Part I
Name, Mission, and Conditions and obligations of Membership

The name of the Jama’at shall be "Jama’at-e-Islami Pakistan" (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Jama’at ’ unless otherwise specified) and that of its Constitution, "Constitution of Jama’at-e-Islami Pakistan".

This Constitution shall come into force from the 1st day of June, 1957 (Zi-Qa’d 2, 1376 AH).(1)

The main creed of Jama’at-e-Islami Pakistan shall be La ilaha illa-Allah Muhammad ur Rasul Ullah: There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.

Explanation: The first part of this creed i.e. ‘there is no God but Allah’ means that He alone is the Creator, Sustainer, Lord, and such a Sovereign who is the Maker and the Law-Giver. No one shares any of these attributes with Him.

Knowing and admitting this, it becomes imperative:

1. Not to consider any one else as Patron, Accomplisher, Satisfier of needs, Resolver of difficulties, Hearer of supplications, Supporter and Helper, because none else possesses any power.

2. Not to consider any one else as Benefactor or Injurer, be afraid of or dutiful to none, trust reliance in none, and vest no hope in any one else, because all powers are vested in Him.

3. To supplicate to none but Allah, seek refuge with none beside Him, and call none else for help. Not to think that one can influence or interfere with Allah’s management of things and that one’s intercession can change Allah’s Will, because all are subjects in Allah’s empire and without authority, be they angels or prophets and saints.

4. Prostrate to none but Allah, adore none, offer sacrifices to none, and not to think of any as the polytheists do about their deities, because Allah alone has the right to be worshipped.

5. Accept none as King, Sovereign, and Supreme Ruler, look upon none as capable of issuing orders on his own, not to think of any one as Law-Giver in own right, and refuse to submit to any orders that do not conform to Allah’s obedience and abide by His Law, because Allah alone is the Lord of His Universe and legitimate Sovereign of His creation. None else has any right to lordship Sovereignty.

Moreover, acceptance of this faith obligates:

6. Renunciation of own liberty and freedom, give up devotion to one’s own selfish desires, and instead be slave of Allah —Whom one has accepted as God.

7. Not to think of own self as having authority on and ownership of anything, but to think of everything, even one’s own life, limbs as well as intellectual and physical abilities as Allah’s belongings and a trust from Him.

8. Consider one’s own self as responsible and answerable before Allah; and always keep in mind that he has to render an account of all uses of his potentials and consumption before Allah on the Day of Judgement.

9. What Allah likes or dislikes should be the criterion for one’s own likes and dislikes.

10. The objective of one’s all efforts and struggle, of entire life, should be the achievement of Allah’s pleasure and one’s proximity with Him.

11. Accept Allah’s guidance in every sphere of life: ethics, conduct, social and family life, economics, and politics; and reject every rule of conduct that is opposed to Allah’s shari’ah.

The next part of this creed, i.e., Muhammad is Allah’s messenger, means that the last prophet whom certified guidance and a code of law were sent through, and who was appointed to establish a perfect example in accordance with that code, is Muhammad (pbuh).

Knowing and admitting this, it becomes imperative:

1. To accept without the least hesitation every teaching and guidance proved on the authority of Muhammad (pbuh).

2. The knowledge of an order or prohibition by the Prophet of Allah should be sufficient to induce one to act upon certain instruction or refrain from following certain way. No other consideration should influence his obedience.

3. Not to accept leadership or guidance of anyone beside that of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Obedience to others should be subordinated to the Book of Allah and Sunnah of His Prophet, not independent of these.

4. To accept, in all matters of one’s life, the book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet as final argument, authority and reference; adopt a thought, belief or rule that is in accordance with the Book and Sunnah, and give up whatever is opposed to these; and refer to the same source of guidance for the solution of problems.

5. Cleanse the heart of all prejudices, be they personal, family-related, tribal or racial, national or patriotic, sectarian or group-oriented. One must not be so overwhelmed by love for or devotion to someone as to let it dominate the love and devotion to the truth brought by the prophet of Allah, or become its competitor.

