The 1973 Pakistani constitution marks Pakistan as an Islamic republic. So, Islam is preferably known as the state religion in Pakistan, implying that Islamic Sharia law is mainly followed throughout the country. Yet, the same constitution also offers religious freedom to people with different religious beliefs. Considering this, there are around four more minority religions other than Islam that are prevalent in the four provinces of Pakistan. Let’s explore these religions in detail with some religion-related Urdu vocabulary.
Table Of Contents
Different Religions In Pakistan
1. Islam
Since Pakistan is an Islamic state, around 96% of the Pakistani population practices Islam. This religion is based on the significant belief that the entire universe belongs to one God. Islam is further divided into two major groups:
Sunni Islam
The majority of the country’s population are Sunni Muslims. However, it has different subsects or schools, like Ahmadi (احمدی) Muslims, Hannfiyya (حنفیہ) school, Deoband (دیو بند), and Barelvi (بریلوی). Most Pakistanis belong to the Hanafi school, while Ahmadi (احمدی) or Ahmadiyya (احمدیہ) is a very small sect. They are also known as Qadiani (قادیانی), who believe other prophets came after Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). The latter two sects of Sunni Muslims are more like reform movements.
Shia Islam
Although Shias in Pakistan are significant in numbers, they are considered religious minorities compared to Sunnis. Among Shias, there are other subsects of Islamic Jurisprudence, like the Ismaili (اسماعیلی), Agha Khani (آغا خانی), and Khojas (خوجاس), etc.
2. Christianity
Pakistan also has Christian minorities, which is a particular religion of Roman Catholics and Protestant sects. They constitute around 1.6% of Pakistan’s population. Yet, Christians face severe criticism in Pakistan because of their previous brutal history.
3. Judaism
This minority religion has almost no presence in Pakistan. Yet, the Jewish population mainly dwells in Karachi, and most Jews have migrated.
4. Sikhism
Sikhism is also a minority religion primarily practiced in Punjab. The Sikh community also has many historical and religious sites in Pakistan, such as Nankana Sahab and Kartarpur Sahib.
5. Hinduism
The Pakistani Hindu community makes up 1.85% of the total population in Pakistan, making them another religious minority. Pakistani Hindus have their own temples located in different districts of Pakistan, where they can celebrate their religious festivals.
What Was The Religion Of Pakistan Before Islam?
Islam arrived in Pakistan in the 7th century. Before that, Pakistan was home to various religious groups. These groups include:
Hinduism
One religious group was Hindus, who were predominant in the Sindh and Punjab provinces. This is evidenced by the ancient temples, some of which are still present. For example, in Sindh province, the temple is located near Gorakh hills, Hanuman Mandir at Frere road, etc. In Punjab, various temples are located in Lahore’s Anarkali Bazar, near Kalabagh Mianwali and other districts.
Buddhism
Ancient Gandhara in the northwestern region of Pakistan, which is presently Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was a center of Buddhist art and literature. For additional information, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the new name of NWFP (North west Frontier Province).
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a monotheist pre-Islamic religion in Pakistan, like the Baha’i faith. It was commonly practiced in some parts of Sindh and Balochistan. The Persians mainly influenced the people who practiced Zoroastrianism.
Jainism
Although the Jains are not currently present in Pakistan, several Jain temples survived the tough times and still exist. For example, one of the Jain temples is located in Tharparkar District of Sindh, namely Karronjar. However, after partition, all Jains migrated to India, leaving no Jains behind.
How Do You Say Religion In The Urdu Language?
