DIFFERENT RELIGIONS IN PAKISTAN

SUBMITTED TO: MAM MALEEHA SUBMITTED BY:

FARYYAL,KINZA,AMNA KANWAL,SHUMAILA DEPT:BBA(MORNING)

3RD SEMESTER
UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION BANK ROAD CAMPUS

Different Religions in Pakistan

The state of Pakistan comprises different people of different religion in its land. According Pakistani constitution every religion has total freedom to obey their religion virtual.

Religious population in Pakistan:

Muslims: 175,376,00 Ahmadi : 2,000,000 Hindus: 3,200,000 Christians: 2,800,000 Bah' Faith: 30,000 - 78,000 Sikhs: 20,000 Zoroastrian/Parsis: 20,000 Buddhism: 70,000 Other (included Animists, Atheists, Jews, etc) Census data indicates that over 98% of the population is Muslims. By one estimate, in Pakistan, Muslims are divided into following schools: the Barelvis 48%, Deobandis 25%, Ithna Ashari 19%, Ahle Hadith 4%, Ismailis 1%, Bohras 0.25%, and other smaller sects. The Ahle-e-Hadith is part of Hanbali School. Nearly 65% of the total seminaries (Madrassah) are run by Deobandis,25 per cent by the Barelvis, six percent by the Ahle Hadith and three percent by various Shia organizations. Zikris are considered to be a heretical sect by mainstream Muslims. The non-Muslim population mainly comprises of Christians (1% of the population) and Hindus (1%), with smaller numbers of Ahmadis, Buddhists, Jews, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, and Animists (mainly the Kalash in Chitral). Pakistan's religious demographics has been significantly influenced by the movement of populations in 1947 (millions of Muslims moved to Pakistan and millions of Hindus and Sikhs moved to India) and the wars in Afghanistan (millions of refugees who have become permanent residents).

Islam
Muslims believe that there is one God, Allah. The Holy Qu'ran is the scripture of Islam. The two main groups of Islam are the Sunni and Shi'a.

History of Islam
Those who follow Islam are called Muslims and the word Islam itself means "submission to God." According to Islam, God sent prophets like Jesus, Moses, and Abraham, who are all considered to have been Muslims, to teach humans to follow God's law.

The Origins of Islam

Before the Prophet Mohammad, Arab communities believed in multiple Gods while at the same time a unity of one God. The origins of Islam go back to the creation of the world and every prophet who came into this world was to be accepted as God's messenger. Muslims believe that revelations were made through all the prophets that entered the word, but that Muhammad made the final absolute revelation which marks the official rise of Islam in the 7th century AD.

Muhammad: The Last Prophet of Islam

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Therefore, the last Prophet was Muhammad. He was born in 570 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. One night in 610 as he was meditating in a cave on Mount Hira, the angel Jibreel appeared to him and Muhammad began reciting what he believed were the words of God. This occurred throughout his life. The words were eventually recorded into the Qu'ran and Muhammad began preaching God's words. When Muhammad proclaimed the message that the people must believe in one God, many retaliated and planned to kill him. Because of terrible living conditions and isolation, Muhammad took his followers and migrated to Medina in 622 A.D. The journey is called the Hijra, or pilgrimage, and marks the Muslim New Year. A few years later, Muhammad had an astonishing number of followers and began to spread his message at a faster rate. Muhammad returned to Mecca with over 10,000 followers and conquered the land after a bloodless battle. Muhammad's death in 632 A.D. was a catastrophic event for Muslims.

Islam Beliefs
The core of Islamic theology is the belief that there is only one God, also called Allah in Arabic. Visualizations of God are not expected but Muslims must worship God as the Protector, which is the purpose of life. Muslims do not believe that Jesus was the son of God and do not agree with other facets of Christianity. Muslims have six main beliefs with Allah as the most important one.

Belief in Angels
Muslims believe that angles are messengers who do not have free will. It is their duty to communicate revelations from God, glorify God, record the actions of every Muslim person and take an individual's soul at the time of his death.

Books of Islam
The holy books of Islam are records of Gods words meant for his prophets. The Qu'ran is the last holy book and is believed to be the literal word of God. The Archangel Gabriel is believed to have revealed the word of God to Muhammad. The foundation of the Qu'ran is centered on moral guidance, or the principles and values that Muslims must follow.

