Muhammad Ali Jinnah : A great Muslim leader

"'Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the
world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation-state. Mohammad Ali Jinnah did all
three.'

(Stanley Wolpert, biographer)

Today we all know Muhammad Ali Jinnah as the founder of Pakistan, the man who achieved
freedom for the down trodden Muslims of the sub-continent from the ruling British Empire and
thwarted the plans of the Hindu majority who dreamt of ruling in its place once the British had
departed. From Jinnah, he became Quaid-e-Azam, "the Supreme Leader" and the first Governor
General of Pakistan.

But to really understand what made him a charismatic leader - a person who was able to unite
millions of oppressed and fragmented people to become one voice, one demand and ultimately
one nation - we need to look beyond his titles and heed his words and actions which show us
what a great leader he truly was.

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's personal resources were his sound education, his razor
sharp intellect, and his steely determination to succeed. "Failure is a word unknown to me," he
once said. As a lawyer he used these qualities to win famous legal cases. Historians tell us that
people crowded the courtrooms just to hear him speak. He was a great orator, always neat, well
groomed and well prepared. He would enthrall his audience - judges, jurors, lawyers and
spectators - with his clear cut arguments and quick thinking. He became one of the most
successful and sought after lawyers in Bombay just a few years after starting his practice there.

"Although without Ghandi, Hindustan would still have gained independence, without Jinnah
there would have been no Pakistan in 1947."

(John Biggs-Davison, British politician)

Later, neither the power of British viceroy nor the tactics of Hindu Congress leaders, his own
failing health nor the lack of resources could shake his resolution to achieve a separate country
for the Muslims of the subcontinent. His dedication to his cause was so complete that he kept the
extent and the details of his illness a secret from everybody. In spite of his serious health
problems, he worked and traveled endlessly throughout India to organize the Muslims of the
subcontinent.

"We are a nation with our own distinctive culture and civilization, language and literature, art
and architecture, names and nomenclature, sense of values and proportion, legal laws and moral
code, customs and calendar,

history and tradition, aptitudes and ambitions; in short, we have our own distinctive outlook on
life and of life. By all canons of international law, we are a nation".
(Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, while giving an interview to American press
representatives in July, 1942)

As the dynamic Muslim leader, he faced stiff opposition not only from the British Government
and the Hindu Congress Party but also from those Muslims who were in favor of unified India
once the British Raj was over but he refused to be daunted. Just like in courtrooms, he addressed
huge rallies to unite the Muslims of India under the banner of the Muslim League. Wherever he
went, people from every section of the society turned out in large numbers to hear their beloved
leader speak. Although a large majority of the audience could not even understand his eloquent
speeches that were made mostly in English, what they all understood and believed was Quaid-e-
Azam's determination, dedication and sincerity. En masse they stood behind him and raised the
demand for a separate homeland.

"With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot
achieve".

(Quaid's address to the officers and men of the 5th Heavy Ack Ack and 6th Light Ack Ack
Regiments in Malir , on 21st February, 1948)

Quaid-e-Azam strongly believed in using the proper forums for struggles and discussions. He
disliked chaos, lawlessness and disorganization. He preferred to negotiate matters in a civilized
manner rather than turn to anarchy and violence. Power never corrupted him and after
independence he was extremely careful of the few government funds that we had.

"The duties required of you now are: develop a sound sense of discipline, character, initiative
and a solid academic background. You must devote yourself whole-heartedly to your studies, for
that is your first obligation to yourselves, your parents and to the State."

(Quaid's address to the Students of Islamia College, Peshawar on 12th April, 1948)

Muhammad Ali Jinnah always considered youth especially students to be his most important
asset. He firmly believed that the youth are the leaders of the future generations of Pakistan.
Most of his speeches at student rallies and university convocations reflect the pride and
confidence he had in the students who helped him run the Pakistan movement campaign. He
always addressed them as "my young friends" and advised them to become experts in their
choice of subject. His message to the

students was to explore new horizons and excel in fields of trade, industry, commerce, insurance,
medicine, banking, engineering and agriculture. He wanted them to devote their time and energy
to attaining good education and dedicate their lives to building a prosperous Pakistan and raise
the standard of living of the common man.

"If you work together in a spirit that everyone of you, no matter to what community he belongs,
no matter what relations he had with you in the past, no matter what his color, caste or creed, is
first, second and last a citizen of this State with equal rights, privileges and obligations, there will
be no end to the progress you will make."
(Quaid-e-Azam's inaugural address to the nation in 1947)

Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a great believer in patriotism, unity and equality. He felt that no
dream was too impossible or no goal unattainable if the entire nation works together as one
entity. He was also a great advocate for equal rights for minorities and women's role in nation
building.

"The foundations of your state have been laid and it is now for you to build and build as quickly
and as well as you can."

(Jinnah, 14th August 1948, Last message to the nation)

Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the voice of one hundred million Muslims, fought for
their religious, social and economic freedom. Throughout history no single man yielded as much
power as the Quaid-i-Azam, and yet remained uncorrupted by that power. Not many men in
history can boast of creating a nation single handedly and altering the map of the world but
Jinnah did so through sheer determination and will power against all odds and thus became a
legend.