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21<p>&nbsp;</p>
22<center>
23<img border="0" src="pic_islam-Allah.JPG" width="202" height="259">
24<h1>Religion and Pakistan</h1>
25</center>
26<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Arial">The Islamic republic of Pakistan 
27and Islam are synonymous since Pakistan was carved out of the Hindu dominated 
28British India so that Muslims could live and practice their religion free of any 
29bondage, subjugation and fear. Today, about 97 percent of all 
30Pakistanis are Muslims. As per a rough estimate, Sunni Muslims 
31constitute 77 percent of the population and that adherents of Shia Islam make up 
32an additional 20 percent. This makes Pakistan the second largest Sunni 
33population in the world (after Indonesia) and the second largest Shia population 
34in the world (after Iran). Most of the Sunnis adhere to the Hanafi school of 
35jurisprudence, whilst most of the Shias belong to the Ithna 'ashariyah school of 
36jurisprudence. Smaller Muslim sects include the Ismailis and the Dawoodi Bohras. Christians, Hindus, and members of other religions 
37each account for about 1 percent of the population. Although, the Islamic 
38Republic of Pakistan is a predominant Muslim state, its minorities are given 
39equal opportunities to participate in the affairs of the state with complete 
40freedom and the right to practice their own faith. This is manifested in the 
41form of large number churches, temples and other holy places of minority 
42religion population.</font></p>
43<p align="center">
44		<img src=../lhr/masjid1.jpg hspace=5 width=449 height=271 alt="lahore badshahi mosque"></font></p>
45<p align="center"><font face="arial" size="2">
46<a href="../landmarks/badshahi_mosque-lahore.htm">Badshahi Mosque</a>, Lahore</font></p>
47<p align="justify"><font face="Arial"><b>Islam</b></font></p>
48<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Arial">
49<img border="0" src="../pakistan%20ka%20matlab.gif" align="left" width="140" height="32">Islam is the dominating religion of almost 97% people of Pakistan, since 
50Pakistan was carved out of the erstwhile British India on the basic plea by 
51Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan that Hindus and Muslims are 
52two separate entities and they cannot coexist under one roof for many reasons, 
53religion and religion related dissimilarities being the major cause. While 
54Hindus worshipped cow, Muslims, like all other religions, ate it as a blessing 
55from the Almighty Allah. Hindus drink urine, while Muslims treated as impure 
56thing to do. Hindus turned towards hand made idols for worship, while the 
57Muslims bowed in humility towards the all powerful Creator of the mankind and 
58the universe. Therefore Muslims of India decided to find a place for themselves 
59where they could be free to practice their religion as per the aspirations and 
60tenants of Islam. The popular slogan at that time was &quot;Pakistan Ka Matlab Kia - 
61La Illah ha Illilal La&quot; (What is the meaning of Pakistan - There is no God but 
62Allah&quot;).</font></p>
63<p align="justify"><font face="Arial" size="2">The central belief in Islam is that there is only one God, Allah, and that the 
64Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) was his final messenger. Muhammad is 
65held to be the &quot;seal of the prophets.&quot; Islam is derived from the Judeo-Christian 
66tradition and regards Abraham (Ibrahim) and Jesus (Isa) as prophets and 
67recognizes the validity of the Old Testament and New Testament.
68The word Islam comes from aslama (to submit), and the one who submits- -a 
69Muslim- is a believer who achieves peace, or salaam. God, the creator, is 
70invisible and omnipresent; to represent God in any form is a sin. <br>
71<br>
72The Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) was born in A.D. 570 and became a 
73merchant in the Arabian town of Mecca. At the age of forty, he began to receive 
74a series of revelations from God revealed through the angel Gabriel. His 
75monotheistic message, which disdained the idolatry that was popularly practiced 
76at the Kaaba (now in the Great Mosque and venerated as a shrine of Muslim 
77pilgrimage) in Mecca at that time, was ridiculed by the town's leaders. Muhammad 
78and his followers were forced to emigrate in 622 to the nearby town of Yathrib, 
79later known as Medina or &quot;the city.&quot; This move, the hijra, marks the beginning 
80of the Islamic era. In the ten years before his death in 632, the Prophet 
81continued preaching and receiving revelations, ultimately consolidating both the 
82temporal and the spiritual leadership of Arabia. <br>
83<br>
84The Quran, the holy scripture of Islam, plays a pivotal role in Muslim social 
85organization and values. The Quran, which literally means &quot;reciting,&quot; is 
86recognized by believers as truly the word of God, and as such it is eternal, 
87absolute, and irrevocable. The fact that the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon 
88him) was the last of the prophets 
89and that no further additions to &quot;the word&quot; are allowed is significant; it 
90closes the door to new revelations.