Prophets
The prophets of Islam are those people who have been chosen by God to be His messengers. Although human, some prophets have been believed to have performed miracles. The main duty of prophets has been to preach the message of Islam, which is submission to God. The last prophet is believed to be Muhammad.

Judgment Day
Muslims believe in the Day of Resurrection and Judgment. Sins are described in the Qu'ran, including disbelief and dishonesty. Those who commit these sins are condemned to hell. Paradise is central to this belief in that it is a joyful place with several pleasures to be enjoyed.

Predestination
Muslims believe that God has total control over everything and that he has created a destiny for every individual. Everything that takes places in the world has been preordained. Man has the free will to choose between right or wrong and is subject to its consequences, but nothing will get in the way of what is preordained.

The Sharia
The Sharia is set of rules that guide Muslim life. It combines concepts taken from the Qur'an, the Hadith (teachings of Muhammad) and fatwas (ideas of Islamic scholars). Some of the concepts in the Sharia refer to severe

punishments like stoning to death. Therefore, some other religions often view the Sharia as being primitive. Muslims, however, regard the Sharia as a source of guidance. In Islam, meat can only be eaten if the animal is killed in a certain way, since all animals are created by Allah. Muslims believe that Allah decides life, and so they oppose euthanasia and suicide. Islam accepts the concept of jihad or holy way.

Islam Customs
The Islamic religion includes specific customs and traditions that all devout Muslims follow. The customs are practiced in all aspects of Muslim life and include prayer, fashion, diet, war and so on. The Five Pillars of Islam lay out the fundamental customs for every Muslim.

The Five Pillars of Islam

Muslims must follow the Five Pillars of Islam, in order to live good lives and prove their devotion to their religion. The Five Pillars are: the sincere declaration of Muslim faith (Shahadah), praying properly five times a day (Salah), giving a donation to help those in need (Zakat), going on a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once (Hajj), and fasting during the holy month of Ramadan (Sawm). Marking the end of Ramadan and the fasting is the Eid el Fitr festival.

The Islamic Diet

Similar to Judaism, Islam also has dietary customs derived from the commandments in the Qur'an in which Muslims must follow. Certain foods are considered lawful, or "halal" and certain foods are considered unlawful, or "haram." Those foods that are unlawful include pork meat, animals that die by themselves and blood. Muslims are forbidden to drink blood and the meat must be drained of blood completely before it can be eaten. All meat that is lawful must come from an herbivorous animal and must be slaughtered in the name of God. The animal must be slaughtered by a Muslim, Christian or a Jew. Seafood is also considered halal.

Jihad
As the Sixth Pillar of Islam, Jihad is considered an important part of a Muslim's life. Jihad translates to "striving or struggling" (in the way of God). There are different categories of Jihad defined and the two common ones can be referred to a militaristic custom and striving to attain religious perfection. In the militaristic sense, Jihad means to exert forces against non-Muslim enemies in order to protect the Ummah. Jihad is considered to be the only type of warfare acceptable to Islamic law. The actual goal of Jihad, however, continues to be debated.

Other Muslim Customs

Other notable Muslim customs include baby rites. When a child is born, the first thing he or she should hear is the Muslim call to prayer. As in Hinduism, seven days after birth Islam requires the child's head be shaved as a sign that the child serves God.

Ahmadiyya
The government of Pakistan does not consider this group follower of Islam. The Pakistani parliament has declared Ahmadis to be non-Muslims. In 1974, the government of Pakistan amended its constitution to define a Muslim "as a person who believes in finality of Prophet Muhammad".Ahmadis believe in Muhammad as the best and the last law bearing prophet and Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as the Christ of Muslims who was prophesized to come in the latter days and unite the Muslims. Consequently they were declared non-Muslims by a tribunal, the records of which have not been released to date. According to the last Pakistan census, Ahmadis made up 0.25% of the population. However the website adherents.com proposes that the Ahmadiyya Muslim community made up 1.42% of the population. The Ahmadis claim their community is much larger. In 1984, Ordinance XX was enacted, which made it a crime for Ahmadis to call themselves Muslims or adherents of Islam, to "pose as Muslims", to call their places of worship Masjid, or to proselytize, punishable by a prison term.

