Partition was consistent with Muslim separatism or rather his inability to coexist
with people of other faiths. In the wizards of M.J. Akbar, in his book The Shade of
Swords, Roli Books, New Delhi, 2002.
the community did not forget that Prophet Mohammad himself had warned that there should
never be two religions in Arabia. In their 1400 year history, Muslims have shown clear
preference for being masters or rulers. When and wherever this has not been possible, the
inclination has been to migrate or undertake hijrat to another land which they
could call Darul Islam, or a society where the writ of the sharia runs without any
hindrance.
In the absence of a Darul Islam. the Mnslim feels tha the would be unable to blossom as
a momin which means a faithful. In India, since the sun finally set on the Mughal
empire in 1858, Muslims have been uncomfortable. Instead of being rulers, they became
British subjects like the rest of Indians. When the British were preparing to give up
their Indian empire 90 years later, Muslims feared that the Hindu majority would overwhelm
them. The only alternative therefore was partition and for those one/third of the ummah
who would remain on the Indian side of the dividing border, hijrat was the way.
To make space for the mohajirs, the government of Pakistan cleared the western wing
of their country of nearly all non-Muslims on the morrow of the vivisection.
The inspiration to separatism is not merely socio political but is embedded in the
theology of Islam. To illustrate, it is useful to quote a contract that was signed between
Khalifa Umar II and the Jews and Christians of Arabia sometime between 717 and 720 AD.
They affirmed:
We shall not build in our cities or in their vicinity any new monasteries, churches,
hermitages, or monks' cells. We shall not restore, by night or by day, any of their that
have fallen into ruin or which are located in the Muslims'quarters.
We shall keep our gates wide open for the passerby and travellers. We shall provide
three days' food and lodging to any Muslim who passes our way.
We shall not shelter any spy in our churches or in our homes, nor shall we hide him
from the Muslims.
We shall not teach our children the Koran.
We shall not hold public religious ceremonies. We shall not seek to proselytize anyone.
We shall not prevent any of our kin from embracing Islam if they so desire.
We shall show deference to the Muslims and shall rise from our seats when they wish to
sit down.
We shall not attempt to resemble the Muslims in any way.We shall not ride on saddle.
We shall not wear swords or bear weapons of any kind, or even carry them with us.
We shall not sell wines.
We shall clip the forelocks of our head.
We shall not display our books anywhere in the Muslims thoroughfares or in their
marketplaces. We shall only beat our clappers in our churches very quietly. We shall not
raise our voices when reciting the service in our churches, nor when in the presence of
Muslims. Neither shall we raise our voices in our funeral processions.
We shall not build our homes higher than theirs.
Instead of insisting that the kafirs or infidels subject themselves to
conversion and become Muslim, or face the blade of the sword, this was a concession made
to the Jews and the Christians because they were also ahle-kitab or the people of
the Book who shared common prophets. Incidentally, this privilege of not being forced to
convert, provided one accepted the status of a zimmi or a protected citizen and
paid jiziya or the poll tax, was extended to Hindus. This contract of Khalifa
Umar II was in tune with the Quran Sharief and the sunna or the practice of the
Holy Prophet.
To illustrate, it is best to quote from the Life of Mahomet, a biography by Sir
William Muir. Its third edition was published way back in 1894.
The dispensation of Mohammad was distinguished as Islam, that is, Surrender of the soul
to God; his followers as Muslimin (those who surrender themselves). or as Believers; his
opponents as kafirin, that is, those who reject the divine message, or mushrikin, such as
associate companions with the Deity. Faith, Repentance,
Heaven, Hell, Prayer, Almsgiving, and many other terms of t he religion, soon acquired
their stereotype meaning.
The practice of the Holy Prophet is also best quoted from the same biography:
Mohammad was the prophet of God, and his word was law. Opposing doctrine must vanish
before the divine command. The exclusive and intolerant position finally assumed by Islam
is sufficiently manifest in the ban issued at the Farewell pilgrimage against Jews and
Christians, who were for ever debarred from the sacred rites and holy precincts of the
Ka'ba; and by the divine command to war against them until, in confession of the supremacy
of Islam, they should consent to the payment or tribute.