In Pakistan, awareness on the subject of law and importance of its performance have always remained less than its required nature. Moreover, having knowledge of law is not a piece of cake because everyone could not look into it by his own-self to have the well acquaintance with law of the land. Therefore, we see that usually this section remains overlooked. Although, as a legal principle, ignorance of law is not an excuse, yet we witness the non-performance of law in the life of many people. On the positive side, if we explore history, we also find out numerous glaring examples of lawfulness in the life of legends like Founding Father of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
In the history of Pakistan, some personalities were of so profound nature that they paid equal attention to every section of life including the law and its performance. They not only followed the law by himself but also spread the awareness of it among the masses by explaining that this is so fundamental for the progression and development of a nation. Their life inspired hundreds and thousands of people to the subject in hand. Among those, Sultan-ul-Faqr Sixth Hadhrat Sultan Muhammad Ashgar Ali Sahib R.A, Hadhrat Sultan, is one of the leading names whose life can be termed as an accurate metaphor of lawfulness. Hadhrat Sultan with his numerous virtuous attributes always adhered to law of the land. In every matter, his recourse was to law that made him prominent among other people.
The life of Hadhrat Sultan was of a master piece of lawfulness. We all know that, if a leader is taking care of small things in his life, then it is so sure that he would have taken care of big things as well. It is rightly said that minors matter. Mirror of the life of Hadhrat Sultan reflects that he took care of minor things in his daily life in a very decent way. This was the life of Hadhrat Sultan, full of perfection, and practical manifestation of adherence to law. From his life, we would analyze some examples.
Hadhrat Sultan had given great importance to observance of traffic signal that it should always be respected as it channelizes the movement of vehicles in a safe and smooth way. He had conferred much value to the renewal of his car tokens and payment of tax within due time. This timely performance of duty was in fact his believe in law and respect to the state departments. Moreover, Hadhrat Sultan always ensured the timely renewal of weapon license. He never allowed anyone in his team to carry a weapon without a valid license. These small acts of Hadhrat Sultan further encouraged and motivated the followers to depose fullest trust in the state and its departments. Hadhrat Sultan had a firm believe that compliance and cooperation with the state departments is a way to progressive Pakistan.
Hadhrat Sultan also preferred to have the registration of every section of work whose foundation was laid down by his hands. For example, Mosques and Seminaries (Madrassas) were registered in Pakistan as per law. These examples of care and attention to legal responsibilities are clear message to have firm believe in law and strong commitment to the performance of law on daily basis and in every walk of life.
As we all are well aware that Hadhrat Sultan laid down the foundation of an organization titled “Islahee Jamat & Aalmi Tanzeem-ul-Arifeen” in 1987. The message of this organization is to spread teachings of Sufis in the light of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the most beloved Prophet Muhammad (Blessings and Salutation be Upon Him) to promote peace, love and harmony in the society as well as to ensure inner-purification of man as this purification of inner self & heart takes a man to the height of glory which is divinely conferred to a human being. The message of this organization also enables a man to play a positive and constructive role in a society as per divine commandments. So, this organization under the auspices of Hadhrat Sultan organized thousands of its events across Pakistan and interestingly all of the events and programs were always in compliance with the rules of district administration concerned. All the events were held peacefully and, in a much disciplined way. District administration many times expressed their views and level of satisfaction for the programs held under the leadership of Hadhrat Sultan. The writer himself is witness to the comments of many district administrations who said that during the programs held by Islahee Jamat, we feel comfortable and satisfied as we remain so sure that as usually everything would be in a peaceful way and in accordance with law.
It would not be out of context to mention that Islahee Jamat being one of the leading organizations, having millions of followers and most of them being youth, never resorted to protest, never ever staged any anti-state sit-in, never ever refused to accept state rules, never ever showed explicit or implied disobedience to law of the land. This organization has a glaring history that during the past 25 years it never staged even a single protest and never resorted to chaos. It always worked to strengthen the state of Pakistan as the state is our custodian and our every step should be in the direction to support it and not to weaken it. Interestingly, Shahbaz-i-Arifa’n Hadhrat Sultan Muhammad Abdul Aziz Sahib R.H. (Father of Hadhrat Sultan) played a significant role in Pakistan Movement to create this country. And today, his decedents always prefer to strengthen this motherland and never support any activity that may lead to weaken the state. This ideology and believe for the country led the followers of Hadhrat Sultan to have an unconditional love with Pakistan.
We all know that it is an easy thing that one is a law-abiding citizen; however, it is very difficult to motivate and train a huge number of people to voluntarily and whole heartedly follow the law of the land. This herculean task was done by Hadhrat Sultan. As he had hundreds and thousands of followers who not only got acquaintance with the significance of law but they also respected the law by their practical deeds. This was a civic revolution and as a result of this a transformation from lawlessness to lawfulness was created in the life of many citizens. This process is still active in the society and people trained by the teachings of Hadhrat Sultan stands unique in every field because it has been taught to them and it is being inculcated among them that law should always be upheld. Lawlessness neither benefit the individual nor the nation. Followers of Hadhrat Sultan are of the view that Pakistan is our spiritual commitment and the easiest way to serve this land is by following the law and setting a precedent for others to obey and resect the law. In short, the life of Hadhrat Sultan is a lightening model for the citizens of Pakistan to have love and respect with law of the land as well as importance of its performance in our daily life.
It is pertinent to mention that Janesheen Sultan-ul-Faqr Hadhrat Sultan Muhammad Ali (Elder Son of Hadhrat Sultan) is carrying forward the great legacy of Hadhrat Sultan. As per the guideline of Hadhrat Janasheen, many shining students have been studying in the field of law for the better development of this sector in Pakistan. The civic revolution initiated by Hadhrat Sultan realized importance and respect for law in citizens of Pakistan. And it is an ongoing process which is expected to bring a silent moral transformation in the society.
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