Christianity
Over 97% of Pakistan's population is Muslim; the rest is made up of 1.6% Christians about 2.8 million people out of a total population of 173 Million (Est. U.N. census 2008), 1.85% Hindu, with much smaller minorities of Buddhists, Sikhs, Bah's, as well as others. Christianity is the world's largest religion and is centered on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, Son of God. Around 2.1 billion followers around the world believe in Christianity. Subdivisions of Christianity include the Roman Catholic Church, Mormon Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheran Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptist Church, Methodist Church, and more. As in the case of Islam and Judaism, Christianity is an Abrahamic religion.

History of Christianity
Christianity traces the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the Holy Land, to a virgin named Mary. Being fully human, Jesus is believed to have suffered the pains and temptations of mortals but never sinned. Because Jesus is also considered to be God incarnate, he returned to life to fulfill the Messianic prophecy. The birth of Jesus is the realization of the Old Testament prophecies about a Messiah who would save the Jewish people. The coming of Jesus, as the Messiah, is the underlying belief of Christianity but differs from the Jewish belief. Anyone who believes in the death and resurrection of Jesus will reunite with God and can be granted salvation and a life in eternity.

The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a significant point in the history of Christianity and the basis of all Christian belief. Around the age of 30, Jesus began teaching through parables and performing miracles, with help from his twelve disciples. When Jesus claimed that he spoke to God, officials became outraged and persecuted him. He was eventually crucified for being a heretic and his body was placed in a tomb. Three days later, a group of women discovered that the tomb was empty. Jesus was alive again and God had resurrected him. In the New Testament, there is mention that Jesus made a number of appearances to his twelve apostles and disciples after being resurrected and before ascending to heaven. Christian churches in the early phases of this religion accepted the death and resurrection of Jesus and began teaching the New Testament. Christianity first spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa, and then to Europe and some parts of India, before going worldwide.

Early Christianity
Christianity began to spread in the first century from Jerusalem as a Jewish sect. Early Christianity can be broken down into the Apostolic Period and the Post-Apostolic Period. The Apostolic Church, led by apostles, spread the teachings of Jesus to the first Christians who were all Jewish. This led to much conflict with Jewish authorities and the Early Church was expelled from Jewish synagogues. A divide between Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism came about as a result. The post-apostolic period, which took place after the death of the apostles, encompassed the second and third centuries. Persecutions mark the beginning of the post-apostolic period, which ended when Christian worship was legalized under Constantine the Great. The largest number of persecutions took place during the Roman Empire when Christians refused to worship the Roman emperor for 250 years.

Christianity Customs
Christians practice their religion on a regular basis but also have specific days devoted to their traditions and customs. To practice Christianity, one must be baptised as a Christian, follow prayer, and show his devotion to God through worship. The customs of Christianity are important for Christians in all aspects of their lives.

Prayer
Prayers are considered to be part of the relationship between a believer and Jesus Christ. Prayers are recorded in the Bible and are offered for helping other people and requesting good things from God. Certain Christian traditions have set prayers, scripture readings and hymns. Prayers can be done through physical gestures including the act of making the symbol of the cross, or genuflection. Kneeling, bowing, and the joining of palms are other prayer gestures.

Worship
Worship in Christianity involves praising God through songs, prayers, speeches and readings. Sacraments are the rites of Christianity that are used to worship God during significant life events. The holy days of Christianity include Easter, Christmas, Lent, All Saints' Day, Epiphany, and more. While there is public worship such as bible readings, church meetings every Sunday and communion, there is also individual worship through prayer and meditation.

Sacraments of Christianity
Each subdivision of Christianity may have its own different practices when it comes to the sacraments. Most Christians, however, recognize the Seven Sacraments or Divine Mysteries of Christianity. These are: Baptism, Confirmation or Chrismation, the Eucharist or Holy Communion, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, Matrimony or Marriage, and Reconciliation of a Penitent or Confession. Of these, the two most common sacraments of Christianity are Baptism and the Eucharist.

Baptism and Eucharist

Baptism is a ritual act that involves the cleaning of an individual's sins with water. Once a person is baptized, he or she is officially a member of the Church. Baptism has a different meaning for each Christian subdivision; for some it symbolizes salvation. The Eucharist is generally based on the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples. For many Christians, it symbolizes freedom from sin.

