Unit # 2

MEANING OF AN IDEOLOGY

The word “ideology” is composed of two Greek words “ideo” and “logos”. It literally means “the
science or study of ideas”.
An ideology is a system of beliefs (an acceptance that something exists and does not need any
proof), values (basic and fundamental beliefs which motivates our actions.), ideas (a plan which
is the product of mental activity), conviction (firmly held belief), institutions, goals and a body of
knowledge so, ideology reflects the beliefs and interests of a nation or a political system.

Ideology should have the following characteristics.

 Truth.
 Binding capability.
 Practicable.

THE IDEOLOGY OF PAKISTAN

The ideology of Pakistan stems from the instinct of the Muslim community of South Asia to
maintain their individuality by resisting all attempts by the Hindu society to absorb it. Muslims
of South Asia believe that Islam and Hinduism are not only two religions, but are two social
orders and have given birth to two distinct cultures and that there is no meeting point between
the two. A deep study of the history of this land proves that the differences between Hindus and
Muslims are not confined to the struggle for political supremacy but are also manifested in the
clash of two social orders. Despite living together for more than one thousand years, they
continue to develop different cultures and traditions. Their eating habits, music, architecture and
script, all are poles apart. Even the language they speak and the dress they wear are entirely
different. The ideology of Pakistan took shape through an evolutionary process.

 Historical experience provided the base; Alama Iqbal gave it a philosophical

explaination.
 Quaid-i-Azam translated it into a political reality.
 The Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, by passing Objective Resolution in March 1949,
gave it legal sanction.

As early as in the beginning of the 11th century Al-Biruni observed that Hindus were differed
from the Muslims in all matters and aspects of life. He further elaborated his argument by
writing that the Hindus considered Muslims Mlachha which means impure, and forbid having
any connection with them. The speech made by Quaid-i-Azam at Minto Park, Lahore on March
22, 1940 was very similar to Al-Biruni thesis in theme and tune. He, in this speech, considered
that Hindus and Muslims belong to two different religious philosophies, social customs and
literature. 
IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN IDEOLOGY

 Ideology is a motivating force for a nation, which is striving hard to bring stability and
homogeneity to its nationhood.
 It’s provided the binding force to the scattered groups in a society and brings them close
to each other on a common platform.
 Ideologies impel their adherence to follow a joint linked action for the accomplishment of
their goal.
 Ideologies give shape to the revolutions and create new cultures and civilizations.
 Ideology helps in transformation of society. 

BASIS OF PAKISTAN IDEOLOGY

Pakistan ideology is based on the ideals of the Islamic system, which provides guidance to the
Muslims in every sphere of life. Islamic way of living encompasses all aspects of human life.
Islamic system is based on the Holy Quran and Sunnah of Holy Prophet SAW. It has basic
principle with reference to social, moral, political, religious and economic fields.

The Islamic system was declared as basis of Pakistan, wherein the Muslims shall be enabled to
order their lives in their individual and collective spheres in accordance with the teachings and
requirements of Islam as set out in the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

Other basis, political and economic ones, also played some part in uniting Muslims to struggle
for Pakistan but Islam was the preponderant factor as it serves as a cementing force for Muslim
society and is the primary link between Muslims the world over.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF PAKISTAN’S FORMATION/IDEOLOGY OF PAKISTAN

Pakistan came into being on 14th August 1947. The Muslims of the subcontinent sacrificed their
wealth, honor and life to make Pakistan a reality. Struggle for attainment of Pakistan started
shortly after the war of independence (1857). After the war of Independence, the Muslims were
greatly pressed by the Hindus as well as the British. Social, political and economic conditions of
the Muslims were totally changed which further emphasized on the need of a separate homeland.

1. Enforcement of the Sovereignty of God

The main objective of the creation of Pakistan was to establish a free Islamic Society having its
own identity and government and to practice its own social principles and religion and inviting
the Muslims of the world, particularly and others generally to adopt the Islamic way of life. The
Islamic society is built on the concept of the sovereignty of God Almighty.

2. Establishment of Islamic Democracy

Islam has given an ideal concept of democracy which is distinctively different from the western
concept. In Islamic democratic system everyone is equal and no one enjoys a privileged position
on the basis of his social status, color and creed.

3. Protection from Communal Riots

The communal riots on every other day made it clear that the Hindus could take over the politics
after the departure of The British. The Hindu organizations had again and again asserted that
Hindu Raj would be imposed on India after the independence. So to get rid of these atrocities the
Muslims demanded their separate state.

