Jinnah was a politician. When he made his speeches to rural people or to the people of Peshawar, he talked about Islam and the deen. After all, the AIML needed votes. However, two speeches made by Jinnah trump all the people who think that Jinnah wanted Pakistan to be a theocracy (an Islamic state):


You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State. As you know, history shows that in England, conditions, some time ago, were much worse than those prevailing in India today. The Roman Catholics and the Protestants persecuted each other. Even now there are some States in existence where there are discriminations made and bars imposed against a particular class. Thank God, we are not starting in those days. We are starting in the days where there is no discrimination, no distinction between one community and another, no discrimination between one caste or creed and another. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one State.



Anyone who has read Farabi, Tusi and other Muslim philosophers would know that in an Islamic state, Muslims and non-Muslims do not have the same status and rights. Non-Muslims are dhimmi upon whom jizya is liable and they are exempt from compulsory military service, unlike their Muslim counterparts. Moreover, in Pakistan, the law states that only a Muslim can be a president or prime minister and that goes against Jinnah's speech when he says that all citizens are equal citizens.





“…. You are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed. That has nothing to do with the business of the State.”


” The constitution of Pakistan has yet to be framed by the Pakistan Constituent Assembly…..Islam and its idealism have taught us democracy. It has taught Equality of men, Justice and Fairplay to ‘EVERYBODY’…..In any case Pakistan is NOT going to be a theocratic State – to be ruled by priests with a divine mission. We have many non-Muslims – Hindus, Christians and Parsis – but they are ALL Pakistanis. They will enjoy the SAME rights and privileges as any other citizens and will play their rightful part in the affairs of Pakistan.”



Mr. Jinnah wanted Pakistan to be a state where Muslims would form a majority and be free from Hindu social, economic and political hegemony. However, he never called for an Islamic Shariah state. When he referred to Islamic values, he talked about justice, compassion, unity, discipline, faith, mercy, honesty, etc. He didn't talk about the imposition of a Saudi Arabia or Iran-like political system where mullahs with divine missions ruled over the masses.

Lastly, look at Jinnah's lifestyle. He enjoyed the occasional drink, he didn't have a beard, he never said his prayers, his lifestyle was thoroughly English/European, the mullahs called him "kafir-e-azam" and he laughed about it, he believed in gender equality, his sister did not wear the veil or niqab, etc, etc. Most people don't know that even Syed Ameer Ali (the author of the Spirit of Islam) was an agnostic or atheist. Jinnah was a constitutional lawyer, a thorough democrat and a liberal, who couldn't in his wildest dreams imagine establishing a Caliphate or a medieval Shariah state.

Maria, just because Jinnah fought for the rights of the Muslims of India doesn't necessarily infer that he wanted Pakistan to be a Shariah state. Look at the above-quoted passage where he categorically mentions that Pakistan will NOT be a theocracy (Islamic state). How is that not evidence enough that Jinnah wanted Muslims to live freely and practice their faith openly in a secular state (a state that has nothing to do with religion and sees all communities as equal in terms of rights and duties)? I am a Muslim, my blood boils when my Muslim brothers and sisters are killed in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan but I don't want a Shariah state. Yes, being a Muslim is a part of my identity and I'm proud of it, just as Jinnah was, but that doesn't automatically mean that I support a Saudi or Iran-like system here. I want democracy, freedom for all religions, etc. Look at Bachaa Khan. He was a pious Muslim but he supported secularism. Secularism is state-neutrality towards religion and not le-deeniat.

It is a grave insult against Mr. Jinnah to even suggest that he wanted Pakistan to be a theocracy. The proponents of this lie should be ashamed of themselves.

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He conquers who endures.