Theocratic Nation of Maulana Maududi and his Jamaat-e-Islami’s vision – Concluding Part: Islam and Jahiliyyah

By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam 1 September 2022 In Maududi's Own Words: “On Our Side All the Three Principles Mentioned (Nationalism, Secularism and Democracy) Are Bogus Bodies Main Points: 1. Maududi was borrowing the words of Marx to reject Sufism. 2. Maududi criticizes Marx and Hegel for denying the role of Islam in the evolution of history. 3. Maududi calls them Kaneshumari Muslims and born Muslims. 4. Maududi Sahib also disapproved of the madrasa system, which was staunchly opposed to the existing modern education. 5. Moderate version of Islam has to be promoted and propagated widely. ----- Maududi classifies history into two sections. One is the time of Islam. Two, pre-Islamic periods of ignorance (Jahiliyyah). He interprets everything that is not in Islam as ignorance. So Westernism, idolatry and all other beliefs are part of ignorance. It did not end there. He labels those including Muslims who do not accept his ideas as people of ignorance and polytheism. Even Sufism, associated with traditional Islam, is for him polytheism (shirk). Sufism is the opium that leads man to fatalism. Maududi was borrowing the words of Marx to reject Sufism. Therefore, Maududi says that all Muslims other than the religious fundamentalists are ignorant (Jahil) and polytheists (Mushrik). Qutb, Abdal and Ghaus (Sufi titles) are all idolatrous names for him. Visiting the tombs of saints and paying homage there is tantamount to idolatry in his view. He thinks that those who do this cannot be considered as Muslims. Maududi criticizes Marx and Hegel for denying the role of Islam in the evolution of history. Their ideas are irrelevant. Maududi also says that Marxism is completely rejected. He does not reject the influence of Marx. But Marx saw only part of the truth. Had he read the Qur'an he would have discovered the other part. One truth that Marx discovered is that there is a constant struggle between truth and falsehood. Contradictions are always in struggle (Tafheemat, Delhi, 1999, 271). When the world originated, it was on a straight path (Siratul Mustaqeem). The world has gone the wrong way in recent times. Hegel and Marx got it wrong. They did not see a straight path. He interpreted that there is a constant clash between Truth in the world (Haq) and Myth (Ba'til) or Islam and Jahiliyyah. Maududi describes Prophet Muhammad as a great revolutionary who sought to establish an Islamic state. It is still possible to establish the nation. But it is not correct to say that Muslims are a separate nation (Qaum). Muslims are a group. The Qur'an calls the Muslims Hizbullah (Party of Allah). There are only two parties in the world. One: The Party of Allah (Hizbullah) and Two: The Party of Satan (Hizbul Shaitan) (Tafheemat, 1, 2001, 128). All those with Muslim names cannot be called Muslims. Ninety-nine percent of Muslims do not know anything about Islam. They are fake Muslims. Maududi calls them Kaneshumari Muslims and born Muslims. He himself is a born-again Muslim (Saiyasi Kashmakash, 3, 1942, 15). If the British left India, all the Muslim parties that would come to power would promote atheism (Kufr). Maududi evaluated parties like Muslim League, Jamiat ul Ulama, Ahrar and Azad Muslim Conference (Saiyasi Kashmakash, 3, 102). Maududi sees the biggest shortcoming of these parties in that none of their agendas mention the Islamic State. Maududi strongly opposed the use of Qur'anic verses by a Jamiat-ul-Ulama scholars to justify the communist revolution. There was a requirement that when any Muslim believer became a member of the Jamaat, they should recite the Kalima. This is because any Muslim who is not a Jamaat-e-Islami member is not a true Muslim. The Kalima is the vow a non-Muslim takes when he embraces Islam. All Muslim scholars unanimously opposed Maududi's arguments. Although scholars urged Maududi to refrain from making abject statements, he did not heed. While many said goodbye to the organization; he judged them to be apostates (Murtad) (Tarjuman, 1941, June August, 465). When the scholar Mansoor Nu'mani left the organization, he was labelled an apostate (Murtad). Members of the Jamaat were forbidden from associating with Muslim namesakes who did not perform the rites (Saiyasi Kashmakash, 3, 180). Jihad against ignorance (Jahiliyyah) was urged to begin at home. Against Secularism Maududi declared that secularism should not be approached and that participation in secular democracy was forbidden (haram): 'All democratic systems that have appeared in this age, including the assemblies in India, have vested in the material inhabitants of the country and empowered them to make laws for themselves. This idea is against Islam. An integral part of Islam and monotheism is that Allah is the ruler of the people and the whole world. It is God's work to carry out the commandments and instructions. According to Islamic doctrine, the source of law and the foundation of all matters of life is the divine book and the tradition of the Prophet. But to accept the above theory of democracy is tantamount to deviating from monotheism. Therefore, it is Haram (forbidden) to become a member of parliaments and assemblies in the democratic system of this age. Voting for them is also haram. Because voting means choosing people to make laws according to the constitution. It is completely against monotheism (Maududi, Rasa'il wo Masa'il, 1, Delhi, 1999 (1945), 304). It is not permissible for a Muslim to even breathe in a secular state unless he is fighting to establish Darul Islam (Islamic rule) against it (Muhammad Yaqub Tahir, Jamaat Islami Par Ilzamat Ka Jaiza, Idaraye Adabul Islami, Pakistan, 18). According to the