4. Social and Political Development of Muslims

After the war of Independence 1857, the social environment was totally changed. The Muslims
were scared of the caste system of Hindus and other discriminations. They could enjoy neither
political nor social liberties; therefore, they preferred to have a separate homeland in which they
could live according to the teachings of Islam.

5. Protection of Muslim Language

The Hindus did the best to replace Urdu by Hindi. But they did not succeed during British
period. In 1867 the Hindus of Banaras presented a request to their government regarding the
replacement of Urdu with Hindi and its Persian script with that of Devnagri script. Sir Syed
Ahmed Khan at that demanded that when even the language of a nation is not safe at the hands
of other nations in a region, it would be unwise to continue living with them. So Sir Syed, who
was in fact a great advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity prior to that incident, started focusing on the
cause of Muslims alone. His Scientific Society Gazette presented articles on the importance of
Urdu. Similarly, some Muslim newspapers like Noor-ul-Absar and Banaras Gazette also took the
responsibility to safeguard their language at that time.

6. Protection of Two Nation Theory

The Muslims claimed separate nationhood for themselves and they were determined to maintain
a separate entity for all times to come. The entire freedom movement revolved around the “Two
Nation Theory” which became the main objective for the demand of Pakistan. It means that the
Muslims were a separate nation with their distinct culture, civilization, literature, history, religion
and social values. Islam, the religion of the Muslims, was based on the concept of Tauheed and,
therefore couldn’t be assimilated in any other system or religion.

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was the first Muslim leader who presented the idea of “Two Nation
Theory”. He was convinced by the hatred of Congress and Hindus towards the Muslims that both
nations cannot stay unite in the single country and the future of the Muslims will safe only if they
have their own separate country.

7. To get rid of the social humiliation

Competitive examinations for British administrative jobs were for Hindus rather than Muslims.
Tablighi and shuddhi movements went a long way to divide Muslims. During shuddhi movement
Muslims were forced to change their religion. Muslims were badly treated inhumanely. Muslim
students were forced to read about Hinduism. Muslim students were forced to recite their
national anthem, which had verses against Muslims. All these humiliations compelled the
Muslims to get a separate home land.

8. To established a balanced economic system

The major objective of creation of Pakistan was the establishment of a balanced economic
system based on the economic principles of Islam which could ensure a happy and stable
economic life to every individual.

The failure of the uprising in 1857 signaled the final takeover of India by the British Empire. The
parliamentary act of 1858 caused the Muslims to be in an unfortunate position. The Muslims
were not in a position to enter in the business and trade of biased policy of government. All high
civil and military positions were reserved for the Hindus. The Muslims were only considered
eligible for peon and low ranking jobs. The Muslims also lagged in the field of education.

The Muslims being the rulers of India (Mughals) could not take the sudden change in power
well, but the Hindus took it well. So, Muslim wanted a country where they could erect a social
and economic system free of exploitation.

PAKISTAN IDEOLOGY IN ALAMA IQBAL’S WRITINGS

Alama Iqbal was poet and philosopher and an important political leader who played crucial role
in developing Muslim consciousness amongst the Muslims of South Asia. Men like Alama Iqbal
are born but in centuries. Throughout his career, he was conscious of significance of Islam in
lives of the Muslims.

The climax of Iqbal’s political career came in 1930 when at the annual session of All India
Muslim League; he boldly stated the Muslim demand for creation of a separate Muslim state
within India. He added:

“I would like to see the Punjab, NWFP, Sindh, and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single
state as self-government within the British Empire or without the British Empire, the
formation of a consolidated North-West Indian Muslim state appears to me to be the final
destiny of the Muslims, at least, of North-West India.”

Alama Iqbal considered Islam as complete code of life. He said that i am fully convinced that the
Muslims of India will ultimately have to establish a separate state for themselves. He openly
negated the concept of nation in India. On the occasion of a meeting of a cosmopolitan
organization he said:
"I have been myself of the view that religious differences should disappear from this
country and even now act on this principle in my private life. But now I think that the
preservation of their separate entities is desirable for both the Hindus and the Muslims.
The vision of a common nationhood for India is a beautiful ideal and has a poetic appeal,
but looking into the present conditions and the unconscious trends of the two communities
appears incapable of fulfillment."

In short, Iqbal gave the idea of Pakistan. He inspired the Muslims of India to make the demand
for a separate homeland. He infects, prepared the ground for Mr Jinnah, who finally led the
Muslims to the goal of Pakistan. Mr Jinnah acknowledged his debt to Dr Iqbal in the following
words:

“His views were substantially in consonance with my own and had finally led me to the
same conclusions as a result of careful examination and study of the constitutional
problems facing India”.

