Qudrat Ullah
Qudrat UllahPakistan observes 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal today as Pakistanis join Muslims worldwide in commemorating the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The occasion carries a significance far beyond ceremony. It invites us to reflect on a life that transformed the moral, social and political landscape of its time and established enduring principles of justice, compassion, equality and human dignity.
More than fourteen centuries ago, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emerged in a society marked by tribal conflict, social inequality, exploitation of the vulnerable and the denial of rights to women and children. His message of Islam challenged these practices and established a moral order based on the sanctity of human life, accountability, justice and mercy.
The Holy Qur’an describes him as Rahmat-ul-lil-Alameen — a mercy to all the worlds. His mercy extended beyond personal kindness and was reflected in the principles by which society was organized. In Madina, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) established a political community in which people of different religious backgrounds were bound by mutual obligations, rights and responsibilities. His example demonstrated that diversity, peaceful coexistence and social responsibility could flourish within a just order.
His Farewell Sermon, known as the Khutba Hujjat-ul-Wida, remains a powerful affirmation of human dignity. He emphasized the sanctity of life, property and honour and rejected superiority based on race, ethnicity, tribe or social status. Human worth was linked not to birth or wealth, but to character and righteousness. This principle continues to offer a timeless foundation for societies seeking equality, justice and protection for every citizen.
The teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also transformed the status of women. Islam recognized women’s rights to inheritance and property and established marriage as a relationship involving mutual rights and responsibilities. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) repeatedly urged men to treat women with kindness and respect. His example affirmed that women were individuals of dignity and rights, not possessions.
Children and orphans were, likewise, placed at the heart of social responsibility. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) called for their protection, care and fair treatment and condemned the neglect of the vulnerable. His example made compassion towards children, orphans and the disadvantaged a moral responsibility rather than merely an act of charity.
These values find a constitutional expression in modern Pakistan. The Constitution guarantees equality before the law and equal protection, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, provides special protection for women and children, recognizes the right to education and safeguards the rights of religious minorities. In this sense, the ideals of justice, dignity and social protection remain central to the responsibilities of the state.
In Punjab, these principles are increasingly reflected in programmes aimed at supporting vulnerable citizens and expanding opportunities. The Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal Department provides assistance to disadvantaged families, women and persons with disabilities. Initiatives such as the Himmat Card provide financial support to eligible persons with disabilities, helping them live with greater dignity and independence.
The Dhee Rani Programme offers another example of dignity-oriented welfare. By supporting deserving families in arranging marriages and providing financial assistance to couples, the programme seeks to ease economic pressures while respecting family dignity. Its inclusion of couples from minority communities also reflects the principle that public welfare should be inclusive and accessible to all.
The true relevance of Rabi-ul-Awwal, therefore, lies in translating remembrance into responsibility. The legacy of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) calls upon governments and societies to uphold justice, protect the vulnerable, respect women and children, safeguard minorities and ensure that every citizen is treated with dignity.
For Pakistan, this is both a cherished moral inheritance and a shared responsibility. The most meaningful tribute to the ‘Prophet of Mercy’ is a society where justice is accessible, compassion guides public policy, minorities live securely, women are empowered, children are protected and every citizen can approach the state with trust and confidence.
Fourteen centuries after the advent of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), His message remains remarkably contemporary: power must be tempered by justice, difference must be met with respect and mercy must be translated into action. That universal standard continues to offer humanity a compelling path towards a more just, peaceful and dignified world.
(The writer is a Lahore-based public policy analyst & can be reached at [email protected].)
