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NOTE: Original article is attached and can also be found from the original website here:
http://www.banuri.edu.pk/articles/topic/mamlikat-o-riasat-u-tareekh-e-pakistan
The recommended books and references are all in Urdu so it doesn't make sense to provide English translation of names.
Pakistan movement and the role of Ulema (Religous scholars)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Answering a propaganda Mufti Rafeeq Ahmad Balakoti
Question
Honorable ulema have played a major role in the creation, independence, and to date the continued existence of Pakistan. Everyone knows this, but if you can shed light on this subject in detail it would be benefitial. That is, what was the role played by Ulema in the independence of Pakistan? And which Ulema were involved in it? And how is the situation to date? The people who bear animosity towards Ulema will also benefit from your detailed rejoinder. Also, please point me to useful books on this topic as well.
Inquirer: Muhammad Abdullah via e-mail
Answer
The Independence Movement and Creation of Pakistan have different backgrounds. Only after understanding these, can the question be answered and Creation of Pakistan presented in its true form. Without understanding the separate backgrounds of Independence Movement and Creation of Pakistan, the role of Ulema cannot become clear.
The respected inquirer suffers from a historical confusion. The same is spread by some people who wish to elicit desired responses by asking vague questions, which is their pre-planned strategy. They always muddle the matters of Creation of Pakistan and Independence of Pakistan in their questions. Such questions are the proudcts of an immensely cunning political thinking. The intention behind such muddled questions is to groom a certain mentality in the young generation; secondly, it distorts the annals of history to trivialize the accomplishments of some of our religious figures who have no share in the struggle for freeing the homeland from the British, although the crowning glory for Creation of Pakistan is considered their sole right. Every intelligent and rational person knows that freedom is the name of deliverance from occupation or imprisonment. So, the claim of Freedom of Pakistan requires, first an explanation of the History of Occupation, and secondly, a cognizance of the entire history of Freedom Struggle from Occupation till Indpendence Day.
Even a cursory student of the history of Indian sub-continent knows that Mughal rule over Hindustan lasted more than three centuries (1526 - 1857). In 1599, cunning Western political thought arrived upon the sub-continent in the garb of traders. Initially, they observed proper royal decorum and paid due royalty to the King. Graudally, through trade relations, they estabslished an air of mutual trust, and obtained clearance for creation of godowns to store materials, then armed security for godowns, and then weapons and ammunition were brought. Later, these same godowns established in large cities were to prove military cantonements of the English, and finally in 1857, after de-throning the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, British Imperialism became the ruler of the Indian sub-continent, and this occupation by British Imperialism spanned nearly a century from 1857 till 1947. During this period, many battles were fought to free the Indian sub-continent from this illegal occupation, foremost amongst which are the Battle of Balakot, Battle of Shamli, Movement of Silk Handkerchief, and numerous other movements of varying intensity. [1]
The movement for freedom from occupation was in reality the outcome of internal turmoil of those sympathetic Muslims, who were constantly irked by the thought that British Imperialists have grabbed rulership from Muslims by weaving webs of cunning stratagems, hence this rule should again return into Muslims hands. This fury wasn't entirely patriotic in its origin, rather, Muslim leadership also considered it their religious duty. Obviously, in the times of occupation, this patriotism could only languish in desperation. How would it be possible to take revolutionary steps without the requesite resources to enter the realms of practicality? This is why, despite the hindu majority on the Indian sub-continent, Hindu leadership had no major interest in the movement for freedom from occupation, and even amongst Muslims, only religous leadership agreed to lay down their lives because of their faith and religious duty. Hence, for the crime of raising clarion calls of freedom, thousands of Ulema were hanged under British rule, torn to pieces by tying to the mouths of live cannons. And the story of torture and incarceration is written upon the walls of every prison from Malta to Maldives.