Symbolism In Christianity
Certain objects, images and actions carry Christian symbolism and have an inner meaning that reflects the ideas of Christianity. Many of the symbols come from various parts of the world and are known to many cultures.

Hinduism
Hinduism has an ancient history in Pakistan, the Rig Veda was believed to have been composed in the Punjab region. Hindus today are a much reduced community numbering over 3 million. According to the last census 93% of Hindus live in Sindh, 5% in Panjab and nearly 2% in Balochistan.

History of Hinduism
The origins of Hinduism are debated by modern scholars. It is believed to be a mix of numerous traditions and faiths. Elements of Hinduism can be traced back to modern-day Pakistan at around 3000 BC. During the second millennium BC the nomadic Aryan people arrived in northwest India from regions around southern Russia. They brought religious customs with them and borrowed religious customs from the people in India. At around 800 BC to 600 BC, the still-developing Hinduism was affected by the rise of Buddhism and Jainism in India. Hinduism eventually incorporated songs and poems, making it more substantial as a religion. The subsequent arrival of Islam to the region threatened Hinduism. However, the arrival of Christianity in the 18th and 19th centuries had a different affect. Many Hindus responded by reviving original Hindu practices. The result is the period of Hindu Revivalism. Eventually, Hinduism spread and separated into different schools.

Hinduism Beliefs
Hindus believe that karma determines the cycle of life, or samsara, which is composed of birth, death, and rebirth that the soul goes through repetitively. The oldest religious texts of Hinduism are the Vedas, or Books of Knowledge. According to Hinduism, Brahman created everything. Different types of Hinduism worship other deities, believing that they contain attributes of Brahman. Hindus are usually divided into three groups according to the form of Brahman revered: worshippers of Vishnu the preserver, Shiva the destroyer, and the Mother Goddess. Vishnu, also called Narayana, protects the universe and saves humans from disasters and oppression. He makes appearances on Earth through his incarnations. Shiva is the destroyer, creator, and preserver, according to his avid followers. In the Hindu Trinity, he is the destroyer that possesses elements of good and evil. He is also connected to fertility. The Mother Goddess is associated with fertility and feminine energy in Hinduism.

Hinduism Customs
The most popular holy day of Hinduism is Divali or the Festival of Lights. Worship, in Hinduism, is called puja and includes prayers or mantras, images or murtis, and diagrams of the universe or yantras. Worship is usually a personal act that can take place at the temple or at home before a set-up shrine, which can be a room, altar, or image. The focus of the worship is the image. Hindu worshippers repeat names of a god and offer water, flowers, incense, and fruit. According to Hinduism, worship should take place three times a day. A Hindu temple has significant meaning. The central shrine represents the worshippers heart. The tower stands for the spirits ascent to heaven. Pilgrimage plays a significant role in Hinduism, because the goal is to encounter a deity. Varanasi, also called Benares, located near the holy River Ganges is a prime pilgrimage location because of its associations with Shiva

Bahai
The Bah' Faith in Pakistan begins previous to its independence when it was part of India. The roots of the religion in the region go back to the first days of the Bb religion in 1844,with Shaykh Sa'id Hindi who was from Multan.During Bah'u'llh's lifetime, as founder of the religion, he encouraged some of his followers to move to the area that is current-day Pakistan. In 1921 the Bah's of Karachi elected their first Bah' Local Spiritual Assembly.[19] By 1956 Bah' local assemblies spread across many cities,and in 1957, East and West Pakistan elected a separate National Bah' Assembly from India and later East Pakistan became Bangladesh with its own national assembly.Waves of refugees arrived in 1979 due to the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan and the Iranian Revolution in Iran. The Bah's in Pakistan have the right to hold public meetings, establish academic centers, teach their faith, and elect their administrative councils.However, the government prohibits Bah's from travelling to Israel for Bah' pilgrimage.though Bah's claimed less than half that number.

