From Makkah to Madinah to Pakistan: Reviving 3 Forgotten Sunnahs of Patriotic Love For Your Homeland. A Heartfelt Tribute to Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day, 14 August 2025. Hijrat Theatre Play

"Celebrating Freedom: A Reflection on Pakistan's Independence and Our Spiritual Journey"

(Surah At-Tawbah 9:20)

The Arts Council of Karachi, Pakistan, celebrated Freedom Week in honor of Pakistan’s Independence Day on Saturday, August 9. My daughter’s university participated by performing a stage drama. She and her friends proudly represented their institution, showcasing their talent on such a prestigious platform.

Naturally, as a mother, I had to be there. This was a monumental day for her. When we arrived, it felt like stepping into a different world, a miniature Pakistan, brimming with patriotism. My heart, once weary, suddenly felt alive again, as if I had traveled back to my childhood. Memories flooded in, singing national anthems, waving the green flag with pride, feeling the unbreakable spirit of Pakistan.

Over time, life’s responsibilities had dimmed that passion, but this year, the celebrations reignited my soul. My daughter’s play, titled "Hijrat" (The Migration), was a powerful portrayal of the 1965 era, depicting the immense sacrifices our ancestors made for this land.

The story told of a father who lost his entire family during Partition, except for one daughter. Haunted by grief, he lived in an illusion, hallucinating his loved ones. The suspense lay in his heart-wrenching realization that they were not alive. They had sacrificed their lives for Pakistan’s freedom during migration. In the end, he accepts his loss and embraces Independence Day as a blessing of liberty. The script was brilliantly written, and the actors poured their hearts into their performances. As a mother, witnessing my daughter embody such a profound narrative filled me with immense pride. The event was a testament to resilience, patriotism, and the unyielding spirit of Pakistanis.

1947: The Unity Needed A Land; Now, This Land Needs Unity

Yesterday was August 14th, Pakistan's Independence Day. A day that should have been filled with pride, reflection, and gratitude. Instead, it became a mirror showing us how far we've fallen. A relative, a naturally funny woman, visited our home. In her usual witty style, she twisted the lyrics of a patriotic song:

"We are a living nation, an eternal nation... This is our Pakistan!"

Her husband jokingly interrupted:

"No, dear, now it’s, 'We are living thieves, eternal thieves! Our identity? Faith thieves, power thieves, gas thieves, salary thieves, corrupt!'"

We laughed, but the truth behind the joke stung. How far have we fallen from the vision of the Poet of the East, Sir Allama Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, and the Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah?

The dream of Pakistan was not just land. It was a promise of faith, unity, and justice. Millions suffered during Partition, families torn apart, lives lost, all for one sacred purpose:

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ

"La Ilaha Illallah, Muhammadur Rasulullah."

Freedom is a blessing of Allah.

And we must be grateful.

Migration: A Journey of Faith and Sacrifice

Migration was not just a geographical shift, but rather:

• A migration to save faith

• A generational Sunnah

  
  

However, during this era, migration is abandoning the evils within ourselves.

The Blessed Life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Exemplifies True Patriotism

The noble life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ beautifully demonstrates the spirit of hubb al-watan (love for one's homeland). His deep connection with Makkah al-Mukarramah and Madinah al-Monawara serves as the perfect role model for us. Loving Pakistan is also following this noble Sunnah, as it is an Islamic homeland established to uphold

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ

"There is no god but Allah, Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah."

The Merciful Prophet ﷺ ’s love for Makkah al-Mukarramah (Before Migration) was profound. Makkah, the City of Peace, was the Prophet ﷺ's birthplace, and He ﷺ cherished it immensely. When the persecution by the disbelievers became unbearable, Allah commanded him to migrate. With tears in his eyes, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ turned toward Makkah:

Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbass (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) narrates that the Messenger of Allah addressed Makkah and said:

"How pure is the city and how dear to me, if my people had not expelled me from you, I would have. There is no other place except you."

Sunan Tirmidhi Sharif Hadith no 3925.

This Hadith clearly illustrates how deeply the Prophet ﷺ loved his homeland, even though its people were non-Muslims and had subjected him to immense persecution; He ﷺ never cursed them. Instead, He ﷺ prayed for the people of Makkah.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ’s Love for Madinah (After Migration)

After the migration, Madinah became his new homeland. He ﷺ transformed it into a stronghold of faith and Sunnah and expressed immense love for it, supplicating:

"O Allah! Make us love Madinah as much as we love Makkah, or even more."

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of the Virtues of Madinah, Hadith: 1889)

سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَتَبَارَكَ اللهُ

The Prophet ﷺ worked tirelessly for the protection and prosperity of Madinah, proving that love for one’s homeland and striving for its development is also a Sunnah.

How the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Showed Us to Love Our Land

1. Pray Like Your Country Depends On It

When forced to leave Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ turned back with tears:

"You're the most beloved land to me."

2. Build With Your Own Two Hands

In Medina, He ﷺ didn't just preach; He ﷺ planted date palms, dug wells, and established markets.

3. Stay Loyal Through Thick and Thin

Even when His people rejected him, He ﷺ never cursed Makkah; He ﷺ prayed for their guidance.

The Modern Concept of Hijra (Migration)

• Calling out lies when others stay silent.

• Rejecting that "little bribe" everyone says is "normal."

• Demanding better from leaders instead of just complaining.

• Being the change; clean your street before demanding a clean government.

• Not just leaving a land of oppression, but migrating from your sins.

• Fight against evil, injustice, and false content through any medium, especially if you're the source.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ 's Secret?

He ﷺ transformed Madinah not by force, but by example, one honest deal, one ruling at a time.

Our Battle Today, On this Independence Day:

• Will we build or just beg?

• Will we unite or keep dividing?

• Will we act or just post?

Therefore, loving our land, Pakistan, is an obligation upon us. We must strive to make it a sanctuary of the Sunnah, not just through emotions, but through practical efforts and play a vital role in establishing it as a center of Islamic values.

As Allama Iqbal beautifully said:

"Life becomes Paradise or Hell through deeds. This earthly being (human) is neither angelic nor demonic by nature."

This Independence Day was not just a celebration; it was a wake-up call. The youth reminded us through art, history, and emotion that freedom is a privilege earned by sacrifice. Will we honor it, or let it crumble? The choice is ours.

Allah doesn't change a nation until they change themselves.

Reference:

(Surah At-Tawbah 9:20) From Kanz-ul-Iman

جامع الترمذي 3925 أَبْوَابُ الْمَنَاقِبِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ (بَابٌ فِي فَضْلِ مَكَّةَ ) حکم : صحیح

Hijrat play written by Sahar Irfan;

Email: bsms1815119@szabist.pk

Greenwich University in Pakistan:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNQTEB3RZNN/?igsh=NXpubzlraW9vaDl6

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNGLQMwot4K/?igsh=cmswMmhnNTN0Y3px

What do you think about the Youth and Patriotism in Pakistan? Does your homeland have similar affairs? What do you think is the most important migration needed today? Share your thoughts in the comments!