For freedom of homeland, for the independence of the entire country, if any names are named for sacrifices, the only names that come up are those of the Ulema of Indian sub-continent, especially the Ulema of Deoband, and their followers. [2] To the extent that, even amongst the non-Ulema of Muslim leadership, there is no well known personality who has laid their life for the freedom of entire country, or at least obtained the honor of penal transportation in exile. This is because sacrifice is the result of religious zeal and fervour, and who has more relatin to faith and religion than Ulema? Foremost amongst these Ulema are: the founder of Independence Movement and Creation of Caliphate Shah Waliullah, his family, Shah Abdul Aziz, Shah Ismail Shaheed and Syed Ahmad Shaheed, then Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki, Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotvi, Hazarat Maulana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi, Hazrat Ja'afar Thanesri, Hazrat Sheikh-ul-Hind Maulana Mahmood Hasan Deobandi, Hazrat Maulana Syed Hussein Ahmad Madani, Maulan Abul Kalam Azad, Maulana Saeed Ahmad Saeed Dehalvi, Mufti Kifayatullah Dehlavi, Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar, Maulana Shaukat Ali, Maulana Ubeidullah Sindhi, Maulana Abdul Bari Farangi Mahli, Maulana Abdul Majid Qadri Badaevni, Maulana Sanaullah Amritsiri, Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim Sialkoti, Maulana Syed Muahmmad Dawood Ghaznavi, Maulana Hifzur Rahman Sevharvi, Maulana Muhammad Mian Ansari, Maulana Abdul Quddoos, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Karachwi etc. (May Allah Shower His Mercy upon them)
When, due to the sacrifices of Ulema, the movement for freedom of Indian sub-continent started spreading, many Muslim and non-Muslim political leaders became fellow travellers in this journey. Similarly, in 1885, for freedom of Indian sub-continent from foreign enemey, a grand alliance (Congress) was formed on the basis of Indian nationality, where Muslim and Hindu political leadership was seen united. This unity was merely political unity, and was formed on the basis that only the people of Indian sub-continent had the right of ruling over teh Indian sub-continent, foreign occupiers should leave [3]. This political thought was not contradictory to Islamic teachings, but was in accordance with them. Due to this unity, the Hindu majority and was proving to be the supporter of freedom movement started by Muslims [4]. As a result, the occupying Imperialist was being forced to leave. Hence, as a parting shot, it carried out another cunning plan of first creating a rift in the Hindu Muslim unity, and in this it was also successful to some extent. But the English achieved an even bigger victory: to extract revenge from the Muslim nation, which played a central role in the mutiny against Imperialism, they confounded it on a path where they could never achieve their true destination (rule over all the sub-continent). The English achieved this victory when Muslim leadership broke up under the titles of Jamiat Ulema Hind and Muslim Leage, and started making demands based on disparate formulas for freedom of Indian sub-continent. Jamiat Ulema Hind remained insistent upon considering its original formulation (freedom of entire sub-continent) as freedom, whereas Muslim League considered the forumula of partition as freedom [5].
Benefiting from our ideological differences, the English appointed themselves judge, jury, and executioner, and dragged us into the Imperialist court like parties to a lawsuit to pronounce judgement. To be fair, agreeing upon the partition formula was more of a suicide for Jamiat Ulema Hind, rather than Muslim League, because the efforts of their forefathers for freedom of entire Indian sub-continent were not for any single part of the country. This is why they claimed partition as treason against the blood of martyrs and the efforts of veterans. Moreover, our land has been snatched from us, so how come the usurper gets any right to play judge between us? The only justice is for him to end the illegal occupation, partitioning our land is not within his jurisdiction.
But on the other hand, the unified front between Muslim and Hindu nationalities in support of partition was escalated from a political problem to a religious and theological problem. And the Muslim League leadership, through supportive religious leadership, declared the unified actions of Muslim and non-Muslim such a forbidden practice that the political partition of the country transformed into an Islamic and theological geography. And the passionate slogan "What is the meaning of Pakistan? There is no God except Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger" was raised such that a majority of Muslims agreed to the formula of patitioning Indian sub-continent, bowing down to the respect of Kalma Tayyiba and the search for goodness promised in this context. And the cunning Englishman, instead of returning the rule over entire Indian sub-continent to the Muslim nation, left them content on such a portion that was already Muslim majority by population. If the Englishman really wanted to fulfil the duty of imparting justice according to his tradition, then firstly the division should have been equal: half of Hindustan should have been given to the Muslim nation and half to non-Muslim nations. Or, at least, of the areas having Hindu majority by population, some portion should have been taken away from Hindus and given to Muslims, which could have been labeled 'gift', or 'divestment', because such were the ways of English Imperialists that they would give anybody's land to anyone else as reward of loyalty. But even this did not happen. If partition on the basis of Muslim majority areas was written in the by gone past of English religion, then at least the boundary of partition should have been in compliance with the proposed formula of the unknown creator of word "Pakistan": Chaudhary Rehmat Ali (Late), that is, Usmanistan, the call of Islam and Pakistan, the Muslims would have benefited from partition [6]. But unfortunately, even this did not happen, instead, he handed over our own lands that were our own property as charity, and leaving us thankful and indebted, he left for England, handing the yoke of slavery in the hands of his elder brother (America), and we kept blowing trumpets of freedom in our simplicity, and couldn't correctly identify profit/loss regarding partition.