91That there can be no authorized translation of the Quran in any language other 
92than the original, Arabic, is crucial to its unifying importance.&nbsp; <br>
93<br>
94The Prophet's life is considered exemplary. His active engagement in worldly 
95activities established precedents for Muslims to follow. These precedents, 
96referred to as the hadith, include the statements, actions, and moods or 
97feelings of the Prophet. The Quran and the hadith together form the sunna, a comprehensive guide 
98to spiritual, ethical, and social living. <br>
99<br>
100The <b>five pillars of Islam</b> consist of certain beliefs and acts to which a 
101Muslim must adhere to affirm membership in the community. The first is the <b>
102shahada</b> (testimony), the affirmation of the faith, which succinctly states 
103the central belief of Islam: &quot;There is no god but God (Allah), and Muhammad is 
104his Prophet.&quot; To become a Muslim, one needs only to recite this statement. 
105Second is <b>salat</b>, the obligation for a Muslim to pray at five set times 
106during the day. Muslims value prayers recited communally, especially the midday 
107prayers on Friday, the Muslim sabbath. Mosques have emerged as important social 
108and political centers as a by-product of this unifying value. The third pillar 
109of Islam is <b>zakat</b>, the obligation to provide alms for the poor and 
110disadvantaged. The fourth is <b>saum</b>, the obligation to fast from sunrise to 
111sunset during the holy month of Ramadan, in commemoration of the beginning of 
112the Prophet's revelations from Allah. The final pillar is the expectation that 
113every adult Muslim physically and financially able to do so perform the <b>hajj</b>, 
114the pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once in his or her lifetime. The pilgrimage 
115occurs during the last month of the Muslim lunar calendar, just over a month 
116after the end of Ramadan. Its social importance as a unifier of the greater 
117Muslim umma (community of believers) has led to the establishment of hajj 
118committees for its regulation in every Muslim country. The pilgrimage of a 
119Muslim to the sacred places at any other time of the year is referred to as umra 
120(visitation).<br>
121<br>
122The concept of predestination in Islam is different from that in Christianity. 
123Islam posits the existence of an all-powerful force (Allah) who rules the 
124universe and knows all things. Something will happen- inshaallah- if it is God's 
125will. The concept is not purely fatalistic, for although people are responsible 
126to God for their actions, these actions are not predestined. Instead, God has 
127shown the world the right way to live as revealed through the Quran; then it is 
128up to individual believers to choose how to live. <br>
129<br>
130There are two major sects, the Sunnis and the Shia, in Islam. They are 
131differentiated by Sunni acceptance of the temporal authority of the 
132Khulfa-e-Rashudin - Caliphate (Abu Bakr, Omar, Usman, and Ali) after the death 
133of the Prophet and the Shia acceptance solely of Ali, the Prophet's cousin and 
134husband of his daughter, Fatima, and his descendants. Over time, the Sunni sect 
135divided into four major schools of jurisprudence; of these, the Hanafi school is 
136predominant in Pakistan. The Shia sect split over the matter of succession, 
137resulting in two major groups: the majority Twelve Imam Shia believe that there 
138are twelve rightful imams, Ali and his eleven direct descendants. A second Shia 
139group, the numerically smaller Ismaili community, known also as Seveners, 
140follows a line of imams that originally challenged the Seventh Imam and 
141supported a younger brother, Ismail. The Ismaili line of leaders has been 
142continuous down to the present day. The current leader, Prince Karim Agha Khan, 
143who is active in international humanitarian efforts, is a direct descendant of 
144Ali.</font></p>
145<p align="center">
146		<img border="0" src="../landmarks/faisal/pic_faisal-mosque06.gif" width="280" height="175">
147    <img border="0" src="../landmarks/thatta/pic_shah_jahan-mosque03.gif" width="246" height="176">
148<img border="0" src="pic_religion-islam_idgahmosque-multan.jpeg" width="220" height="176"></p>
149<p align="center"><font face="Arial" size="2">Left to Right: <a href="../landmarks/faisal/faisal_mosque-pakistan.htm">Faisal Mosque</a> (Islamabad), 
150<a href="../landmarks/thatta/shah_jahan-mosque_thatta.htm">Shah Jahan Mosque</a> (Thatta), Idgah Mosque 
151(Multan)</font></p>
152<p align="justify"><font face="Arial" size="2">The mosques are place of worship 
153of the Muslims and are revered in high religious esteem. Muslims take much love 
154and care while constructing mosques to express their faithfulness and allegiance 
155to Allah. The Muguls during their rule in India, constructed some of the most 
156exotic and beautiful mosques in the world.
