Question of Fading Morals

THE concept of morality remains high, in an Islamic society. And Pakistan, being an Islamic republic also has to ensure a great height to it. Of course, Pakistan wasn’t an Islamic Republic from its inception. Whatever we have been taught in history books, fact remains the First Governor General of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, envisioned Pakistan as a secular Muslim majority rather than an Islamic Republic. Jinnah himself was the greatest secular politician Indian subcontinent ever produced; I count him higher than even Nehru. For Jinnah of course, the concept of secular Muslim society was not a difficult one to imagine. The Pakistan, he was creating, had lived side by side with a Hindu majority. He only hoped that he shall make it a republic same as Turkey was, but with higher potential and better legislation.

Pakistan was however not circumcised as Muslim, till it was a lad of nine, a good eight years of death of Jinnah. Practically nothing really changed except the name. Soon the Chief of Army, General Ayub Khan took over. Ayub Khan was much an Englishman trapped inside a native body. He never was quite strict with Islamism and never looked much into it. The objective Resolution was the limit he would go to Islam.

So the concept of Morality was never in question in the state of Pakistan, quite till 1975. The main reason being, that Pakistan was ruled by either secular politicians or British styled Military dictators. The Religious wing didn’t yet have any say, except in the objective resolution, a resolution which would never have been passed had Jinnah been the Governor General.

But by 1975, for lack of any political resistance in the remaining Pakistan, the Islamic Party constituted the opposition, except for few nationalist from NWFP and Baluchistan, such as Wali Khan (leader of Opposition). But still Pakistan was in control by a Communist Party and this still made the whole concept much with out the Morality ever coming into question.



IN the 1980s however, many things changed. The head of state was a strict Muslim, who followed the interpretations by the word. The main opposition of clergy man had been able to get the Chief Martial Law Officer’s support (and vice versa) and now they thought to be the main party in power. The war in Afghanistan, in mid 1985 was been portrayed as Islamic Jihad against the infidels, rather than a nationalist movement as it was seen earlier. In order to get recruits, Islamic jihad was used as a slogan and the fighters were called Mujahideens.



The recruits from strictest Islamic regions, and the strictest morals came to Pakistan, for the camp was situated in Peshawer. The influence was to be held on local people. However, much yet, a mission across the country was also held to find able volunteers for the “Jihad”.



When everything finished and these recruits returned, they began to proliferate their ideology inside the society. And as they were spreading religion, nothing can be said against them, or done to stop them.

Also a whole code was also introduced in the constitution, to make the laws more “Islamic” the whole generation was taught new morals and their concepts were changed from their elders. Even older people also joined such expeditions.



So when we look at the morality, and such things. Pakistan found it self in a confused state, there were ones who kept their old habits and others who didn’t followed this code which was earlier dominant in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Egypt.

It should be added that Pakistan, much like the remaining region had followed a much less strict Islam, as compared to puritan Islam in above mentioned countries.

However, as we go ahead, the morality becomes a problem to ponder. For there are people who have grown to find same actions as Strictly Haram and that should be banned. As this is a Islamic nation.



As now, we have a confused state of affairs, the problem however is, one party is actually the “righteous” one… they consider themselves as the correct no matter. There is no place for debate on religion and God’s Law are Final. (and are as they interpret them).

Those who don’t follow them, are unaware and unislamic. They can be also killed as they are not Muslims anymore. Any Muslim that may die in this endeavor is a martyr and his life has not gone in vain. They shall be rewarded in heavens.

This was the exact problem, Jinnah had envisioned when he called for Having a secular state, rather than an Islamic one. For there would never be any change in God’s laws and that the concept is more suitable for a monarchy than republic.





This problem comes to our mind, when in today’s world, where the effects and defects are learned much quicker. The Idea of immorality and moral springs up in the mind of young. Of course, their views are biased one way or other, for their up bringing. But in each case, their exposure to other side (which in both cases is quite extreme) creates a boggling effect. It is difficult for one to form decisions at a younger age, and so a confused state of mind exists. Of course the society doesn’t help either. For where the morality does remain high…..the other aspects such as corruption, inequality, crime and deception reign supreme. Honesty, rule of Law, equality and social welfare along with other Islamic virtues are of high regard, find no place in Pakistan, instead the society remains singular in destroying whatever is good and continues to battle over morality.

In such situation a downfall is quite easy to predict, unless things are turned right, and the debates and energies are not used to achieve better things, rather than non issues. The Society is bound to decay, and the Morality (full of it or lack of it) won’t make much difference