When seen in this historical background, no religious scholar or person having political understanding would agree to be party to such history. But, on top of everything, the anti-English Ulema who understood the cunning stratagems of the enemey and rejected them, are labeled 'Enemies of Creation of Pakistan'. To label this anti-English sentiment as anti-Pakistan is just as wrong as labeling partition as freedom.
If we want to understand the role of Ulema in the context of classical interpretation of freedom of Indian sub-continent, versus the sacrifices given for the religious slogan of Creation of Pakistan, it can be said without fear of contradiction that from the foundations of religious slogan for Creation of Pakistan to the first Flag Hoisting ceremony, if the support and acceptance of Hakeem-ul-Ummat Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (May Allah Shower His Mercy upon him) and his followers was not involved, the Creation of Pakistan could never have been achieved on the basis of religious sloganry. The Muslim nation would never have agreed to regard the formula of partition as a formula to differentiate between Kufr and Islam, based solely on the religiousness of Muslim League leadership. This is why, when Quaid-e-Azam was questioned "Which Ulema are with you to officiate parition based on religion?", the Quaid answered "Muslim League has a great scholar (Hazrat Thanvi) with it, whose knowledge, respect, and piety are most elevated, and he is Maulana Ashraf Thanvi, who lives in a small village (Thana Bhavan), it is enough for Muslim League to have his support." Hazrat Thanvi (May Allah Shower His Mercy upon him) could never see the dream of Pakistan realized, but others of same line of thinking such as Sheikh-ul-Islam Hazrat Maulana Allama Shabbir Ahmad Usmani (May Allah Shower His Mercy upon him) and Allama Zafar Usmani (May Allah Shower His Mercy upon him) were on the front lines in the format proceedings of Creation of Pakistan. Hence, in West Pakistan, Allama Shabbir Ahmad Usmani (May Allah Shower His Mercy upon him) hosted the flag, and in East Pakistan, Allama Zafar Ahmad Usmani (May Allah Shower His Mercy upon him) hoisted the flag, and it was due to their efforts that the Objective Resolution was prepared and passed.
This summarizes one aspect of the necessity of Ulema and their role in the Freedom of Pakistan and Creation of Pakistan. From here onwards, the dream of Creation of Pakistan, after its realization, is handed over to the English groomed and trained bureaucracy. Now, the formalization, elucidation, and practical promulgation of the meaning of Pakistan is entrusted to these 'sincere supporters of religion and nation', and (as if) the need for Ulema is no more and the burden of formalization, elucidation, and practical promulgation of the meaning of Pakistan has been lifted from their 'weak shoulders'. Even, the wishes and recommendations of Quaid-e-Azam are thrown into the basket of useless desires of old age, and the tradition of blindly following the West is advanced, and this is only increasing with the passage of time [7].
Although the Ulema of Islam are well cognizant of these facts even today, they are continuously playing their role towards the achievement of the true objective of Creation of Pakistan. Whether it is Ulema who had far-sighted political opposition to the formula of partition, or those who decalred the partition of Hindustan as a Shar'ii partition, all have have reached consensus that the protection and defence of the Republic created under the name Pakistan, taking it towards its real destination, is the religious obligation of all Ulema. After the reality has emerged from partition, the only analogy that can be presented is that it is possible to have difference of opinion about the construction of a Mosque at some place, but irrespective of difference of opinion, once the Mosque is constructed, its respect, protection, and further betterment becomes a religious necessity and obligation [8]. Hence, whether it is Ulema bearing views of Jamiat Ulema Hind, or Ulema following the views of partition espoused by Muslim League, as a matter of fact, whichever school of thought they belong to, everyone is unified to protect and defend the existence and stability of the the theological and geographical boundaries of the country. But in all fairness, after the Creation of Pakistan, the Ulema who have played the major role in leading Pakistan towards the lost destination of the meaning and objective of 'There is no God except Allah and Muhammmad is His Messenger' are the ones who are usually targeted with the allegation and propganda of being opposed to Creation of Pakistan.