Bahai history
The history of the Bahai faith goes back to 1844, when a young Iranian man who called himself the Bb said that God will soon send a messenger who is to be the latest prophet, or Manifestation of God, from the line of Moses, Muhammad and Jesus. The prophet Bah'u'llh (meaning Glory of God in Arabic) arrived and Bahai faith was founded in 1863. Bah'u'llh was born into a rich family in 1817 as Mirza Husayn Ali. His followers were descendants of the Bbis, the people who believed in the Bbs message. Bah'u'llh announced that he was not th e last of Gods prophets and that God would send prophets throughout history. This way, God would reveal more and more about himself to mankind.

Bahai Beliefs
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The concept of progressive revelation is an important core belief of the Bahai faith. According to the Bahai religion, all the different religions are valid and worship a single God in different ways. Abraham, the Buddha, Moses, Zoroaster, Jesus and the Prophet Muhammad are all prophets who have been involved in the revelation of God, but the latest prophet is Bah'u'llh. The concepts of unity and community are very important for followers of Bahai, who believe that people should come together and collectively work to help humanity. According to the religion, when someone dies, the soul moves and exists in another realm. Bah holy scriptures consist of the writings of Abdu'l-Bah, Bah'u'llh and the Bb. Major Bahai holidays include the Feast of the Birth of the Bb which takes place on October 20 every year, Naw-Rz (New Day) festival that marks the Bahai new year and is preceded by the Nineteen Day Fast (19 days of fasting in preparation of the new year).

Bahai Customs
According to the Bahai religion, followers should fast, pray, participate in social and economic events and projects, and love God. Bahai community projects are intended to help those in need and improve their moral belief systems. This is done through activities and events that involve people. Community involvement is key in Bahai. For Bahais fasting has a spiritual meaning, associated with self-restraint, discipline, and cleansing. Praying is central to the religion. Certain prayers are required throughout the day. The faith encourages its followers to also meditate and learn about God. The faith does not have any clergy or sacraments. It only has three rituals: daily prayers, prayer for the dead, and marriage. Although followers gather for worship, the service does not include any congregational prayers; one person simply recites the prayers.

Sikhism
There are many important Sikh religious sites in Pakistan where, prior to the partition of India in 1947, some 4050% of the world's Sikh population resided. Today, the number of Sikhs remaining in Pakistan is very small; estimates vary, but the number is thought to be on the order of 20,000. Over the years more and more Sikhs from abroad have been permitted to make pilgrimages to their shrines.

History of Sikhism
Sikhism was founded in the Punjab district of modern-day India and Pakistan in around 1500 BC by Guru Nanak. The predominant religions were Hinduism and Islam, and Sikhism was quite different from them. The bases of Sikhism are the teachings of Guru Nanak and those of the nine Sikh gurus who came after him. Sikhs have been subject to many attacks and killings, have militarized and gone to battles, and have been victims of genocides. They have had troubles with Muslims, Hindus, British colonial rule, and have been in the middle of the India-Pakistan conflict. In recent decades Sikhism has been involved in a conflict with India for the Punjab regions under Indian rule. In 1984, Indira Gandhi was killed by two of her bodyguards who were Sikhs. Anti-Sikh riots took place and thousands of Sikhs were killed. Things have been calmer since the 1990s. The latest Hindu claims that Sikhism is a form of Hinduism have disturbed the Sikhs.

Sikhism Beliefs
At the center of Sikhism is one God. Sikhs believe that they should lead good lives and meditate, rather than focusing on performing rituals and sacrifices. Sikhs believe that religion should deal with peoples daily issues and that community life is important. The three duties of a Sikh are: praying and having God in the mind all the time, giving to charity and helping those who are poor and sick, and working honestly. Leading a good life involves treating others equally and with compassion. Leading a truthful life is of prime importance. In Sikhism, the five vices are anger, greed, lust, pride, and attachment to material things. In order to be liberated, a follower must stay away from these vices. According to Sikhism, and like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, individuals go through

cycles of birth, life, and rebirth with karma playing a decisive role in the quality of life. Liberation involves experiencing God through worship and love and uniting with God and is not earned but given by God.

Sikhism Customs
The place of worship for Sikhism is the gurdwara. Their major holy days of Sikhism are: Diwali, which marks the prison release of the sixth Guru in 1619; Gurpurbs which are festivals associated with Gurus; Vaisakhi, or Baisakhi, which is the Sikh New Year festival. In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh created the 5 Ks to distinguish Sikhs who have been initiated into the Khalsa, or Sikh community. Khalsa members wear the following 5 Ks: a steel bracelet called Kara, cotton underwear called Kaccha, a wooden comb called Kanga, uncut hair called Kesh, and a steel sword called Kirpan. The 5 Ks are common bonds between all Sikhs.