The common way of saying the word ‘religion’ in Pakistan is مذہب (mazhab). Some people also refer to religion as دین (deen). Natives generally use these words as follows:
| English | Urdu | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Islam is our religion. | اسلام ہمارا دین ہے۔ | Islam hamara deen hai |
| Every individual should have the freedom to follow their religion. | ہر انسان کو اپنے مذہب پر عمل کرنے کی آزادی ہونی چاہیے۔ | har insan ko apne mazhab par amal karne ki azadi honi chahiye. |
Useful Vocabulary Related To Religion In Pakistan
Other common Urdu words related to religion are:
| English | Urdu | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Faith/Belief | ایمان | Iman |
| God | خدا/ اللہ | khuda/ Allah |
| Prayer | نماز | namaz |
| Pray | دعا | dua |
| Mosque | مسجد | Masjid |
| Pilgrimage | حج | Hajj |
| Worship | عبادت | Ibadat |
| Sect | فرقہ | Firqa |
Let’s quickly look at the context in which Muslims use each of the above-mentioned words:
| English | Urdu | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I am going to the mosque to pray. | میں نماز پڑھنے مسجد جارہا ہوں۔ | me namaz parhne masjid jaraha hun. |
| 5 times prayers are obligatory for Muslims. | مسلمانوں پر پانچ وقت کی نماز فرض ہے۔ | musalmanon par panch waqt ki namaz farz hai. |
| Each year, millions of Muslims travel to Mecca to perform Hajj. | ہر سال لاکھوں مسلمان حج کےلئے مکہ جاتے ہیں۔ | har saal lakhon musalman hajj keliye makkah jate hain. |
| Worship in the early morning is very soulful. | صبح سویرے کی عبادت بہت سکون بخش ہوتی ہے | subah sawere ki ibadat bohat sakoon baksh hoti hai. |
| Sectarianism is very common in Pakistan. | پاکستان میں فرقہ واریت بہت عام ہے۔ | Pakistan main firqa wariat bohat aam hai. |
| Belief in God in the most difficult times is the sign of true muslim. | مشکل سے مشکل وقت میں بھی اللہ پر ایمان مومن کی نشانی ہے۔ | Mushkil se mushkil waqt main bhi Allah par iman momin ki nishani hai. |
| God is one. | اللہ ایک ہے۔ | Allah aik hai |
| Besides prayer, fasting and giving zakat is also a worship. | نماز کے علاوہ، روزہ رکھنا اور زکوٰته دینا بھی ایک عبادت ہے۔ | Namaz ke ilawa, roza rakhna or sadqa dena bhi ek ibadat hai. |
Frequently Asked Questions About Religion In Pakistan
1. What Is The Punishment For Blasphemy In Pakistan?
Under the blasphemy laws in Pakistan, a person guilty of blasphemy will face severe punishments. These include the death penalty, life imprisonment, or hefty fines. To note, insulting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and desecrating the Quran falls under the category of blasphemy as per blasphemy laws. For instance, in 2018, the Supreme Court convicted a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, for alleged blasphemy.
2. Why Did Pakistan Separate From India?
The religious and political differences were the main reason for Pakistan and India’s separation in 1947. Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah put forward the idea of a separate homeland. He argued that Muslims should have separate states built as per Islamic law and led by Muslim political parties to protect their religious, political, and other fundamental rights. Consequently, he led a movement that resulted in Pakistan’s independence, and the vast majority of Muslims got the freedom to live according to Islamic teachings.
3. Do They Speak Arabic In Pakistan?
No, Pakistanis don’t speak Arabic as a proper language. It is only taught and used in religious contexts, such as studying Arabic in Islamiat, reading the Quran, and saying religious prayers. The Arabic language is also used in prayers and performing Islamic rituals. Nonetheless, the official languages of Pakistan are Urdu and English. Other common languages spoken in Pakistan are Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, and Balochi.
Final Thoughts
If you are interested in learning more about different cultures and religions, a good way to do so is to study the language of the places where they are practiced. Apps like Ling have the advantage of offering a number of languages taught within their cultural context. This will allow you to communicate with the locals and learn more than what is only available in your own language. Knowing in-depth about the different religions will help you understand and respect other people’s beliefs and coexist in harmony.