Thus, after independence, it is due to the efforts of Ulema that the creation of the Constitution of 1952 and Constitution of 1973 was done in light of the unanimously approved Objective Resolution which was presented by a group of Ulema. And the sacrifices for Movement of System of Mustafa (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam), i.e., Tehreeek Nizam-e-Mustafa (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam) were also given by Ulema. From the Objective Resolution to date, the names of following Ulema are a part of the constitutional history of Pakistan: Sheikh-ul-Islam Allama Shabbir Ahmad Usmani, Allama Zafar Ahmad Usmani, Allama Syed Suleman Nadawi, Allama Shams-ul-Haq Afghani, Mufti Azam Pakistan Mufti Muhammad Shaf'i, Maulana Ehtesham-ul-Haq Thanvi, Maulana Badr Aalam Merthi, Maulana Idrees Kandhalvi, Maulana Khair Muhammad Jalandhari, Allama Muhammad Yusuf Banuri, Maulana Ahmad Ali Lahori, Maulana Ghulam Ghaus Hazarwi, Maulana Mufti Mahmood, Maulana Abdul Haq Akoora Khatak, Qazi Abdus Samad Sarbazi, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar, Maulana Habeebullah Thetri, Maulana Sadiq Karachqi (May Allah Shower His Mercy upon them).
Even today, Alhamdulillah!, the spiritual progeny of these same Ulema are active on all fronts to take the Creation of Pakistan towards its real destination. People impressed by Imperialism are not only stopping Ulema from advancing towards the objective of Creation of Pakistan, but they also term as treason and enmity towards nation any effort to even call attention towards this aspect. But glad tidings for the well-wishers of Pakistan, that these Ulema have benefited from those spiritual figures, who remained foucsed on their goal with the Help of Allah despite all hurdles. They will keep refreshing the real objective of Creation Pakistan in front of the public and will not shy from any sacrifice towards this aim. This group of Ulema is always supplicating for the protection of the geographical boundaries of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. And in a similar manner, this group considers itself the protector of the theological boundaries of Pakistan.
In order to study a fair and true account of the preceding historical facts, the following books will be most beneficial:
http://www.banuri.edu.pk/articles/topic/mamlikat-o-riasat-u-tareekh-e-pakistan
The recommended books and references are all in Urdu so it doesn't make sense to provide English translation of names.
Pakistan movement and the role of Ulema (Religous scholars)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Answering a propaganda Mufti Rafeeq Ahmad Balakoti
Question
Honorable ulema have played a major role in the creation, independence, and to date the continued existence of Pakistan. Everyone knows this, but if you can shed light on this subject in detail it would be benefitial. That is, what was the role played by Ulema in the independence of Pakistan? And which Ulema were involved in it? And how is the situation to date? The people who bear animosity towards Ulema will also benefit from your detailed rejoinder. Also, please point me to useful books on this topic as well.
Inquirer: Muhammad Abdullah via e-mail
Answer
The Independence Movement and Creation of Pakistan have different backgrounds. Only after understanding these, can the question be answered and Creation of Pakistan presented in its true form. Without understanding the separate backgrounds of Independence Movement and Creation of Pakistan, the role of Ulema cannot become clear.
The respected inquirer suffers from a historical confusion. The same is spread by some people who wish to elicit desired responses by asking vague questions, which is their pre-planned strategy. They always muddle the matters of Creation of Pakistan and Independence of Pakistan in their questions. Such questions are the proudcts of an immensely cunning political thinking. The intention behind such muddled questions is to groom a certain mentality in the young generation; secondly, it distorts the annals of history to trivialize the accomplishments of some of our religious figures who have no share in the struggle for freeing the homeland from the British, although the crowning glory for Creation of Pakistan is considered their sole right. Every intelligent and rational person knows that freedom is the name of deliverance from occupation or imprisonment. So, the claim of Freedom of Pakistan requires, first an explanation of the History of Occupation, and secondly, a cognizance of the entire history of Freedom Struggle from Occupation till Indpendence Day.
