Jinnah, Father of the Nation

Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah was Born on December 25, 1876, in a prominent mercantile family in Karachi. He received his early education at the Sindh Madrassat-ul-Islam, a renowned Islamic School and the Christian Mission School at his birth place. Jinnah went to London to join the Lincoln's Inn in 1893 to become the youngest Indian Barrister.

Jinnah being a good Muslim had the habit of reading history of Islamic rulers. Moreover he used to take guidance by Quran Recitation about setting up a pure Islamic society based on Islamic rules. Young Jinnah rose to prominence and became Bombay's most successful lawyer within a few years. Jinnah formally entered politics in 1905 from the platform of the Indian National Congress and at the Calcutta Congress session in December 1906, he also made his first political speech in support of the resolution on self-government. Mr. Montagu who was Secretary of State for India, once said "Jinnah is a very clever man, and such a man should have no chance of running the affairs of his own country”

For about three decades since his entry into politics in 1906, Jinnah passionately believed in Hindu-Muslim unity and he was responsible for the Congress-League Pact of 1916, known popularly as Lucknow Pact- the only pact ever signed between the two political organisations, the Congress and the All-India Muslim League, representing the two major communities in the subcontinent

Nehru Report in 1928 which represented the Congress-sponsored proposals for the future constitution of India, negated the minimum Muslim demands disappointed Jinnah and prompted him to migrate and settle down in London in the early thirties

He however returned to India in 1934, at the pleadings of few muslim leaders to organize muslim league and devoted himself for the purpose of organizing the Muslims on one platform. Under Jinnah's dynamic leadership, Muslim League was transformed into a mass organization, and made the spokesman of Indian Muslims as never before.

As a result of Jinnah's ceaseless efforts, the Muslims awakened from unreflective silence. The formulation of the Muslim demand for Pakistan in 1940 had a tremendous impact on the nature and course of Indian politics that lead to the the establishment of Pakistan in 14th of August 1947

Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah was nominated by the Muslim League as the Governor-General of Pakistan. Jinnah told the nation in his last message on 14 August, 1948: "The foundations of your State have been laid and it is now for you to build and build as quickly and as well as you can"

In accomplishing the task he had taken upon himself on the morrow of Pakistan's birth, Jinnah had worked himself to death, but he had, to quote richard Symons, "contributed more than any other man to Pakistan's survivial". He died on 11 September, 1948. How true was Lord Lawrence, the former Secretary of State for India, when he said, "Gandhi died by the hands of an assassin; Jinnah died by his devotion to Pakistan"

Jinnah, fought for the inherent rights of his people all through his life which is a true guiding path for all Pakistanis.

Islam and the Concept of Poetry

According to William Wordsworth “poetry is intermittent inspiration and overflow of powerful emotions expressed in tranquility”. A poet is the man of consciousness and wisdom. In past whenever disbelievers listen Quran Recitation, they claimed that it is as poetic book but actually Quranic verses and poetry are two different things. Here the question arises that is poetry allowed in Islam or not?

There are two main verses dealing with the subject of poets. In Sura Yasin in verse 69 the Qur’an says: “We have not instructed the (Prophet) in poetry, not is it meet for him; this is no less than a message and a Quran making things clear.” Why this verse was revealed to the Prophet? Simply because the Quranic idiom, language and style are so unique that none can excel it.

In few Islamic Schools poetry is being taught to praise the creator and his Prophet (PBUH) which is called Hamd and Naat. Similarly during the period of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) the poets used to paste or hang their writings on the walls of Kaaba and prove their excellence. “Saba Moalleqat” were very much popular writings hung on the walls of Kaaba.

Poets in to two classes; The evil ones and the righteous ones. The poets who spread evil are condemned. The poets who preach nobility are praised. Here one question arises. Is it only for poets? Is it not for prose writers? Or is it not for all humans? If somebody preaches profanity in prose will he be appreciated? Sacrilegious ideas or deeds have to be condemned.

Influence of Islam on Science

Muslims had made immense leaps forward in the area of Science ever since Islam was born. Cities having modern and scientific Islamic Schools like Baghdad, Damascus, Cairo and Cordoba were the centers of civilization and were flourishing and Muslim scientists made tremendous progress in applied as well as theoretical Science and Technology.

The idea of the college was a concept which was borrowed from Muslims. The first colleges appeared in the Muslim world in the late 600’s and early 700’s. Where, Muslims were taught Quran Recitation as well as the relation of science with the religion and the concepts of creation of this world. In Europe, some of the earliest colleges are those under the University of Paris and Oxford they were founded around the thirteenth century.

Islamic contributions to Science were now rapidly being translated and transferred from Spain to the rest of Europe. Ibnul Hairham’s works on Optics, (in which he deals with 50 Optical questions put to Muslim Scholars by the Franks), was translated widely. The Muslims discovered the Principle of Pendulum, which was used to measure time. Many of the principles of Isaac Newton were derived from former Islamic scientific contributions. In the field of Chemistry numerous Islamic works were translated into Latin.

All of this knowledge transferred from the Muslims to the Europeans was the vital raw material for the Scientific Revolution. Muslims not only passed on Greek classical works but also introduced new scientific theories, without which the European Renaissance could not have occurred.

Mosque, As a Center of Education

The Mosque is a center of almost all activities of an Islamic Society. It is used as a place of worship, as an Islamic School for education, a judicial court with Islamic laws, and a government center for making political and administrative decisions.

It is not only a symbol of their identity but also a refuge to protect them from evil. The Muslim community has always been attached to the mosque throughout history in some way or another. Mosques gained a special place due to a distinctive character of the Islamic faith, that is, Islam requires that its followers shape their lives on the principle of obedience to Allah.

As a center of education, Mosque is a place where all forms of educational activities take place. Muslims are taught Quran Recitation and Qur'anic verses are explained by the Islamic scholars. In past, Islamic education was delivered by informal method of teaching, but later on it was organized into a systemized method. Grand mosques in Damascus, Baghdad, Cairo, and Nishapur, remained famous as centers of learning.

The Companions used to memorize and record the sayings of the Prophet within the mosque. In one of the corners of the Prophet's mosque, there was a raised platform that served as a central place of student activity for those interested to know about faith, worship, and other matters.

Relation of Muslim Parents and Children

In a pure Islamic family, parents are responsible for the best possible growth of their children and offer an unconditional love that compensates for the weaknesses of their children. The character of parents is a role model for children through which they learn the basic values and principles which they will carry with them throughout life.

Allah says in Qur’an "We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents: In pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the child to his weaning is thirty months. At length, when he reaches the age of full strength and attains forty years, he says, "O my Lord! Grant me that I may be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and that I may work righteousness such as You may approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to You and truly do I bow to You in Islam."

The Muslim father is also responsible for his child's training and education. Before traditional education, parents are responsible to teach their children Quran Recitation with translation. Concerning this, the Prophet (S) said: A father gives his child nothing better than a good education. (Mishkat, 4977, transmitted by Tirmidhi and Baihaqi)

It the responsibility of parents to choose right Islamic School for their Children for better education. The children, in turn, respect their parents as the source of their very being, as their teachers, and as the ones who have labored and sacrificed for their sakes. When they are grown, they should be responsible to care for their parents in their old age. These relative responsibilities should not be undertaken as a matter of duty, but rather emerge from the spontaneous promptings of parental love and the children's gratitude and respect.