Thoughts on Some Aspects of Islam | Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto

THOUGHTS ON SOME ASPECTS OF ISLAM
BY Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Former Prime Minister of Pakistan
Introduction by: MAULANA KAUSAR NIAZI
.
The book comprises four addresses delivered by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, on (1) the Islamic Heritage; (2) World Muslim Unity; (3) Personality of the Holy Prophet; and (4) Pakistan as the Fortress of Islam.
.

INDEX:

.

INTRODUCTION By Maulana Kausar Niazi, Minister for Religious Affairs … … 1
1. THE ISLAMIC HERITAGE: Address in the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 1 April 1948 … … … … … 3
2. WORLD MUSLIM UNITY: Address to the Islamic Summit Held in Lahore, 22 February 1974 … … … … … … … 16
3. PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY PROPHET: Address to Inaugurate the International
Congress on Seerat at Rawalpindi, 3 March 1976 … … … … … … … … 30
4. PAKISTAN WILL BE FORTRESS OF ISLAM: Address at Reception of Delegates to the International Congress on Seerat, at Karachi, 13 March 1976 … … … … 35
.
INTRODUCTION
This small volume contains four of the addresses delivered by Mr. Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto on subjects related with Islam. As Chairman and Founder of the Pakistan
People’s Party which swept the polls in December 1970 on a programme of
economic well-being for the masses, then as President of Pakistan, an office he
assumed in December 1971 after the separation of East Pakistan (now
Bangladesh) and the fall of the military dictatorship, and later as Prime Minister
under the new Constitution promulgated in August 1973, Mr. Bhutto made
numerous speeches on various aspects of Islam as it affected life in this country.
The people of Pakistan have unbounded love and devotion for their religion, and
Mr. Bhutto’s opponents tried their utmost to turn the people against him by
painting him as anti-religious, or rather un-Islamic, in his political approach, an
effort in which they miserably failed. These four speeches amply show what
position Mr. Bhutto has given to Islam over the years (from a young student is an
American University to the polished leader of today acknowledged and
respected the world over) in his personal attitude towards life and how the faith
has influenced--and almost permeated -- his opinions on politics, economics,
social behavior and international relations.
It would be pertinent to mention here some of the extraordinary and
unprecedented services rendered for Islam by Mr. Bhutto ever since he assumed
the reins of power. In the new Constitution Islam was declared the State religion
of Pakistan. In the first Hajj performed after his Government came into office all
restrictions on travel to the Hejaz were removed and about one hundred
thousand Pakistanis went on the sacred Pilgrimage. This was much more than
doubled the maximum number that had ever performed Hajj in any previous
year. The same liberal facilities have been provided during the subsequent years
despite severe economic constraints.
It was laid down in the Constitution that teaching of Arabic would be
encouraged, Islamiyat would be a compulsory subject for students and that
error-free printing of the Holy Qur’an would be ensured. It is gratifying to note
that under the able guidance of Mr. Bhutto all these constitutional provisions are
being adequately fulfilled.
In implementation of another Constitutional provision, the Council of Islamic
Ideology has been commissioned with the task of bringing all existing laws in
line with the laws of Islam and of ensuring that in future no law against the spirit
of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah is enacted.
In the field of relations with the Islamic world the entire policy has been
reoriented. Pakistan now stands on terms with Muslim countries more cordial
than ever. The Islamic Summit held in Lahore in February 1974 was a unique
gathering in the modern history of Islam. And the International Congress on
Seerat which travelled to all the important cities of Pakistan in March 1976 was an
occasion of which we can justly feel proud: Recently on visits to Pakistan the
Imam of Masjid-i-Nabvi and the Imam of Holy Ka’bah led prayers in which the
congregations were described as decidedly the biggest ever seen or heard of in
the whole history of Islam. The love of the people of Pakistan for Islam can be
matched only by the devotion shown to its cause by their leader.
KAUSAR NIAZI