Even a cursory student of the history of Indian sub-continent knows that Mughal rule over Hindustan lasted more than three centuries (1526 - 1857). In 1599, cunning Western political thought arrived upon the sub-continent in the garb of traders. Initially, they observed proper royal decorum and paid due royalty to the King. Graudally, through trade relations, they estabslished an air of mutual trust, and obtained clearance for creation of godowns to store materials, then armed security for godowns, and then weapons and ammunition were brought. Later, these same godowns established in large cities were to prove military cantonements of the English, and finally in 1857, after de-throning the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, British Imperialism became the ruler of the Indian sub-continent, and this occupation by British Imperialism spanned nearly a century from 1857 till 1947. During this period, many battles were fought to free the Indian sub-continent from this illegal occupation, foremost amongst which are the Battle of Balakot, Battle of Shamli, Movement of Silk Handkerchief, and numerous other movements of varying intensity. [1]
The movement for freedom from occupation was in reality the outcome of internal turmoil of those sympathetic Muslims, who were constantly irked by the thought that British Imperialists have grabbed rulership from Muslims by weaving webs of cunning stratagems, hence this rule should again return into Muslims hands. This fury wasn't entirely patriotic in its origin, rather, Muslim leadership also considered it their religious duty. Obviously, in the times of occupation, this patriotism could only languish in desperation. How would it be possible to take revolutionary steps without the requesite resources to enter the realms of practicality? This is why, despite the hindu majority on the Indian sub-continent, Hindu leadership had no major interest in the movement for freedom from occupation, and even amongst Muslims, only religous leadership agreed to lay down their lives because of their faith and religious duty. Hence, for the crime of raising clarion calls of freedom, thousands of Ulema were hanged under British rule, torn to pieces by tying to the mouths of live cannons. And the story of torture and incarceration is written upon the walls of every prison from Malta to Maldives.
For freedom of homeland, for the independence of the entire country, if any names are named for sacrifices, the only names that come up are those of the Ulema of Indian sub-continent, especially the Ulema of Deoband, and their followers. [2] To the extent that, even amongst the non-Ulema of Muslim leadership, there is no well known personality who has laid their life for the freedom of entire country, or at least obtained the honor of penal transportation in exile. This is because sacrifice is the result of religious zeal and fervour, and who has more relatin to faith and religion than Ulema? Foremost amongst these Ulema are: the founder of Independence Movement and Creation of Caliphate Shah Waliullah, his family, Shah Abdul Aziz, Shah Ismail Shaheed and Syed Ahmad Shaheed, then Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki, Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotvi, Hazarat Maulana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi, Hazrat Ja'afar Thanesri, Hazrat Sheikh-ul-Hind Maulana Mahmood Hasan Deobandi, Hazrat Maulana Syed Hussein Ahmad Madani, Maulan Abul Kalam Azad, Maulana Saeed Ahmad Saeed Dehalvi, Mufti Kifayatullah Dehlavi, Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar, Maulana Shaukat Ali, Maulana Ubeidullah Sindhi, Maulana Abdul Bari Farangi Mahli, Maulana Abdul Majid Qadri Badaevni, Maulana Sanaullah Amritsiri, Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim Sialkoti, Maulana Syed Muahmmad Dawood Ghaznavi, Maulana Hifzur Rahman Sevharvi, Maulana Muhammad Mian Ansari, Maulana Abdul Quddoos, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Karachwi etc. (May Allah Shower His Mercy upon them)
When, due to the sacrifices of Ulema, the movement for freedom of Indian sub-continent started spreading, many Muslim and non-Muslim political leaders became fellow travellers in this journey. Similarly, in 1885, for freedom of Indian sub-continent from foreign enemey, a grand alliance (Congress) was formed on the basis of Indian nationality, where Muslim and Hindu political leadership was seen united. This unity was merely political unity, and was formed on the basis that only the people of Indian sub-continent had the right of ruling over teh Indian sub-continent, foreign occupiers should leave [3]. This political thought was not contradictory to Islamic teachings, but was in accordance with them. Due to this unity, the Hindu majority and was proving to be the supporter of freedom movement started by Muslims [4]. As a result, the occupying Imperialist was being forced to leave. Hence, as a parting shot, it carried out another cunning plan of first creating a rift in the Hindu Muslim unity, and in this it was also successful to some extent. But the English achieved an even bigger victory: to extract revenge from the Muslim nation, which played a central role in the mutiny against Imperialism, they confounded it on a path where they could never achieve their true destination (rule over all the sub-continent). The English achieved this victory when Muslim leadership broke up under the titles of Jamiat Ulema Hind and Muslim Leage, and started making demands based on disparate formulas for freedom of Indian sub-continent. Jamiat Ulema Hind remained insistent upon considering its original formulation (freedom of entire sub-continent) as freedom, whereas Muslim League considered the forumula of partition as freedom [5].
