The guiding principles for the state of Pakistan

By: Raza ul Haq

The guiding principles for the state of Pakistan, which was created on basis of Islam, must be geared towards establishing an Islamic Welfare State based on the just politico-socio-economic order of Islam on the lines of the one established by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in Madinah and succeeded by the first four Khulafa (Rightly-Guided Caliphs) in Islamic history, in the context of the modern age. In fact, any ‘Muslim state’ has a fundamental obligation to strive and establish the Islamic form of governance. That alludes to the ‘Just Islamic Order’ of Islam.

The founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah said in his speech to the Tribal Jirga made on 17 April 1948 that Muslims should stand united based on the fundamental tenets of Islam, “Whatever I have done, I did as a servant of Islam and only tried to perform my duty and made every possible contribution within my power to help our Nation. It has been my constant endeavor to try to bring about unity among Musalmans, and I hope that in the great task of reconstruction and building up great and glorious Pakistan, that is ahead of us, you realize that solidarity is now more essential than it ever was for achieving Pakistan, which by the grace of God we have already done. I am sure that I shall have your fullest support in this mission. I want every Musalman to do his utmost and help me and support me in creating complete solidarity among the Musalmans, and I am confident that you will not lag behind any other individual or part of Pakistan. We Musalmans believe in one God, one book - the Holy Quran - and one Prophet. So, we must stand united as one Nation.”

(https://united4justice.wordpress.com/tag/muhammad-ali-jinnah-address-to-the-tribal-jirga-at-government-house/)

Quaid-e-Azam understood that an Islamic social welfare state based on the Islamic principles would be the only viable solution for the country. He also realized the importance of having an economic model that was in consistence with Islamic principles. Quaid’s aversion to the western economic system could be understood from the speech he made during the opening ceremony of the Peshawar Branch of the State Bank of Pakistan in 1948, where he famously said, “I shall watch with keenness the work of your research organization in evolving banking practices compatible with Islamic ideas of social and economic life. The economic system of the West has created almost insoluble problems for humanity and to many of us it appears that only a miracle can save it from disaster that is now facing the world. It has failed to do justice between man and man and to eradicate friction from the international field. On the contrary, it was largely responsible for the two world wars in the last half century. The adoption of Western economic theory and practice will not help us in achieving our goal of creating a happy and contended people. We must work our destiny in our own way and present to the world an economic system based on true Islamic concept of equality of manhood and social justice.”

(http://www.jinnahofpakistan.com/2010/04/state-bank-of-pakistan-symbol-of-our.html)

Moreover, in his address to the Karachi Bar Association on 25 January 1948 Jinnah said, “...There are people who want to create mischief and make the propaganda that we will scrap the Shariat Law. Islamic principles have no parallel. Today they are as applicable in actual life as they were 1300 years ago."

(https://pakistan.gov.pk/Quaid/messages_page2.html)

The Riyasat e Madinah, established by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and strengthened during Khilafat e Rashida period was a true and comprehensive welfare state, both in material sense and spiritual sense; where not only the material needs of a person were ensured, every soul had the opportunity, and potential to achieve highest grades spiritually. On the contrary, the welfare state model of modern developed world is established on the principles to fulfill the material needs of its citizen alone, hence, failing miserably at the spiritual level.

Therefore, it is not only important, but essential for Pakistan to embrace Islam, in toto, in its political discourse and structure, economic practice and outlook, and social and cultural scheme. All aspects regarding the form of governance as well as other political issues must be in sync with the Islamic edicts. The economy must be ridded of riba (interest) and all other non-Islamic elements. The social structure of the state must be firmly rooted in the pristine traditions of Islam (Qur’an and Sunnah). The international relations of an Islamic country must be governed by the diktats of Islam.

In fact, a government in a Muslim country is responsible to implement Islam as a Deen in its entirety, not bits and pieces.