Buddhism
Like Hinduism, Buddhism has an ancient history in Pakistan. In fact at the time of the arrival of Islam much of the population was Buddhist. Today there are no established Buddhist communities and numbers are very few.

Buddhism History
Buddhism has been practiced primarily in Southeast Asia and other parts of Asia including China, India and Japan. Historically, Buddhism first began in ancient India during the first millennium BC. Buddhism was one of the movements that broke away from the Brahmanic tradition of ancient India. The Brahminical religion went through a number of changes and ultimately evolved into what is known as Hinduism. Today, Buddhism is almost nonexistent in India. There have been different phases of Buddhism beginning with the Pre-sectarian Buddhism followed by Early Buddhist Schools, Early Mahayana Buddhism and Later Mahayana Buddhism and Vajrayana Buddhism. Buddhism is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama who was born into a royal family around 580 BC in modern-day Nepal. Because of his rich upbringing and sheltered lifestyle, he was unfamiliar with the harsh realities of life. He finally ventured outside and was very bothered upon seeing the suffering that plagued mankind. Siddhartha left the royal life and traveled as a holy man. He sought to find a way to end human suffering. Siddhartha then met an Indian who advised him to lead a disciplined life of self-denial. He tried this lifestyle but stopped it and followed the Middle Way, which was neither lavish nor very poor. One day, Siddhartha was sitting under the Bodhi tree and entered a deep meditation about the truth of life. Through this, he attained Enlightenment and became the Buddha or "awakened one." According to legend, Brahma, king of the gods, asked Buddha to educate the people. During the following 45 years, Buddha shared his knowledge.

Buddhism Concepts & Beliefs

Buddhism does not focus on worshipping god(s), but is rather based on teaching the dharma, or the truth about things in nature and the universe. Central to Buddhism are the Four Noble Truths that came to Buddha as he meditated under the Bodhi tree. They are: Dukkha (existence is full of suffering), Trsna (suffering is caused by the attachment to wrong things), Nirvana (suffering can end), and the Eightfold Path (how to end suffering and begin a life of Enlightenment). Buddhism also teaches the principles of karma, according to which our current lives reflect our past dealings, as well as the belief in rebirth by which consciousness exists in future lives. Buddhism is a peaceful religion that is against war and killing.

Buddhism Customs
Since there are different types of Buddhism, there are different types of Buddhist customs. The major traditions include meditation, Buddhist worship, honoring the Buddha and the sacred mandala.

Devotion to Buddha
There are different ways to honor Buddha such as by offering gifts to Buddhist monks or to fellow Buddhists, going on pilgrimages, or becoming ordained as a Buddhist monk. Chanting is considered another form of devotion. In Mahayana Buddhism, one can choose the path of a bodhisattva, or "enlightened one," as the ultimate form of devotion. Accepting the Three Jewels is part of Buddhist devotion. The Three Jewels include the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, which is anyone who is a monastic practitioner or has attained to any one of the Four stages of enlightenment.

Buddhist Meditation
In Buddhism, the aim of meditation is to calm the mind so that it can become more aware. Meditation can take place individually or in a group. Chinese Buddhist meditation and Zen Buddhist meditation differ from Theravada Buddhism. Monks and lay people can practice meditation. There are different forms of meditation. In the Noble Eightfold Path, the right concentration can be thought of as meditation. Once powerful concentration is achieved, the mind can gain insight into the nature of reality and be free from all suffering.

Worship
Worship, in Buddhism, can take place at a temple or at home before a set-up shrine. It can occur in the presence of a monk, in a group, or alone. In Buddhism, worship involves a mantra, a syllable, word, or prayer, which is spoken or displayed on a prayer wheel.

The Sacred Mandala

The sacred mandala is a visual of the universe that is painted, imagined, or created with colored sands. A mandala is used to help Buddhists reach Enlightenment.

