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Arif Mohammed Khan

October 12, 2009
The following interview of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was conducted by Mr. Shorish
Kashmiri sometime during the month of April, 1946 for a Lahore based Urdu Magazine
‘CHATTAN’. Mr. Shorish Kashmiri, apart from being a leading Urdu journalist, was an
admirer of Maulana Azad and supporter of his political views.
SK: 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?
MA: 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 favor. By conceding NWFP,
Sindh, Baluchistan and half of Punjab on one side and half of Bengal on the other, they think
they will get 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 shall be a logical consequence of its social realities. How can you expect a society that
consists ninety percent 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 of Islam.
The communal politics has hurt the religion beyond measure.
The Muslims have turned away from the Quran. Only if they had taken their lessons from
Quran and the life of Holy Prophet and had not forged the 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 little over 22.5
million that is about 65 percent of present numbers. Since then the numbers kept
increasing. Only 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
still 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 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
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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 Quran.
Pakistan is a political standpoint. Regardless of the fact whether it is the right solution of 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 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 realize 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 light of Islam or dividing territories
along lines of religion to pursue political ambitions. The demand for Pakistan has not
benefitted 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
behavior may result in total alienation of 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.
SK: But many Ulema are with Qaide Azam (MA Jinnah)
MA: Many Ulema were with Akbare Azam too, they invented a new religion for him. Do not
discuss individuals. Our history is replete with the doings of Ulema who have brought
humiliation and disgrace to Islam in every age and period. The upholders of truth are
exceptions. How many of Ulema find an honorable mention in the Muslim history of last
1300 years. There was one Imam Hanbal, one Ibn Taimiyya. In India we remember no Ulema
except Shah Waliullah and his family. The courage of Alf Sani is beyond doubt, but those
who filled the royal office with complaints against him and got him imprisoned were also
Ulema. Where are they now? Does anybody show any respect for them?
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SK: Maulana what is wrong if Pakistan becomes a reality? After all ‘Islam’ is being used to
pursue and protect the unity of the community.
MA: You are using the name of Islam for a cause that is not right by Islamic standards. The
Muslim history bears testimony to many such enormities. In the battle of Jamal (fought
between Imam Ali and Hadrat Aisha widow of holy Prophet) Qurans were displayed on
lances. Was that right? In Karbala the family members of Holy Prophet, were martyred by
those Muslims who claimed companionship of the Prophet. Was that right? Hajjaj was a
Muslim General and he subjected Holy Mosque at Makka to brutal attack. Was that right?
No sacred words can justify or sanctify a false motive.
If Pakistan were right for Muslims then I would have supported it. But I see clearly the
dangers inherent in the demand. I do not expect people to follow me but it is not possible
for me to go against the call of my conscience. People generally submit either to coercion or
to the lessons of their experience. The Muslims will not hear anything against Pakistan
unless they experience it. Today they can call white black but they will not give up Pakistan.
The only way it can be stopped now is either for the government not to concede it or for
Mr. Jinnah himself, if he agrees to some new proposal.
Now as I gather from the attitude of my own colleagues in the working committee, the
division of India appears to be certain. But I must warn that the evil consequences of
partition will not affect India alone, Pakistan will be equally haunted by them. The partition
will be based on the religion of the population and not based on any natural barrier like
mountain, desert or river. A line will be drawn; it is difficult to say how durable it would be.
We must remember that an entity conceived in hatred shall last only as long as that hatred
lasts. This hatred shall overwhelm the relations between India and Pakistan. In this situation
it will not be possible for India and Pakistan to become friends and live amicably unless
some catastrophic event takes place. The politics of partition itself, shall act as a barrier
between the two countries. It will not be possible for Pakistan to accommodate all the
Muslims of India, a task beyond her territorial capability. On the other hand it will not be
possible for the Hindus to stay especially in West Pakistan. They will be thrown out or leave
on their own. This will have its repercussions in India and the Indian Muslims will have three
options before them.
1. They become victims of loot and brutalities and migrate to Pakistan but how many
Muslims can find shelter there.
2. They become subject to murder and other excesses. A substantial number of Muslims will
pass through this ordeal until the bitter memories of partition are forgotten and the
generation that had lived through it completes its natural term.
3. A good number of Muslims haunted by poverty, political wilderness and regional
depredation decide to renounce Islam.
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The prominent Muslims who are supporters of Muslim League shall leave for Pakistan. The
wealthy Muslims will take over the industry and business and monopolize the economy of
Pakistan. But more than 30 million Muslims will be left behind in India. What promise
Pakistan holds for them? The situation that will arise after the expulsion of Hindus and Sikhs
from Pakistan will be still more dangerous for them. Pakistan itself will be afflicted with
many serious problems. The greatest danger will come from international powers who will
seek to control the new country and with the passage of time this control will become tight.
India will have no problem with this outside interference as it will sense danger and hostility
from Pakistan.
The other important point that has escaped Mr. Jinnah’s attention is Bengal. He does not
know that Bengal disdains outside leadership and rejects it sooner or later. During Second
World War Mr. Fazlul Haq revolted against Jinnah and was thrown out of Muslim League.
Mr. HS Suharwardy does not hold Jinnah in high esteem. Why only Muslim League, look at
the history of Congress. The revolt of Subhash Chandra Bose is known to all. Gandhiji was
not happy with the Presidentship of Bose and turned the tide against him by going on fast
unto death at Rajkot. Subhash Bose rose against Gandhiji and disassociated himself from
Congress. The environment of Bengal is such that it disfavors leadership from outside and
rises in revolt when it senses danger to its rights and interests.
The confidence of East Pakistan shall not erode as long as Jinnah and Liaqat Ali are alive. But
after them any small incident will create resentment and disaffection. I feel that it will not
be possible for East Pakistan to stay with West Pakistan for any considerable period of time.
There is nothing common between the two regions except that they call themselves
Muslims. But the fact of being Muslim has never created durable political unity anywhere in
the world. The Arab world is before us; they subscribe to a common religion, a common
civilization and culture and speak a common language. In fact they acknowledge even
territorial unity. But there is no political unity among them. Their systems of government
are different and they are often engaged in mutual recrimination and hostility. On the other
hand the language, customs and way of life of East Pakistan are totally different from West
Pakistan. The moment the creative warmth of Pakistan cools down, the contradictions will
emerge and will acquire assertive overtones. These will be fuelled by the clash of interests
of international powers and consequently both wings will separate.
After the separation of East Pakistan whenever it happens, the West Pakistan will become
the battle ground of regional contradictions and disputes. The assertion of sub-national
identities of Punjab, Sindh, Frontier and Baluchistan will open the doors for outside
interference. It will not be long before the international powers use the diverse elements of
Pakistani political leadership to break the country on the lines of Balkan and Arab states.
May be at that stage we will ask ourselves: what have we gained and what have we lost.
The real issue is economic development and progress, it certainly is not religion. The Muslim
business leaders have doubts about their own ability and competitive spirit. They are so
used to official patronage and favors that they fear new freedom and liberty. They advocate
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two nation theory to conceal their fears and want to have a Muslim state where they have
the monopoly to control the economy without any competition from competent rivals. It
will be interesting to watch how long they can keep this deception alive.
I feel that right from its inception, Pakistan will face some very serious problems:
1. The incompetent political leadership will pave the way for military dictatorship as it has
happened in many Muslim countries
2. The heavy burden of foreign debt.
3. Absence of friendly relationship with neighbors and the possibility of armed conflict.
4. The internal unrest and regional conflicts
5. The loot of national wealth by the neo-rich and industrialists of Pakistan.
6. The apprehension of class war as a result of exploitation by the neo-rich.
7. The dissatisfaction and alienation of the youth from religion and collapse of theory of
Pakistan.
8. The conspiracies of the international powers to control Pakistan.
In this situation the stability of Pakistan will be under strain and the Muslim countries will be
in no position to provide any worthwhile help. The assistance from other sources will not
come without strings and it will force both ideological and territorial compromises.
SK: But the question is how Muslims can keep their community identity intact and how can
they inculcate the attributes of the citizens of a Muslim state?
MA: Hollow words cannot falsify the basic realities nor slanted questions can make the
answers deficient. It amounts to distortion of the discourse. What is meant by community
identity? If this community identity has remained intact during the British slavery, how will it
come under threat in free India in whose affairs Muslims shall be equal participants? What
attributes of the Muslim state you wish to cultivate? The real issue is the freedom of faith
and worship and who can put a cap on that freedom. Will independence reduce the ninety
million Muslims into such a helpless state that they will feel constrained in enjoying their
religious freedom? If the British who as a world power could not snatch this liberty, what
magic or power the Hindus have to deny this freedom of religion? These questions have
been raised by those, who under the influence of western culture have renounced their own
heritage and are now raising dust through political gimmickry.
Muslim history is important part of Indian history. Do you think the Muslim Kings were
serving the cause of Islam? They had a nominal relationship with Islam, they were not
Islamic preachers. Muslims of India owe their gratitude to Sufis, and many of these divines
were treated by the Kings very cruelly. Most of the Kings created a large band of Ulema who
were an obstacle in the path of propagation of Islamic ethos and values. Islam in its pristine
form had a tremendous appeal and in the first century won the hearts and minds of large
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number of people living in and around Hejaz. But the Islam that came to India was different,
the carriers were non-Arabs and the real spirit was missing. Still the imprint of Muslim
period is writ large on the culture, music, art, architecture and languages of India. The
cultural centers of India like Delhi and Lucknow represent what? The underlying Muslim
spirit is all too obvious.
If the Muslims still feel under threat and believe that they will be reduced to slavery in free
India then I can only pray for their faith and hearts. If a man becomes disenchanted with life
he can be helped to revival, but if someone is timid and lacks courage then it is not possible
to help him become brave and gutsy. The Muslims as a community have become cowards.
They have no fear of God, instead they fear men. This explains why they are so obsessed
with threats to their existence – a figment of their imagination.
After British takeover, the government committed all possible excesses against the Muslims.
But Muslims did not cease to exist. On the contrary they registered a growth that was more
than average. The Muslim cultural ethos and values have their own charm. Then India has
large Muslim neighbors on three sides. Why on earth the majority in this country will be
interested to wipe out the Muslims? How will it promote their self interests? Is it so easy to
finish 90 million people? In fact the Muslim culture has such attraction that I shall not be
surprised if it comes to have largest following in free India.
The world needs both, a durable peace and a philosophy of life. If the Hindus can run after
Marx and undertake scholarly studies of the philosophy and wisdom of the West, they do
not disdain Islam and shall be happy to benefit from its principles. In fact they are more
familiar with Islam and acknowledge that Islam does not mean parochialism of a hereditary
community or a despotic system of governance. Islam is a universal call to establish peace
on the basis of human equality. They know that Islam is the proclamation of a Messenger
who calls to the worship of God and not his own worship. Islam means freedom from all
social and economic discriminations and reorganization of the society on three basic
principles of God-consciousness, righteous action and knowledge.
In fact it is we Muslims and our extremist behavior that has created an aversion among non-
Muslims for Islam. If we had not allowed our selfish ambitions to soil the purity of Islam
then many seekers of truth would have found comfort in the bosom of Islam. Pakistan has
nothing to do with Islam; it is a political demand that is projected by Muslim League as the
national goal of Indian Muslims. I feel it is no solution of the problems Muslims are facing. In
fact it is bound to create more problems.
The holy Prophet has said: “God has made the whole earth a mosque for me”. Now do not
ask me to support the idea of the partition of a mosque. If the nine crore Muslims were
thinly scattered all over India, and demand was made to reorganize the states in a manner
to ensure their majority in one or two regions that was understandable. Again such a
demand would not have been right from an Islamic viewpoint, but justifiable on
administrative grounds. But the situation as it exists is drastically different. All the border
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states of India have Muslim majority sharing borders with Muslim countries. Tell me who
can eliminate these populations? By demanding Pakistan we are turning our eyes away from
the history of last one thousand years and if I may use the League terminology then
throwing more than thirty million Muslims into the lap of ‘Hindu Raj”. The Hindu Muslim
problem that has created political tension between Congress and League will become a
source of dispute between the two states and with the aid of international powers this may
erupt into full scale war anytime in future.
The question is often raised that if the idea of Pakistan is so fraught with dangers for the
Muslims, why is it being opposed by the Hindus? I feel that the opposition to the demand is
coming from two quarters. One is represented by those who genuinely feel concerned
about imperial machinations and strongly believe that a free, united India will be in a better
position to defend itself. On the other hand there is a section, who opposes Pakistan with
the motive to provoke Muslims to become more determined in their demand and thus get
rid of them. Muslims have every right to demand constitutional safeguards, but partition of
India cannot promote their interests. The demand is politically incorrect solution of a
communal problem.
In future India will be faced with class problems not communal disputes, the conflict will be
between capital and labor. The communist and socialist movements are growing and it is
not possible to ignore them. These movements will increasingly fight for the protection of
the interest of the underclass. The Muslim capitalists and the feudal classes are
apprehensive of this impending threat. Now they have given this whole issue a communal
color and have turned the economic issue into a religious dispute. But Muslims alone are
not responsible for it. This strategy was first adopted by the British government and then
endorsed by the political minds of Aligarh. Later the Hindu shortsightedness made the
matters worse and now the freedom has become contingent on the partition of India.
Jinnah himself was an ambassador of Hindu Muslim unity. In one Congress session Sarojini
Naidu had commended him with this title. He was a disciple of Dadabhai Noroji. He had
refused to join the 1906 deputation of Muslims that initiated the communal politics in India.
In 1919 he stood firmly as a nationalist and opposed Muslim demands before the Joint
Select Committee. On October 3, 1925, in a letter to Times of India he rubbished the
suggestion that Congress is a Hindu outfit. In the All Parties Conferences of 1925 and 1928,
he strongly favored joint electorate. While speaking in National Assembly in 1925, he said: “I
am a nationalist fist and a nationalist last” and exhorted his colleagues, be they Hindus or
Muslims, “not to raise communal issues in the house and help make the Assembly a national
institution in the truest sense of the term”.
In 1928, Jinnah supported the Congress call to boycott Simon Commission. Till 1937, he
favored not the demand to partition India. In his message to various student bodies he
stressed the need to work for Hindu Muslim unity. But he felt aggrieved when the Congress
formed governments in seven states and ignored the Muslim League. In 1940 he
determined to pursue the partition demand to check Muslim political decline. In short the
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demand for Pakistan is his response to his own political experiences. Mr. Jinnah has every
right to his opinion about me, but I have no doubts about his intelligence. As a politician he
has worked overtime to fortify Muslim communalism and the demand for Pakistan. Now it
has become a matter of prestige for him and he will not give it up at any cost.
SK: It is clear that Muslims are not going to turn away from their demand for Pakistan. Why
have they become so impervious to all reason and logic of arguments?
MA: It is difficult rather impossible to fight against the misplaced enthusiasm of a mob but
to suppress one’s conscience is worse than death. Today the Muslims are not walking, they
are flowing. The problem is that Muslims have not learnt to walk steady; they either run or
flow with the tide. When a group of people lose confidence and self respect, they are
surrounded by imaginary doubts and dangers and fail to make distinction between right and
wrong. The true meaning of life is realized not through numerical strength but through firm
faith and righteous action. The British politics has sown many seeds of fear and distrust in
the mental field of Muslims. Now they are in a frightful state bemoaning the departure of
British and demanding partition before the foreign masters leave. Do they believe that
partition will avert all the dangers to their lives and bodies? If these dangers are real then
they will still haunt their borders and any armed conflict will result in much greater loss of
lives and possessions.