Mr Jinnah paid him a tribute two days after the Lahore Resolution that:

“If I live to see the idea of a Muslim state being achieved and I was then offered to choose
between the works of Iqbal and the ruler ship of the Muslim state, I would prefer the
former”.

Alama Iqbal expressed the Muslim sentiments and ideas in true spirit by defining them as
separate nation. His Presidential address washed away all the confusions from the Muslim minds
and showed them new dimensions in their struggle for freedom. The spirit which Alama Iqbal
infused in the Muslims developed into an ideological basis for the Pakistan movement. Thus
Alama Iqbal was truly a great advocate of Two-Nation theory or Ideology of Pakistan.
PAKISTAN IDEOLOGY IN QUAID-E-AZAM’S WRITINGS

Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a history-making leader who changed the course of history. He
possessed a visionary leadership, commitment to the cause and political mobilization capacity.
He was a Charismatic Leader in the real sense of the meaning.Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali
Jinnah gave practical shape to the ideology given by Alama Iqbal.After joining Muslim League
in 1913, he continued with his efforts to bring about Hindu Muslim unity but he was greatly
disappointed to see the prejudicial attitude of the Congress and Hindus towards the Muslims.
Following are some extracts from the speeches and statements which he delivered from time to
time for explaining the ideology of Pakistan.
Quaid-e-Azam believed that Congress and Hindus would never recognize the rights of Muslims.
He declared while representing the Muslims in the second Round Table Conference in 1931:

“The Hindu Muslim dispute must be settled before the enforcement of any system or
constitution. Until you do not give guarantee for the safeguard of the Muslim interests,
until you do not win their (Muslims) co-operations, any constitution you enforce shall not
last for even 24 hours.”

Quaid-e-Azam was a firm advocate of two nation theory which became the ideological basis of
Pakistan. He said:

“The Muslims are a nation by every right to establish their separate homeland. They can
adopt any means to promote and protect their economic social, political and cultural
interests.”

On 23rd March, 1940 at the historic session of the Muslim League at Lahore, he said:

“The Muslims are not a minority. They are a nation by any definition. By all canons of
International law we are a nation”

In his presidential address at the annual session of Muslim League at Lahore in 1940. He said:

“India is not a nation, nor a country. It is a Sub-Continent of nationalities. Hindus and

Muslims being the two major nations. The Hindus and Muslims belong to two different
religions, philosophies, social customs and literature. They neither intermarry nor inter
dine and they belong to two different civilizations which are based mainly on conflicting
ideas and conceptions. Their aspects on life and of are different. It is quite clear that
Hindus and Muslims derive their inspiration from different sources of history.”

On March 8, 1944 while addressing the students of Muslim University, he said:

“Hindus and Muslims through living in the same town and villages had never been blended
into one nation. They were always two separate entities.”

He believed that only Islam was the unifying force of the Muslim Millat. He said:

“What relationships knit the Muslims into one whole, which is the formidable rock on
which the Muslim edifice has been erected, which the sheet anchor is providing base to the
Muslim Millat, the relationship, the sheet anchor and the rock is Holy Quran.”

In 1946, at Islamia College Quaid-e-Azam declared:

“We do not demand Pakistan simply to have a piece of land but we want a laboratory
where we could experiment on Islamic principles.”

In his message to the Frontier Muslim Students Federation on June 1945, he said:

“Pakistan not only means freedom and independence but Muslim ideology, which has to be
preserved which came to us as a precious gift and treasure and which we hope, other will
share with us.”

CONCLUSION

The fundamental concept of the ideology of Pakistan is that Muslims are separate nation having
their own culture, literature, religion and way of life. They cannot be merged in any other nation.
They should be able to develop their culture and religious traditions in an Islamic State and they
should be able to create a true Islamic society for themselves.

Thus the ideology of Pakistan which developed through the period of Muhammad Bin Qasim
and others and followed by political leaders like Quaid-e-Azam was materialized in 1947.

FURTHER READING

http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-compulsory-subjects/pakistan-affairs/31155-ideology-
pakistan.html

https://www.ilmkidunya.com/articles/allama-iqbal-and-ideology-of-pakistan-1733.aspx

https://nation.com.pk/25-Dec-2017/quaid-i-azam-s-ideology-of-pakistan

https://www.dawn.com/news/966111/the-quaid-and-the-ideology-of-pakistan/1

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40961603