By Prof. Khurshid Ahmad,
March Twenty Third is a symbol: the symbol of Indian Muslims’ firm resolves to build their independent ideological destiny and to reconstruct their socio-political institutions in It signifies the light of the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah. the dawn of a new era in the history of the sub-continent, nay in the contemporary history of the Muslim world. It represents that epoch-making day when the idea of Pakistan as an independent ideological state was accepted as the political destiny of the Muslim nation. This resolve was a radical departure from the creed of territorial nationalism whose shadow has been cast over the entire contemporary world. The affirmation of the new principle the principle of a state based on the ideology of Islam was an achievement beyond parallel in our own times, an achievement on which posterity will congratulate its authors.
The present century has witnessed a mighty technological revolution. Distance has been annihilated and the entire world is becoming one country and one unit.
Territorial-nationalismis, in fact, now becoming obsolete. History has marched ahead of it. Today it is one of the greatest impediments in the future evolution of human civilization. The age of nationalism has become the ‘Ideological age’ and the inauguration of a national movement for the establishment of the ideological state of Pakistan is a landmark in contemporary history. Twenty Third March is the date on which this historic event occurred.
The occasion is important in another respect too. A study of the history of religions and civilizations reveals that two different religious approaches have always existed: the Prophetic approach to religion and the Mystic approach. Prophets have reformed society while the mystics have searched for and contended themselves with the purification of the soul only. Prophets have lived a life of struggle and strife while mystics have contemplated and meditated. Dr. Iqbal illustrated these two approaches by referring to a saying of a famous mystic who said that the Holy Prophet reached nearest to the Divine on the occasion of mairaj and he returned after that grace and honor but had he (the mystic) got such an opportunity he would have never come back. As the mystic seeks salvation for the individual soul, the achievement of this glory is the be-all and end-all of his life-ambition. But the prophet is meant to play a different role. After having been honored with this greatest achievement he returns to this world and works for its reform and reconstruction. He re-enters the stream of history and tries to illumine the world with the light he so acquires. The historic roles of the two are diametrically different. The prophets have devoted all their energies and resources to the reconstruction of human society in accord with divine guidance. It has been their endeavor to purify man as well as society, to seek for the good of this world as well as of the hereafter. They have never confined themselves to contemplation, meditation or even to rituals, nor could they get themselves contented with the elevation of their own souls alone and leave the entire humanity to grope about in the dark.
Their aim was to purify the individual and to reform the political, social and economic systems. And the last of the Holy Prophets Muhammad bin Abdullah (peace be upon him). personified this prophetic approach in all its fullness, splendor and glory. He established a state based on Islamic ideology and the mission of the state was to establish right and virtue and to banish and forbid wrong and evil. more than thirteen centuries, Pakistan has once again claimed to work out the same prophetic approach. For the first time in the contemporary history a state has fearlessly proclaimed the political Sovereignty of God and its own viceregency. It has professed to demonstrate the efficacy of Islam as a comprehensive order of life and as a world ideology.
Twenty third March is a red-letter day for on this day Muslim India revolted against the false gods of the modern age and resolved to have its own way and revive the prophetic tradition. The establishment of Pakistan as an Islamic State is an achievement as well as a challenge. The achievement is really great and the country and its people have every right to feel proud of that. But this declaration is a challenge too and a challenge indeed for now this country will have to prove its professions. It is the responsibility of the leaders of this country to translate the idea into practice. Twenty-two years have worn off since the establishment of Pakistan.is the time for heart-searching and soul searching. Nation examines what she has done.
Have we acted in the true spirit of the resolve and tried to play the role which had been cast upon our shoulders by the establishment of this ideological state? This question stares us in the face and pricks us in the conscience.
he poses this question before every conscientious Pakistani and ask him to search for its answer honestly and sincerely. We stand on the threshold of a great opportunity only if we are seriously prepared to seize it. Have we really understood the nature of our task? Twenty third March is a reminder and a warning. Are we conscious of the real significance of this august day?