6. Take no one, besides the Prophet of Allah, as the criterion of truth, not to consider anyone above criticism, not to indulge in mental slavery of anyone. Evaluate everyone by this God-sent perfect criterion, and grade others against that criterion.

7. Not to accord such a status to anyone born after Muhammad that believing or not believing him determines one’s kufr or Iman (i.e., disbelief and Faith).

The mission of Jama’at-e-Islami and the objective of all its efforts and struggle shall in practical terms be the establishment of the Deen (establishment of Divine Order or the Islamic way of life) and in essence the achievement of Allah’s pleasure and success in the Hereafter.

Explanation: Jama’at views the three terms ‘al-Deen’, Divine Order’, and ‘Islamic Way of Life’ as synonyms. The Jama’at uses the terms of ‘Divine Order’ or ‘Islamic Way of Life’ in the same sense in which the Qur’an uses the term of ‘establishment of al-Deen’. The three mean the same, that man must accept willingly the law-giving Order of Allah in those spheres of human life in which he has been given discretion in the same manner in which every part of the universe submits willingly or unwillingly to His physical empire. The way of life that emerges as a result of willing acceptance of Allah’s law-giving Order is called ‘al-Deen’, ‘Divine Order’, or ‘Islamic Way of Life’.

‘Establishment of Deen’ does not mean establishing some part of it, rather establishing it in its entirety, in individual and collective life, and whether it pertains to prayers or fasting, Haj or Zakat, socio-economic or political issues of life. No part of Islam is irrelevant, but the whole Islam is necessary. It is incumbent upon a Believer to strive for establishing Islam in its entirety without discretion and division. The part that is related to individuals’ life should be observed by every Believer in his own life; and all the Believers should arrange for party-discipline and joint effort for establishing that part that cannot be established without collective struggle.

While the Believer’s real objective is to attain Allah’s pleasure and success in the Hereafter, this cannot be realised without trying to establish Allah’s Deen in this world. Therefore, a believer’s mission in practical terms is the establishment of Deen while in essence it is the attainment of Allah’s pleasure that comes as a result of the effort for establishing Deen.

The Jama’at ’s permanent strategy shall be as follows:

1. It shall ascertain as to what is the instruction of Allah and His Prophet, before deciding on any matter or taking any step. All other things shall be secondary and kept in the view only to that extent that Islam permits.

2. For its ideals and objectives to realise the Jama’at shall never use such ways and means that are opposed to the demands of honesty and truth or may cause ‘mischief on the earth’.

3. For the desired reform and revolution, the Jama’at shall use democratic and constitutional means, i.e., the use of advice and propagation of thought for reforming the mind and character and preparing public opinion for accepting the desired changes.

4. Jama’at ’s struggle for the realisation of its objectives shall be open and public, and not on the pattern of secret movements.

Every mature and sensible person (man or woman, belonging to any race, caste or community) may become a member of the Jama’at, provided that:

1. After understanding the Jama’at ’s creed along with its explanation, he/she bears witness that the same is also his/her creed.
2. After understanding the Jama’at ’s mission along with its explanation, he/she declares that the same is his/her mission.
3. After studying the constitution, he/she commits that he/she shall bind him/herself to the Jama’at ’s discipline in accordance with this constitution.
4. He/she observes the obligatory duties of the Shari’ah and avoids the major sins.
5. None of his/her means of subsistence falls in the category of illegitimate earnings e.g., interest (usury), wine, adultery, dance and music, false witness, bribery, breach of trust, gambling etc.
6. If he/she be in possession of property that came to him/her by forbidden means, or that in which are the usurped rights of the deserving, he/she shall withdraw from it and return to the deserving their dues.

Explanation: Such action shall be taken only when the rightful owners as well as the property in which their rights have been usurped are known. Otherwise, repentance and reform of conduct in the future will suffice.

7. He/she is not associated with such a party or institution whose principles and objectives are opposed to the creed, mission, and strategy of Jama’at-e-Islami.
8. The Jama’at’s cadre is satisfied that he/she qualifies for the Jama’at ’s membership.

