be careful at Iftars. Here again discipline requires us not to overeat to make up for the lost meals during the day.” Despite having a conservative Islamic back ground, in my life I do not recall anybody who explained the rationale and the benefits—spiritual and physical—of fasting with such lucidity and so comprehensively as did Quaid-e-Azam.
Today our corrupt, filthy political leaders have miserably failed to follow the principles Jinnah had scrupulously followed in his public life. The core principle he had stood for is that of clean, honest and unstained politics. Even when he had established himself at the bar, he refused to enter politics until he had saved “enough”, so that he did not have to live off politics. To him, politics was not meant to secure power and pelf, but to serve the community and the country. He spent his own personal funds to finance his political activities (including travel, boarding and lodging).
It is still time for Pakistan and Pakistanis to wake up from its slumber and to invoke the spirit of its founder to bring back this country to its feet. All the challenges we see around us, all the opposition we face amongst ourselves and from outside can be dealt with if we could only understand the persona of Jinnah and his life and understand the mechanics in creation of a country that became second largest Muslim country in 20th century. A presence, a home for all where fairness and justice will exist. But alas, this was not to happen as we forgot our very own sacrifices, our very own people and our very own founder Jinnah.
We forgot Quaid-e-Azam and all those very people that stood by him against opposition the world had never seen. These people exist in all of us. Never a day that goes past, when we do not come across the saying and quotations from any of these, but we have turned all this into a big ceremony. We have turned Jinnah into just a mere symbol. A place where he rests now needs no salutes, no visitor’s book, no swarming crowd to take pictures. It is his words; it is his life that needs to be lived in all of us. We have betrayed him in last 64 years. It is still time to appreciate and to revive that spirit in Pakistan and in all of us, and to forget these differences that we have created. We must become more understanding and tolerant of each other and work together. It is this challenge that is the need of the time and our responsibility.
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