Benefiting from our ideological differences, the English appointed themselves judge, jury, and executioner, and dragged us into the Imperialist court like parties to a lawsuit to pronounce judgement. To be fair, agreeing upon the partition formula was more of a suicide for Jamiat Ulema Hind, rather than Muslim League, because the efforts of their forefathers for freedom of entire Indian sub-continent were not for any single part of the country. This is why they claimed partition as treason against the blood of martyrs and the efforts of veterans. Moreover, our land has been snatched from us, so how come the usurper gets any right to play judge between us? The only justice is for him to end the illegal occupation, partitioning our land is not within his jurisdiction.
But on the other hand, the unified front between Muslim and Hindu nationalities in support of partition was escalated from a political problem to a religious and theological problem. And the Muslim League leadership, through supportive religious leadership, declared the unified actions of Muslim and non-Muslim such a forbidden practice that the political partition of the country transformed into an Islamic and theological geography. And the passionate slogan "What is the meaning of Pakistan? There is no God except Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger" was raised such that a majority of Muslims agreed to the formula of patitioning Indian sub-continent, bowing down to the respect of Kalma Tayyiba and the search for goodness promised in this context. And the cunning Englishman, instead of returning the rule over entire Indian sub-continent to the Muslim nation, left them content on such a portion that was already Muslim majority by population. If the Englishman really wanted to fulfil the duty of imparting justice according to his tradition, then firstly the division should have been equal: half of Hindustan should have been given to the Muslim nation and half to non-Muslim nations. Or, at least, of the areas having Hindu majority by population, some portion should have been taken away from Hindus and given to Muslims, which could have been labeled 'gift', or 'divestment', because such were the ways of English Imperialists that they would give anybody's land to anyone else as reward of loyalty. But even this did not happen. If partition on the basis of Muslim majority areas was written in the by gone past of English religion, then at least the boundary of partition should have been in compliance with the proposed formula of the unknown creator of word "Pakistan": Chaudhary Rehmat Ali (Late), that is, Usmanistan, the call of Islam and Pakistan, the Muslims would have benefited from partition [6]. But unfortunately, even this did not happen, instead, he handed over our own lands that were our own property as charity, and leaving us thankful and indebted, he left for England, handing the yoke of slavery in the hands of his elder brother (America), and we kept blowing trumpets of freedom in our simplicity, and couldn't correctly identify profit/loss regarding partition.
When seen in this historical background, no religious scholar or person having political understanding would agree to be party to such history. But, on top of everything, the anti-English Ulema who understood the cunning stratagems of the enemey and rejected them, are labeled 'Enemies of Creation of Pakistan'. To label this anti-English sentiment as anti-Pakistan is just as wrong as labeling partition as freedom.
If we want to understand the role of Ulema in the context of classical interpretation of freedom of Indian sub-continent, versus the sacrifices given for the religious slogan of Creation of Pakistan, it can be said without fear of contradiction that from the foundations of religious slogan for Creation of Pakistan to the first Flag Hoisting ceremony, if the support and acceptance of Hakeem-ul-Ummat Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (May Allah Shower His Mercy upon him) and his followers was not involved, the Creation of Pakistan could never have been achieved on the basis of religious sloganry. The Muslim nation would never have agreed to regard the formula of partition as a formula to differentiate between Kufr and Islam, based solely on the religiousness of Muslim League leadership. This is why, when Quaid-e-Azam was questioned "Which Ulema are with you to officiate parition based on religion?", the Quaid answered "Muslim League has a great scholar (Hazrat Thanvi) with it, whose knowledge, respect, and piety are most elevated, and he is Maulana Ashraf Thanvi, who lives in a small village (Thana Bhavan), it is enough for Muslim League to have his support." Hazrat Thanvi (May Allah Shower His Mercy upon him) could never see the dream of Pakistan realized, but others of same line of thinking such as Sheikh-ul-Islam Hazrat Maulana Allama Shabbir Ahmad Usmani (May Allah Shower His Mercy upon him) and Allama Zafar Usmani (May Allah Shower His Mercy upon him) were on the front lines in the format proceedings of Creation of Pakistan. Hence, in West Pakistan, Allama Shabbir Ahmad Usmani (May Allah Shower His Mercy upon him) hosted the flag, and in East Pakistan, Allama Zafar Ahmad Usmani (May Allah Shower His Mercy upon him) hoisted the flag, and it was due to their efforts that the Objective Resolution was prepared and passed.