In accordance with the conditions stated above the procedure for joining the Jama’at shall be that the applicant shall declare before the President of the Jama’at or before the one authorised by the President for the purpose:

First, that he/she has understood completely the creed of the Jama’at along with its explanation and, having understood it, now bears witness with full sense of responsibility that there is no god but Allah, Who is single and without partners, and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah.

Second, that he/she has understood completely Jama’at ’s mission along with the explanation and, having understood them, declares that the establishment of Allah’s Deen in this world is the mission of his/her life; that he/she is joining Jama’at-e-Islami purely for Allah’s sake; and that his/her sole end is the achievement of Allah’s pleasure and success in the Hereafter.

Third, that he/she has also understood completely the Jama’at ’s Constitution and pledges that he would observe the Jama’at ’s discipline according to this Constitution.

After joining the Jama’at, the changes that every member would have to bring in his/her life are as follows:

1. Acquiring at least that much knowledge as is necessary to differentiate between Islam and non-Islam and to acquaint with the ‘Limits set by Allah’ (Hudud-ul-Allah)
2. Moulding one’s opinion, thought, and action according to the teachings of Qur’an and Sunnah, and redirecting one’s life objectives, criteria for liking and valuing and one’s loyalties in such a way as to conform to Allah’s pleasure, and to become obedient to Allah’s orders by smashing the idol of the self and egotism.
3. Purifying oneself from all customs of ignorance that are opposed to Qur’an and Sunnah, and to try utmost to adapt one’s outer- and inner-self according to the commandments of Shari’ah.
4. Purifying ones’ heart from prejudices and indulgences and one’s life from such habits, quarrels, and deliberations that stem from egotism and worldly pursuits but have no place in Deen.
5. Giving up transactions and affectionate relations with transgressors, sinners, and those who are forgetful of Allah, and associating with the righteous.
6. Basing one’s deals on rightfulness, justice, God-fearing, and unflinching Truth-seeking.
7. Concentrating one’s efforts and struggle on the objective of establishing Deen, and, barring the real necessities of one’s life, abdicate all activities which do not lead towards this objective.

Explanation: It is not necessary that all these changes are at their best in a certain individual, but everyone would try to attain perfection in this regard; for being defective or perfect with respect to these changes would determine one’s status in Jama’at-e-Islami.

Article 9

It shall be incumbent on every member of the Jama’at to project the creed and mission of the Jama’at (explained in Articles 3 and 4) in his circle of acquaintance and, as far as he can reach, to the people. Prepare those who accept this creed and mission for organised struggle for the establishment of Deen, and invite those who are ready to struggle to the discipline of Jama’at-e-Islami.

Explanation: If in spite of one’s agreement with the mission, strategy, program, and organisation of the Jama’at, one is unwilling to carry out the responsibilities of membership, one should be persuaded to join the circle of Jama’at ’s Associates(2) so that, to the extent possible, one may co-operate with the Jama’at ’s in the struggle for the establishment of Deen.

All articles of Articles 8 and 9 shall apply on women joining Jama’at-e-Islami, in their sphere of activity. Besides, the duties of a woman as member of the Jama’at shall be:

1. Convey the Jama’at ’s creed and mission to her family and circle of acquaintance.
2. Propagate this to her husband, parents, brothers and sisters and other family members.
3. Try to kindle the light of faith in her children’s hearts.
4. If her husband, sons, father, and brother join the Jama’at, she should encourage them with her enduring companionship, and, to the extent possible, lend a helping hand in their services to the Jama’at ’s objective, and in the event of adversity, bear it with steadfastness and patience.
5. If her husband or patrons be victims of ignorance, earn by forbidden means or lead a sinful life, she should try to correct them with persistent patience, try to protect herself from their illegitimate earning and evil deeds and refuse to obey their such orders that amount to disobeying God and His Prophet.

(1) Amendments made to the Constitution after June 1, 1957, which are part of it, are given in Appendix 5.

(2) Interpreting Article 9 of the Constitution, the Central Council decided that ‘associate’ of Jama’at-e-Islami can also be called ‘member’ of Jama’at-e-Islami.