157<a href="../landmarks/badshahi_mosque-lahore.htm">Badshahi Mosque</a> in Lahore 
158stands as the symbol of Islam throughout the world of Islam. Some other 
159beautiful mosques of Pakistan include the
160<a href="../landmarks/faisal/faisal_mosque-pakistan.htm">Faisal Mosque</a> in 
161Islamabad, <a href="../landmarks/wazir/wazir_khan-mosque.htm">Masjid Wazir Khan</a> 
162(Lahore), <a href="../landmarks/mohabat/masjid_mahabat-khan.htm">Masjid Mohabat 
163Khan</a> (Peshawar), Idgah Mosque (Multan),
164<a href="../landmarks/bhong/bhong_mosque.htm">Bhong Mosque</a> (Rahim Yar Khan) 
165and the beautiful <a href="../landmarks/thatta/shah_jahan-mosque_thatta.htm">
166Shah Jahan Mosque</a> of Thatta.</font></p>
167<p align="justify"><font face="Arial Black" size="2">Other Religions in Pakistan</font></p>
168<p align="center">
169<img border="0" src="pic_religion-christians-church.JPG" width="198" height="153">
170<img border="0" src="pic_religion-christians-regal_church.JPG" width="112" height="153">
171	<font face=arial size=2>
172	<img src=../cul/sikhs.jpg alt=sikhs width=266 height=153></font></p>
173<p align="justify"><font face="Arial Black" size="2">Christians </font>
174<font size="2" face="Arial">are the largest religious minority community in 
175Pakistan, numbering only around 1.6 million people, or 1% of Pakistan's entire 
176population, according to the sources cited in the Demographics of Pakistan. 
177Christians found their way to India through missionaries accompanied colonizing 
178forces from Portugal, France and Great Britain, but in north western India, 
179today's Pakistan, Christianity was mainly brought by the British rulers of India 
180in the later 18th and 19th century. This is evidenced in cities established by 
181the British, such as the port city of Karachi, where the St. Patrick's 
182Cathedral, Pakistan's largest church stands, and the churches in the city of 
183Rawalpindi, where the British established a major military cantonment. 
184Christians have made immense contributions to the Pakistani national life. 
185Pakistan's first non-Muslim and certainly most respected Chief Justice of 
186Pakistan Supreme Court was Justice A R Cornelius. Pakistani Christians also 
187distinguished themselves as great fighter pilots in the Pakistan Air Force. 
188Notable amongst them are Cecil Chaudhry, Peter O'Reilly and Mervyn L Middlecoat. 
189Christians have also contributed as educationists, doctors, lawyers and 
190businessmen.</font></p>
191
192<p align="center"><font face="Arial" size="2"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarfrazh/2616398265/" title="Gurdwara Dera Sahib Panjvin Patshahi, Lahore, Pakistan - April 2008  by Autumn Sun and Autumn Colours, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3015/2616398265_d2d61640e0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Gurdwara Dera Sahib Panjvin Patshahi, Lahore, Pakistan - April 2008 " /></a></font></p>
193
194<p align="center"><font face="Arial" size="2">Gurudwara Dera Sahib Panjvin 
195    Patshahi - Lahore (Photo courtesy:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarfrazh/2616398265/in/set-72157594493859198/" target=_blank> 
196Autumn Sun and Autumn Colours</a></font></p>
197
198<p align="justify"><font face="Arial Black">Sikhism</font><font face="Arial" size="2"> 
199in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan constitute a very small minority religion, but has many cultural, historical and political ties to the country, 
200and to the historical region of Punjab. Pakistan has a significant place in 
201Sikhism. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism was born in present-day Pakistan, 
202and it is said he received his message near Lahore. Therefore, the religion 
203actually originated in Pakistan. Most of Sikhism's holy sites are located in 
204Pakistan. Many other great Sikh leaders, including Ranjit Singh and several 
205gurus, were born in Pakistan. </font></p>
206<p align="justify"><font face="Arial" size="2"> 
207Prior to the Partition of India in 1947, 
208which divided British India into its successor states of Pakistan and India, 
209Sikhs were spread all across the region of Punjab and played an important role 
210in its economy as businessmen and traders. Lahore, the capital of (now 
211Pakistani) Punjab was then and still is today the location of many important 
212religious and historical sites for Sikhs, including the Samadhi of Ranjit Singh. 
213The nearby town of Nankana Sahib has nine gurdwaras, and is the birthplace of 
214Sikhism's founder, Guru Nanak Dev. Each of Nankana Sahib's gurdwaras are 
215associated with different events in Guru Nanak Dev's life. The town remains an 
216important site of pilgrimage for Sikhs worldwide. The historical and holy sites 
217of Sikhs are maintained by a Pakistani governmental body, the Pakistan Sikh 
218Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, which is responsible for their upkeep and 
219preservation.</font></p>
220
221<p align="justify">
222        <img border="0" src="../forces/pic_harcharn-singh.gif" width="95" height="78" align="left"></p>
223
224<p align="justify"><font face="Arial" size="2">The largest Sikh population in 
225Pakistan is found in Peshawar, in the Northwest Frontier Province. Sikhs are 
226also found in sizable communities in Waziristan and Swat of the Northwest 
227Frontier Province. There are also pockets of Sikhs in Lahore, Nankana Sahib, and 
228Hassan Abdal in Punjab, and Gwadar, Kalat, and Quetta districts of Balochistan. 