This summarizes one aspect of the necessity of Ulema and their role in the Freedom of Pakistan and Creation of Pakistan. From here onwards, the dream of Creation of Pakistan, after its realization, is handed over to the English groomed and trained bureaucracy. Now, the formalization, elucidation, and practical promulgation of the meaning of Pakistan is entrusted to these 'sincere supporters of religion and nation', and (as if) the need for Ulema is no more and the burden of formalization, elucidation, and practical promulgation of the meaning of Pakistan has been lifted from their 'weak shoulders'. Even, the wishes and recommendations of Quaid-e-Azam are thrown into the basket of useless desires of old age, and the tradition of blindly following the West is advanced, and this is only increasing with the passage of time [7].
Although the Ulema of Islam are well cognizant of these facts even today, they are continuously playing their role towards the achievement of the true objective of Creation of Pakistan. Whether it is Ulema who had far-sighted political opposition to the formula of partition, or those who decalred the partition of Hindustan as a Shar'ii partition, all have have reached consensus that the protection and defence of the Republic created under the name Pakistan, taking it towards its real destination, is the religious obligation of all Ulema. After the reality has emerged from partition, the only analogy that can be presented is that it is possible to have difference of opinion about the construction of a Mosque at some place, but irrespective of difference of opinion, once the Mosque is constructed, its respect, protection, and further betterment becomes a religious necessity and obligation [8]. Hence, whether it is Ulema bearing views of Jamiat Ulema Hind, or Ulema following the views of partition espoused by Muslim League, as a matter of fact, whichever school of thought they belong to, everyone is unified to protect and defend the existence and stability of the the theological and geographical boundaries of the country. But in all fairness, after the Creation of Pakistan, the Ulema who have played the major role in leading Pakistan towards the lost destination of the meaning and objective of 'There is no God except Allah and Muhammmad is His Messenger' are the ones who are usually targeted with the allegation and propganda of being opposed to Creation of Pakistan.
Thus, after independence, it is due to the efforts of Ulema that the creation of the Constitution of 1952 and Constitution of 1973 was done in light of the unanimously approved Objective Resolution which was presented by a group of Ulema. And the sacrifices for Movement of System of Mustafa (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam), i.e., Tehreeek Nizam-e-Mustafa (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam) were also given by Ulema. From the Objective Resolution to date, the names of following Ulema are a part of the constitutional history of Pakistan: Sheikh-ul-Islam Allama Shabbir Ahmad Usmani, Allama Zafar Ahmad Usmani, Allama Syed Suleman Nadawi, Allama Shams-ul-Haq Afghani, Mufti Azam Pakistan Mufti Muhammad Shaf'i, Maulana Ehtesham-ul-Haq Thanvi, Maulana Badr Aalam Merthi, Maulana Idrees Kandhalvi, Maulana Khair Muhammad Jalandhari, Allama Muhammad Yusuf Banuri, Maulana Ahmad Ali Lahori, Maulana Ghulam Ghaus Hazarwi, Maulana Mufti Mahmood, Maulana Abdul Haq Akoora Khatak, Qazi Abdus Samad Sarbazi, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar, Maulana Habeebullah Thetri, Maulana Sadiq Karachqi (May Allah Shower His Mercy upon them).
Even today, Alhamdulillah!, the spiritual progeny of these same Ulema are active on all fronts to take the Creation of Pakistan towards its real destination. People impressed by Imperialism are not only stopping Ulema from advancing towards the objective of Creation of Pakistan, but they also term as treason and enmity towards nation any effort to even call attention towards this aspect. But glad tidings for the well-wishers of Pakistan, that these Ulema have benefited from those spiritual figures, who remained foucsed on their goal with the Help of Allah despite all hurdles. They will keep refreshing the real objective of Creation Pakistan in front of the public and will not shy from any sacrifice towards this aim. This group of Ulema is always supplicating for the protection of the geographical boundaries of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. And in a similar manner, this group considers itself the protector of the theological boundaries of Pakistan.
In order to study a fair and true account of the preceding historical facts, the following books will be most beneficial:
