Islam and Human Dignity: Background of the Two-Nation Theory

God has instilled love for one’s homeland and home not only in humans but also in animals and birds. This is why wild animals protect their dens, and birds fiercely guard every twig of their nests. Every living creature instinctively returns to its home by evening. No creature willingly leaves its home or homeland. However, when one is tormented to the point that their life is at risk, they become ready to leave everything behind. This is the same sentiment that drives people to seek comfort when overwhelmed with homesickness in foreign lands, hoping to find a shoulder to rest on and lighten the burden of their hearts.

In this context, some friends initiated a beautiful gathering on “Ex Space” to reminisce about the homeland. They decided to change the trend on social media by sharing authentic historical evidence about the homeland. Their aim was to educate the younger generation about important facts, such as what the Two-Nation Theory is, why Pakistan came into being, what would have happened if Pakistan hadn’t been created, the conspiracies at the time of Pakistan’s establishment, the role of Pakistan’s leaders, the unprecedented migration during Pakistan’s creation, and the immense suffering and sacrifices involved. August was dedicated to discussing these issues, with Dr. Fareed Akhtar proposing this unique program. Brother Shakir Qureshi later urged me to give lectures on this platform. I not only congratulated him but also began preparing myself for it.

As the program began, interest soared, and discussions with thoughtful, educated friends led to the emergence of many new topics. The program continues to this day. Participation from numerous friends, spread across more than half a dozen countries, until late at night is testimony to the fact that:

نہیں ہے ناامید اقبالؔ اپنی کشت ویراں سے

ذرا نم ہو تو یہ مٹی بہت زرخیز ہے ساقی

“Iqbal has not lost hope in his barren land;
With a little moisture, this soil is very fertile, my friend.”

Prominent contributors included respected Naeem from Canada, Najeeb Butt, Mr. Mirza from the US, Ahsan Yaqub from Saudi Arabia and UAE, and Mr. Naveed Ahad with his strong arguments. Their enthusiasm spurred several knowledgeable individuals and institutions to request that this series continue, and it still does, Alhamdulillah.

History bears witness that the decision to create Pakistan on the foundation of the Two-Nation Theory was the correct one. Today, time not only validates the soundness of this decision but also shows that all citizens of Pakistan remain deeply grateful for the invaluable contributions of its founders.

When the time came for the British to leave India, the Muslims, who had ruled the subcontinent for several centuries, were forced into British servitude through conspiracy. However, our leaders anticipated the joint friendship between the British and Hindus and their shared animosity toward Muslims. This led to the demand for a separate homeland based on the Two-Nation Theory, as our leaders foresaw that after the British left, we would have to contend with the Hindu nation, whose self-created religion had already divided humans into castes. This division caused daily humiliation for humanity.

We are all aware of the caste-based system in India, which highlights the deep class divide in Hindu society. The caste system, brought by the Aryans, evolved over time into different forms. This system strengthens the privileges of so-called higher castes (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas) while legitimizing the degrading treatment of lower castes (Shudras, Dalits), reserving for them menial and inferior jobs.

In the modern era, Hindus are still divided into four main categories, with Brahmins at the top. Below them are Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (farmers and traders), and at the lowest rank are the Shudras (labourers). These definitions are drawn from sacred Hindu texts, particularly the “Manusmriti.” The Shudras or “untouchables,” now called Dalits, represent the lowest caste, subjected to inhumane treatment. With a population of over 200 million, they represent a minority constantly facing discrimination and barriers to social progress. India’s ruling party, the BJP, is not only distorting the country’s history but is also failing miserably to protect minorities. Every day, Dalits face violence due to their low caste.

The national policy to trap Dalits in the dirtiest jobs ensures they remain powerless and unable to rise. Despite legal prohibitions, Dalits are still forced to clean human waste from drains, sewers, or septic tanks by hand, which often leads to fatalities. Their settlements are segregated from the cities. A report by Human Rights Watch states that those who refuse to perform such degrading tasks face threats and violence from the upper castes.

Moreover, these lower caste individuals have no representation in any political party, and thus, their issues are never heard. It is religiously considered wrong to eat with them or to marry them. This minority is denied the right to higher education, preventing them from reaching higher positions. If any of them ever dares to aspire to such positions, Hindu extremists subject them to severe persecution. The extent of the cruelty is such that, even today, in some parts of India, if a Shudra hears the sacred verses (shlokas) from Hindu scriptures, molten lead is poured into their ears. The rape of their women is justified by claiming that these women are “fortunate” to have been touched by the body of a Brahmin. In many areas of India today, Shudras are still not allowed to wear shoes or new clothes.

Frustrated by the brutality of Hindu extremists, these people are either forced to migrate to other countries or choose to convert to another religion for their survival. According to a foreign news agency, nearly 300 Dalit families in the village of Samadhiala near the town of Una in the Indian state of Gujarat, tired of caste-based discrimination and violence, have left their religion and converted to Buddhism.

The rape and murder of a Dalit woman in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has further highlighted the deep caste divisions in Indian society. Analysts say that under Modi’s BJP, Uttar Pradesh has become India’s ‘rape state.’ Hindu extremist organizations are treating these lower caste people and other minorities in an inhumane manner. India’s governmental policies and actions are systematically oppressing Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, and Dalits. Discrimination against these minorities is widespread, and the caste system is the very foundation that sanctions this oppression. This caste system has turned Indian society into a social and psychological sickness, where the possibility of any meaningful thought is diminishing day by day. The hope for a thriving society is fading.

What kind of psychological depression must women endure when their rape is justified solely because they belong to a lower caste? What kind of children will they give birth to? What kind of citizens can those children become who are denied the right to education simply because they are Dalits, and instead, are forced to clean filth? Their mental growth is stunted before it even begins. How can those who have spent their lives being raised under the stigma of being Dalits, Shudras, or untouchables—who have only ever carried corpses, cleaned streets, opened sewers, and served Brahmins—be expected to be patriotic? How can they be accused of rebellion when they have been denied their legitimate and basic rights? All these inhumane practices are carried out right under the nose of the ruling party, and Hindu nationalist movements further fuel this game with their extremist acts and slogans.

The greatest hindrance to the dignity of human beings is the Hindu caste-based class system. In Hinduism, people are divided into high and low castes based on birth, with their religious texts like “Manu Shastra” presenting fabricated stories about human creation that dehumanize individuals. Consider the following excerpt as an example of how these beliefs demean humanity:

“In the beginning, there was only one spirit. This spirit looked around and saw nothing but itself. It called out, ‘Here I am,’ and at that moment, the concept of ‘woman’ emerged. This spirit desired a companion, so it created a man and a woman in a single form, then divided them into two parts. The man became the husband, and the woman became the wife. In the beginning, the man and woman were one body. Then marital relations occurred, and from that union, creatures were born. However, the spirit thought that creating offspring from one soul was wrong, so it hid itself and became a cow, while the husband became a bull, and from their union, cows and bulls were born. Then the spirit became a mare, and the husband became a horse, and horses were born from their union. In this way, all living creatures were created, including insects.” Such a belief is enough to degrade humanity.

Allah, who is the creator and owner of the universe, has made humans His vicegerents on Earth. Islam teaches that…

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ(التین:4)

 We have certainly created man in the best of stature;

By commanding the angels to bow down to Adam in a gesture of respect, humanity was elevated to the highest level of dignity, making mankind the “Ashraf-ul-Makhluqat” (the most noble of all creations). In contrast, according to Hindu belief, it was the soul of Eve that existed first. She felt afraid in her solitude, and to console her, a man was created for her. In other words, man and woman were created from the same body. However, the Qur’an guides us on this matter as follows:

یٰۤاَیُّهَاالنَّاسُ اِنَّاخَلَقْنٰكُمْ مِّنْ ذَكَرٍوَّاُنْثٰى وَجَعَلْنٰكُمْ شُعُوْبًاوَّقَبَآىٕلَ لِتَعَارَفُوْاؕ-اِنَّ اَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَاللّٰهِ اَتْقٰىكُمْؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلِیْمٌ خَبِیْرٌ(الحجرات:13)

O mankind, indeed, We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.

Allah Almighty has honoured and elevated mankind above other creatures. As stated in the Holy Quran:

وَلَقَدْكَرَّمْنَابَنِیْۤ اٰدَمَ وَحَمَلْنٰهُمْ فِی الْبَرِّوَالْبَحْرِوَرَزَقْنٰهُمْ مِّنَ الطَّیِّبٰتِ وَفَضَّلْنٰهُمْ عَلٰى كَثِیْرٍمِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَاتَفْضِیْلًا۠:(بنی اسرائیل:70)

And We have certainly honoured the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference.

In Islam, no one has superiority over another as a human being, while the caste system in Hinduism establishes a hierarchy of high and low. Islam defines dignity and superiority based on piety (taqwa), whereas in Hinduism, dignity is attributed to those born into Brahmin families, while being born into a Shudra family is considered a symbol of disgrace and humiliation.

Muslims are still regarded as impure (meleech) and deemed deserving of treatment even worse than that of the Dalits. It has been 77 years since the partition of India, and even today, where such discrimination exists, Dalits are treated as part of Hinduism, leading to such treatment against them. If, God forbid, Pakistan had not been created on the basis of the Two-Nation Theory, what would have been the condition of Muslims? Those mentally afflicted here believe that if Muslims were living better lives due to being in the majority in India, they should realize that both Muslims and Dalits are praying day and night to escape the tyranny of the Hindu mindset. If they still refuse to acknowledge the existence of Pakistan despite these circumstances, it would be better for them to lay their bedding at the feet of Hindu Mata. Furthermore, consider this news: those hundred individuals from Sindh who had left Pakistan to join their relatives have, after a year of continuous humiliation, started to see Pakistan as a paradise and have returned to their village after seeking forgiveness and restitution.

Under Modi’s prejudiced government, Muslims in certain areas of India continue to suffer such atrocities that cruel and ruthless Hindus do not spare even Muslim women and innocent children. As a result, men, women, and children are crying out in anguish:

وَمَالَکُمۡ لَاتُقَاتِلُوۡنَ فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ وَالۡمُسۡتَضۡعَفِیۡنَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَآءِ وَالۡوِلۡدَانِ الَّذِیۡنَ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ،رَبَّنَاۤاَخۡرِجۡنَامِنۡ ہٰذِہِ الۡقَرۡیَۃِ الظَّالِمِ اَہۡلُہَا ۚ وَاجۡعَلۡ لَّنَامِنۡ لَّدُنۡکَ وَلِیًّا ۚۙ وَّاجۡعَلۡ لَّنَامِنۡ لَّدُنۡکَ نَصِیۡرًا﴿ؕالنساء:75﴾

And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, “Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?”

This prayer not only presents the plight of weak Muslims but also clarifies the obligation of jihad for Muslims to extend their sympathy and assistance. It is important to note that there are fundamentally three types of Islamic jihad: 1. Defensive. 2. Assisting oppressed Muslims and humanity. 3. Defeating the rebels against Allah and upholding the flag of Islam, for the earth and all that is in it belongs to Allah; thus, it is the responsibility of the righteous to subdue and maintain the rebellious.

As for the matter of assisting oppressed humanity, Muslims hold an unparalleled history compared to other nations, as they have made invaluable sacrifices solely for the pleasure of Allah and the support of humanity, rather than for their own interests.

The history of Spain bears witnesses that when the Christian ruler Roderick violated the innocence of his own governor’s daughter, the governor, compelled by circumstance, wrote a letter to his Muslim counterpart, the border governor Musa bin Nusayr. In response, Tariq bin Ziyad launched an invasion of Spain, resulting in Spain becoming a cradle of peace and security for nearly 800 years. Spanish historians regard this as the golden age of Spanish history.

A similar situation occurred in Sindh when the thugs of Dahir attacked Muslim travellers. In desperation, a Muslim daughter called for help in the name of the governor of Iraq, Hajjaj bin Yusuf. Hajjaj sent his nephew, Muhammad bin Qasim, to assist the oppressed, which led to the flag of Islam being raised in India for nearly a thousand years, fostering unity in the country. With political and intellectual awareness, peace and tranquillity were achieved, ultimately leading to the creation of Pakistan. This jihad was articulated in Qadisiya, which was then the capital of the Iranian government (as recorded in Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah), where Hazrat Rabi’ (RA) expressed it before Rustam in these words.

إِنَّاقَدْأُرْسِلْنَالِنُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنْ ظُلُمَاتِ الْجَھَالَۃِ إِلٰی نُوْرِالْإِیْمَانِ وَمِنْ جَوْرِالْمُلُوْکِ إِلٰی عَدْلِ الْإِسْلَامِ

We did not come ourselves; we were sent to bring people out of the darkness of ignorance and stand them in the light of faith. To provide the masses with an opportunity to live under the just system of Islam, freeing them from the oppression of the powerful.

It is essential to inform today’s youth so that they can understand the reality of the “Two-Nation Theory” and recognise the existence of the God-given state of Pakistan as a blessing, appreciating its value.

وَإِن تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ(النحل:18)

And if you should count the favours of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.