229The (West) Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan were mostly emptied of their 
230Sikh and Hindu population during the process of partition. Today, very large 
231segments of the populations of East Punjab and Haryana states and Delhi in India 
232can trace their ancestry back to towns and villages now in Pakistan, including 
233current Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Recently, due to open door policy, 
234Pakistani Sikhs have been given commission into the Pakistan Army.</font></p>
235
236<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber1">
237  <tr>
238    <td width="100%" bgcolor="#FFFF00">
239    <p align="justify"><font face="Arial" size="2">Gurudwara Dera Sahib Panjvin 
240    Patshahi - Shrine of Guru Arjan Dev (1563- 1606 A.D) Lahore : Gurudwara Dera 
241    Sahib is situated opposite Lahore Fort near Badshahi Mosque. This is the 
242    place where Sat Gur Arjun Dev Ji was martyred in the River Ravi facing the 
243    tortures inflicted by Chandu on 30th May 1606 AD.
244    The Gurudwara was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the memory of Guru Arjan 
245    Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru who complied the Adi Granth, the principal part of 
246    Sikh scriptures. This shrine has a highly gilded attractive dome. The 
247    followers of Guru Arjan Singh assert that it is the same spot where Guru 
248    Arjan Dev miraculously disappeared in 1606 A.D. in the waters of river Ravi. 
249    The site where Guru Arjun Dev was martyred a Thara (platform) Sahib was 
250    built at by Guru Hargobind Ji in Samvat 1919 when he came to Lahore visiting 
251    Gur Asthans. </font></td>
252  </tr>
253</table>
254
255<p align="justify"><font face="Arial" size="2"><b>Hinduism</b> was once the main 
256religion of areas that are now included in Pakistan and dates back to Mehrgarh 
257and Indus Valley Civilizations. It remained unchallenged religion of the Indian 
258sub-continent till the first invasion of Arabs in 711 AD by
259<a href="../landmarks/bhambhore/bhambhore.htm">Muhammad Bin Qasim</a>. 
260Thereafter, it endured many conquests and invasions, different rulers, and 
261ultimately political separation from the Hindu-majority India. In August 1947, 
262at the end of British Raj, the population percentage of Hindus in what is today 
263Pakistan was perhaps as high as 30-35%, but would drop to its current total of 
264less than 2 % in the years since partition. When Pakistan gained independence in 
265August 1947, over 7 million Hindus and Sikhs from what was East Pakistan (now 
266Bangladesh) and Pakistan's Punjab and Sindh provinces left this new state for 
267India, and a similar number of Muslims moved the other way. Many Hindus who 
268attained great success in the public eye in India, like the film stars Dilip 
269Kumar, Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor, and Sunil Dutt trace their birthplaces and 
270ancestral homes to the towns of Pakistan. Independent India's first Test cricket 
271captain, Lala Amarnath hailed from Lahore, and former home Minister Lal Krishna 
272Advani was born in Karachi. </font></p>
273<p align="justify"><b><font size="2" face="Arial">Others</font></b><font face="Arial" size="2">: 
274Besides, a small faction of Parsis and Zoroastrians also practice their faith, 
275most of whom generally reside in Karachi. Pakistan is also the birthplace of 
276Mahayana Buddhism, the form of Buddhism that is practiced by most Buddhists 
277today, including those in India, Japan, China, Korea, and Vietnam. The religion 
278enjoyed prominence in the northwestern section of the country up until the 
279Islamic conquest.</font></p>
280
281<table width=100% >
282<td >
283<center>
284<hr>
285<font face=arial size=2>
286<b>| <a href=../index.html>HOME PAGE</a> | <br>
287| <a href="Allah99Names.html">99 
288NAMES OF ALLAH</a> | <a href="Muhammad99Names.html">99 NAMES OF PROPHET 
289MUHAMMAD</a> |<br>
290| <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholicism_in_Pakistan">Roman 
291Catholicism in Pakistan</a> |
292<a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Gurdwaras_of_Pakistan">Sikh 
293Gurdawaras in Pakistan</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsi">Parsi</a> 
294|</b></font><hr>
295<center>
296<font face=arial size=1>This page was created on 23 August&nbsp; 2006
297<img border="0" src="../updated.gif" width="75" height="10"> 25 December&nbsp; 2008<br />
298<img border="0" src="../spare/logo-jps_site.gif" width="104" height="49"><font face=arial size=1><br>Copyright©JalalsPages - 2005 
299- 2008</font></center>
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