Zoroastrianism
Before independence of Pakistan in 1947, major urban centres in what is now Pakistan were home to a thriving Parsi business community. Karachi had the most prominent population of Parsis in Pakistan and were mostly Gujaratispeaking. After independence, majority of Pakistan's Parsi populace migrated to India, notably Bombay; however a number of Parsis still remain in Pakistan and have entered Pakistani public life as social workers, business folk, and diplomats. The most prominent Parsis of Pakistan today include Ardeshir Cowasjee, Byram Dinshawji Avari, Jamsheed Marker, as well as the late Minocher Bhandara.

History of Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism was founded in Persia (ancient Iran) around 3500 years ago by the prophet Zoroaster, or Zarathustra. Zoroaster was born into a polytheistic religion similar to early Hinduism in Northeast Iran or Southwest Afghanistan. He had a wife and six children. He rejected the polytheistic religion and disapproved of its animal sacrifices and use of intoxicants. When he was thirty, he saw God in a vision. Zoroaster was a changed man and started spreading the teachings of the one and only God. The people and officials were not receptive to Zoroaster. He was having a difficult time so he moved to the more accepting land of King Vishtaspa where his ideas were accepted as the official religion. Zoroaster eventually died. In the meantime, Zoroastrianism spread to Western Iran and became an established religion. It was the official religion of Persia from 600 BC to 650 AD.

Zoroastrianism Beliefs

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At the center of Zoroastrianism is God or Ahura Mazda, the creator of the world. Some religions, like Christianity, refer to mankind as Gods children; in Zoroastrianism, however, humans are Gods helpers. The positive and wise choices of man will push evil away and Gods Paradise will then be set up on Earth. Zoroastrianism encourages its followers to think good thoughts, speak good words, and perform good deeds. Zoroastrianism believes in the family and community. It does not believe in celibacy. The religion also encourages taking an active role in improving society. Zoroastrians avidly donate to social and educational charities and believe that all people are equal. Zoroastrianism is frequently mistaken for a fire-worshipping religion. The truth is that Zoroastrians worship God and consider natural elements to represent features of God. Fire, fore example, represents the wisdom of God. The holy book of Zoroastrianism is The Avesta, which contains the Gathas, or the seventeen hymns by Zoroaster, and the The Younger Avesta, which includes commentaries, myths, ritual descriptions, and more.

Zoroastrianism Customs
According to Zoroastrianism, followers can pray as often as they like. Followers pray while facing a source of light like the sun or fire which symbolize the energy or wisdom of God. Traditional Zoroastrians pray several times a day. This is a custom that starts early in life. When they are seven years old, Zoroastrians must go through an initiation ceremony. They are given a scared shirt and cord. They are to wear the shirt and tie the cord around it three times symbolizing the Zoroastrian belief in good words, thoughts and deeds. They pray as they untie and retie the cord. They may also wash their hands as a purification ritual before praying. Communal worship usually takes place around the time of a festival or a ceremony marking a stage of life. Fire is always part of a ceremony.

Judaism
Jews (Urdu: pronounced "Yehudi") are a very small religious group in Pakistan. Various estimates suggest that there were about 2,500 Jews living in Karachi at the beginning of the twentieth century, and a smaller community of a few hundred lived in Peshawar. There were synagogues in both cities; while the Karachi synagogue was burnt down the one in Peshawar still exists but has fallen into disuse. Nearly all Pakistani Jews have emigrated.

Kalash Religion
This is the religion of the Kalash people living in a remote part of Chitral. Adherents of the Kalash religion number around 3,000 and inhabit three remote valleys in Chitral; Bumboret, Rumbur and Birir. Their religion is unique but shares some common ground with Vedic and Pre Zoroastrian Iranian religions.

Atheism
There are also an undetermined number of atheists and agnostics in Pakistan, particularly in the affluent areas of the larger cities. Some were born in secular families while others in religious ones. According to the last Pakistan census (1998) people who did not state their religion accounted for 0.5% of the population, although this cannot be considered a reliable indicator of the number of atheists. There is immense intolerance of atheism in the country. Pakistan's harsh blasphemy laws, which stipulate the death penalty for blaspheming, institutionalize such discrimination. Subsequently, most atheists and agnostics keep their views private and choose to portray themselves publicly as indifferent Muslims rather than non-Muslims.

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