✿ Contrasting Approaches to Secularism in Pakistan and India ✿
✍️ Written by: Aamir Hashim Khakwani
◈ Reasons for Opposition to Secularism in Pakistan
① Muslim Majority and Religious Social Order
Pakistan is a Muslim-majority country where the social and cultural framework is rooted in religion. The majority desires that the country’s constitution, laws, and way of life be in accordance with Islamic teachings, as Muslims believe in the commandments of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ and consider human intellect subordinate to divine knowledge.
② Pakistan’s Creation in the Name of Islam
The very objective behind the creation of Pakistan was to establish a separate region for Muslims where they could live according to Islamic principles. The concept of an Islamic state and implementation of Shari’ah is integral to Pakistan’s existence.
③ Establishing an Islamic State: A Duty of the Muslim Ummah
In today’s world, establishing an Islamic welfare state is a collective responsibility of the Muslim Ummah. Since Pakistan was founded on the basis of Kalima Tayyibah, this responsibility becomes even greater for its people—to establish a society that reflects the Islamic worldview in terms of knowledge, ethics, economy, and social values.
④ Impact of Secularism
Under secularism, religion is detached from state affairs. If secularism is imposed in Pakistan, religion will be reduced to personal rituals and will be excluded from collective life—ultimately giving rise to irreligiousness and moral decay.
◈ Reasons for Support of Secularism in India
① Muslims as a Minority
India is a Hindu-majority country where Muslims constitute only around 20% of the population. In such a scenario, demanding an Islamic state or Shari’ah-based system is not only impractical but potentially harmful for Muslims. A call for religious governance would inevitably pave the way for a Hindu Rashtra.
② Historical Background
Before partition, many Muslim leaders affiliated with the Indian National Congress—including religious scholars—supported secularism. They maintained this stance even after the partition. The Indian Constitution grants secularism a central role, and according to the Indian Supreme Court, it is an unamendable component of the Constitution. Therefore, religious circles in India continue to support this policy.
③ Current Circumstances and Limited Options
Given the extremist Hindu policies of the Indian government—especially since the rise of BJP—Muslims have no safer option than to support secularism. As a minority, this remains the most viable approach for them.
④ If India Becomes a Hindu Rashtra
Even if India eventually becomes a Hindu state, it would remain an internal matter for India. As long as the rights of Muslim minorities are protected, they enjoy religious freedom, and are not persecuted, the international community is unlikely to intervene.
◈ Contextual Relevance of Differing Stances
The opposition to secularism in Pakistan and its support in India are grounded in differing contextual realities. Muslims in both countries must adopt positions aligned with their unique local circumstances.
A simple analogy can be given:
The Pakistan People’s Party promotes Sindhi language in Sindh and Pashto in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. If someone calls this hypocrisy, it would be an absurd claim, because adjusting policies according to regional realities is only natural.
◈ Conclusion
The opposition to secularism in Pakistan and its support in India should not be seen as contradictions, but as context-based positions. Instead of criticizing every stance, if certain positions are accepted as reasonable based on facts, much time and energy can be saved.
