Islamic Advisory Council

Khilafat Movement

• The Turks abolished the institutions of Khilafat
• The Khilafat Movement created a sense of confidence and political awareness among Muslims in India
• This movement led to Muslims starting their own struggle for constitutional and political rights, resulting in the creation of Pakistan

The Simon Commission (1927)

• The British government sent a constitutional commission to India, led by Sir John Simon, to evaluate the political situation and propose a constitution for India
• The commission consisted only of British members, with no Indian representatives
• The commission's report (1930) proposed several constitutional reforms, including:
  • Implementing a federal system of government in the sub-continent
  • Introducing autonomy in the provinces and ending the dual system
  • Separating Sind from Bombay
  • Implementing constitutional reforms in N.W.F.P
  • Continuing the system of separate electorate
  • Providing more representation to Muslims in minority provinces
  • No reserved seats in Punjab and Bengal

Gandhara Civilization

• Gandhara was a kingdom located in the region of Peshawar, north of the Indus valley
• The capital of Gandhara was Taxila, which is 40 km from Rawalpindi
• Gandhara was an important center of culture and civilization, known for its fine arts, particularly stone statues
• The region was conquered by Chandragupta, the founder of the Mauryan Empire
• Taxila became a leading center of Buddhist learning
• The Gandhara civilization was destroyed by invaders from central Asia, Iran, Greece, and Afghanistan

Sultan Tipu's Death

• Sultan Tipu's death in 1799 marked the end of Muslim rule in India
• The British commander, Lord Wellesley, sponsored an attack on Seringapatam, leading to the Sultan's defeat and death
• The Sultan's death led to the eventual elimination of Muslim rulers in India

The War of Independence (1857)

• The war of 1857 was a significant event in the history of the sub-continent
• The British referred to it as a mutiny, but it was a regular movement to oust the British from the sub-continent
• Causes of the war include:
  • The annexation of eight states by the British between 1848 and 1854
  • The British refusal to continue the pension of Nana Sahab, the adopted son of the ex-Peshwa Baji Rao II
  • The British proposal to remove the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar from the palace in Delhi
  • The introduction of the Enfield rifle, which was considered to be against the religious beliefs of the people
  • The lack of unity among the Muslim rulers and the failure of the Muslims to cater to the needs of the time

Agricultural and Land Reforms

• Ayub Khan set up a commission for land reforms, led by Mr. Akbar Hussain, in 1959
• The commission's report proposed several reforms, including:
  • Limiting the size of landholdings to 500 acres of irrigated land or 1,000 acres of non-irrigated land
  • Confiscating land in excess of the limit and distributing it to deserving people
  • Providing compensation to landowners in the form of interest-bearing bonds over 25 years
  • Allowing agriculturists to continue farming on the land already acquired

Learn about the role and functions of the Islamic Advisory Council, comprising scholars and experts who provide guidance on Islamic perspectives and viewpoints.