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"The
factors that laid the foundation of Islam in Indian society and
created a powerful following have become victim of the politics of
partition", Maulana Abul Kalam Azad said
commenting on the demand of partition.
"The
communal hatred it has generated has completely extinguished all
possibilities of spreading and preaching Islam. This communal
politics has hurt the religion beyond measure", he added.
Maulana Azad made these observations
while talking to Shorish Kashmiri - veteran journalist of the time
and editor of Chattan. Former Union Minister Arif Mohd Khan
translated the Urdu interview published in Chattan that was
carried by Covert with the title 'The Man who knew the
future.
Maulana Azad's above observations came
when Shorish Kashmiri asked,
the
Hindu Muslim dispute has become so acute that it has foreclosed any
possibility of reconciliation. Don’t you think that in this
situation the birth of Pakistan has become inevitable?
Maulana Azad replied:
If Pakistan were the solution of Hindu Muslim problem, then I would
have extended my support to it. A section of Hindu opinion is now
turning in its favour. By conceding NWFP, Sind, Balochistan and half
of Punjab on one side and half of Bengal on the other, they think
they will get the rest of India — a huge country that would be free
from any claims of communal nature. If we use the Muslim League
terminology, this new India will be a Hindu state both practically
and temperamentally. This will not happen as a result of any
conscious decision, but will be a logical consequence of its social
realities. How can you expect a society that consists 90% of Hindus,
who have lived with their ethos and values since prehistoric times,
to grow differently?
The factors that laid the foundation of Islam in Indian society and
created a powerful following have become victim of the politics of
partition. The communal hatred it has generated has completely
extinguished all possibilities of spreading and preaching Islam.
This communal politics has hurt the religion beyond measure. Muslims
have turned away from the Quran. If they had taken their lessons
from the Quran and the life of the Holy Prophet and had not forged
communal politics in the name of religion then Islam’s growth would
not have halted. By the time of the decline of the Mughal rule, the
Muslims in India were a little over 22.5 million, that is about 65%
of the present numbers. Since then the numbers kept increasing.
If the Muslim politicians had not used the offensive language that
embittered communal relations, and the other section acting as
agents of British interests had not worked to widen the Hindu-Muslim
breach, the number of Muslims in India would have grown higher. The
political disputes we created in the name of religion have projected
Islam as an instrument of political power and not what it is — a
value system meant for the transformation of human soul.
Under British influence, we turned Islam into a confined system, and
following in the footsteps of other communities like Jews, Parsis
and Hindus we transformed ourselves into a hereditary community. The
Indian Muslims have frozen Islam and its message and divided
themselves into many sects. Some sects were clearly born at the
instance of colonial power. Consequently, these sects became devoid
of all movement and dynamism and lost faith in Islamic values.
The hallmark of Muslim existence was striving and now the very term
is strange to them. Surely they are Muslims, but they follow their
own whims and desires. In fact now they easily submit to political
power, not to Islamic values. They prefer the religion of politics
not the religion of the Quran. Pakistan is a political standpoint.
Regardless of the fact whether it is the right solution to the
problems of Indian Muslims, it is being demanded in the name of
Islam.
The question is when and where Islam provided for division of
territories to settle populations on the basis of belief and
unbelief. Does this find any sanction in the Quran or the traditions
of the Holy Prophet? Who among the scholars of Islam has divided the
dominion of God on this basis? If we accept this division in
principle, how shall we reconcile it with Islam as a universal
system? How shall we explain the ever growing Muslim presence in
non-Muslim lands including India? Do they realise that if Islam had
approved this principle then it would not have permitted its
followers to go to the non-Muslim lands and many ancestors of the
supporters of Pakistan would not have had even entered the fold of
Islam? Division of territories on the basis of religion is a
contraption devised by Muslim League. They can pursue it as their
political agenda, but it finds no sanction in Islam or Quran. What
is the cherished goal of a devout Muslim? Spreading the light of
Islam or dividing territories along religious lines to pursue
political ambitions?
The demand for Pakistan has not benefited Muslims in any manner. How
Pakistan can benefit Islam is a moot question and will largely
depend on the kind of leadership it gets. The impact of western
thought and philosophy has made the crisis more serious. The way the
leadership of Muslim League is conducting itself will ensure that
Islam will become a rare commodity in Pakistan and Muslims in India.
This is a surmise and God alone knows what is in the womb of future.
Pakistan, when it comes into existence, will face conflicts of
religious nature.
As far as I can see, the people who will hold the reins of power
will cause serious damage to Islam. Their behaviour may result in
the total alienation of the Pakistani youth who may become a part of
non-religious movements. Today, in Muslim minority states the Muslim
youth are more attached to religion than in Muslim majority states.
You will see that despite the increased role of Ulema, the religion
will lose its sheen in Pakistan.
Part of Maulana Abul
Kalaam Azad's interview
with Shorish Kashmiri -
veteran journalist of the time and editor of Chattan.
Former Union Minister
Arif Mohd Khan translated
the Urdu interview
published in Chattan
that was carried by
Covert with the title 'The Man who knew the future.
(Courtesy: Covert
Magazine)
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