SK: But Hindus and Muslims are two different nations with different and disparate
inclinations. How the unity between the two can be achieved?
MA: This is an obsolete debate. I have seen the correspondence between Allama Iqbal and
Maulana Husain Ahmad Madni on the subject. In Quran the term QAUM has been used not
only for the community of believers but has also been used for distinct human groupings
generally. What we wish to achieve by raising this debate about the etymological scope of
terms like Millat (community), QAUM (nation) and Ummat (group). In religious terms India is
home to many people – the Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsis, Sikhs etc. The differences
between Hindu religion and Islam are vast in scope. But these differences cannot be allowed
to become an obstacle in the path of India gaining her freedom nor do the two distinct and
different systems of faith negate the idea of unity of India. The issue is of our national
independence and how can we secure it. The freedom is a blessing and is the right of every
human being. It cannot be divided on the basis of religion.
Muslims must realize that they are bearers of a universal message. They are not a racial or
regional grouping in whose territory others cannot enter. Strictly speaking, Muslims in India
are not one community; they are divided among many well entrenched sects. You can unite
them by arousing their anti-Hindu sentiment but you cannot unite them in the name of
Islam. To them Islam means undiluted loyalty to their own sect. Apart from Wahabi, Sunni
and Shia there are innumerable groups who owe allegiance to different saints and divines.
Small issues like raising hands during the prayer and saying Amen loudly have created
disputes that defy solution. The Ulemas have used the instrument of TAKFEER (Fatwas
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declaring someone as infidel) liberally. Earlier they used to take Islam to the disbelievers
now they take away Islam from the believers. Islamic history is full of instances how good
and pious Muslims were branded as KAFIRS. Prophets alone had the capability to cope with
these mindboggling situations. Even they had to pass through times of afflictions and trials.
The fact is that when reason and intelligence are abandoned and attitudes become
fossilized then the job of the reformer becomes very difficult.
But today the situation is worse than ever. The Muslims have become firm in their
communalism; they prefer politics to religion and follow their worldly ambitions as
commands of religion. History bears testimony to the fact that in every age we ridiculed
those who pursued good with consistency, snuffed out the brilliant examples of sacrifice
and tore the flags of selfless service. Who are we, the ordinary mortals; even high ranking
Prophets were not spared by these custodians of traditions and customs.
SK: You closed down your journal Al-Hilal long time back. Was it due to your disappointment
with the Muslims who were wallowing in intellectual desolation, or you felt like proclaiming
AZAN (call to prayer) in a barren desert.
MA: I abandoned not Al-Hilal because I had lost faith in its truth. This journal created great
awareness among a large section of Muslims. They renewed their faith in Islam, in human
freedom and in consistent pursuit of righteous goals. In fact my own life was greatly
enriched by this experience and I felt like those who had the privilege of learning under the
companionship of the Messenger of God. My own voice entranced me and under its impact
I burnt out like a phoenix. The Al-Hilal had served its purpose and a new age was dawning.
Based on my experiences, I made a reappraisal of the situation and decided to devote all my
time and energy for the attainment of our national freedom. I was firm in my belief that
freedom of Asia and Africa largely depended on India’s freedom and Hindu Muslim unity is
key to India’s freedom.
Even before the First World War I had realized that India is destined to attain freedom and
no power on earth will be able to deny it. I was also clear in my mind about the role of the
Muslims. I ardently wished that Muslims must learn to walk together with their countrymen
and give not an opportunity to history to say that when Indians were fighting for their
independence, the Muslims were looking on as spectators. Let nobody say that instead of
fighting the waves they were standing on the banks and showing mirth on the drowning of
boats carrying the freedom fighters.