constitution of the Jamaat, serving in the government of unbelievers is also haram. The Ulama (religious scholars) who do not accept this are giving certificates to commit a major sin. If communists can make a revolution by believing in Lenin, why can't Muslims do it by believing in Islam (Saiyasi Kashmakash, 3, 169). Maududi criticized Jamiat Ulama Hind. They are a wasted party. Its leader Asad Madani has sold himself to the Hindus. By supporting Congress, Jamiat-ul-Ulama is killing Islam. Constantly committing sins (Irfan Ahmad, 73). The Jamaat members quit government jobs on Maududi's instructions. Those who were not ready for that left the Jamaat. Maududi ruled that the government should not work except in the Islamic State. Jamaat considered Abul Kalam Azad as an enemy of Islam. Farhan Qasimi, a Jamaat leader and teacher at the Rampur Jamaat Madrasah, studied in Deoband. He was close to Azad. But after joining the Jamaat, he strongly opposed Azad. He criticized Azad for conflating Islam and Hinduism in favour of Gandhiji. Jamaat members quit government jobs on Maududi's instructions. Those who were not ready for that left the Jamaat. Maududi ruled that the government should not work except in the Islamic State. Jamaat considered Abul Kalam Azad as an enemy of Islam. Maududi's disciple Ikram Beg, who rose to the leadership of the Jamaat, was the son of a lawyer. After becoming Maududi's disciple, he felt that his father's work and salary were against Islam: his father was walking the devil's path by going to court. Because Bappa is following a satanic system (Taghuti Nizam). Money earned by father is also haram. Therefore food prepared in the kitchen is also haram. A number of people holding government jobs took Maududi's advice and resigned from them. Later, many people were convinced that what they had done was wrong. Maududi justified his resignation as part of jihad. Maududi Sahib also disapproved of the madrasa system, which was staunchly opposed to the existing modern education. Institutions like Aligarh University have adopted the Western system and are producing black Englishmen there. At the meeting in Amritsar, Maududi openly said that such institutions are slaughterhouses. Degrees in these institutions are death certificates (Taleemat, 1991, 45). Jamaat leaders banned those studying in Aligarh. They also turned away their children who were studying there. Many children continued their studies in Aligarh, disobeying the instructions of their fathers who were members of the Jamaat. Those studying in other institutions also dropped out in this way. These terms continued till 1957. Maududi termed mixed education as destructive. Maududi also disapproved of western style and music. Horse riding, swimming, all games and sports other than arms betting etc were banned as they became westernized. Maududi insisted that the members should fully adhere to the constitution of the Jamaat. Jamaat schools were therefore also prohibited from affiliating with government boards. Members of the Jamaat were not allowed to work in anything other than the work or under conditions prescribed by the Jamaat. Because everything that is not in the direction of the Jamaat is satanic (Taghuti). India Darul Kufr Maududi settled in Pakistan when Pakistan became a reality and declared India as the land of atheism (Dar al-Kufr) (Rasa'il wo Masa'il, 1951/2001, Delhi). People in Pakistan have been told not to marry people in India. In 1947, he prepared an outline for the Jamaat in India under the name Madras Address. He predicted that Islamic revolution would soon be possible in Pakistan and India. He suggested to take advantage of the insecurity in the country and prevent the communists from coming to the fore in any way possible. It is said that Islam itself is victorious and the Islamic revolution will become a reality (Khutba-e-Madras, 1996). He also hoped that the Islamic revolution would be welcomed by the Hindus without intrigues. At a meeting in Pathankot, Hindus were requested not to favour secularist democracy. He asked to read the scriptures to find out how to run the modern state. If it doesn't get one then it might have been missing such instructions for ages. But fear not. Islamic State also belongs to Hindus. Islam will help you. (Jamaat Islami Ki Dawat, Delhi, 31-32). Maududi also opined that the communists would take advantage of the chaos of the partition period. So he hoped that sixty percent of the people would accept Islam as a righteous spiritual movement and thereby bring about the Kingdom of Islam in India as well. He asked to read the scriptures to find out how to run the modern state. If it doesn't get one then it might have been missing such instructions for ages. But fear not. Islamic State also belongs to Hindus. Islam will help you. (Jamaat-e-Islami Ki Dawat, Delhi, 31-32). The Main Enemy Is Secularism Even if the Hindu Rajya comes to India, it is not necessarily bad; Maududi demanded that secularism and democracy should be opposed in every way. In his book Al-Jihad fil Islam, he called for Jihad itself to bring about the state of God. In Maududi's own words: “On our side all the three principles mentioned (nationalism, secularism and democracy) are bogus bodies. Not just fake bodies; We also firmly believe that these principles are the root of all misery and destruction that has been enslaved by man. Our opposition is in fact to the same principles. We must struggle against them with all our might” (Maududi, Secularism, Nationalism, Democracy, A Philosophical Analysis, IPH, Kozhikode, 1960, 1991, 15). "Secularism first made the people fearless of God and freed from traditional moral principles. As a result, they have become selfless worshipers who have no sense of responsibility. Then nationalism intoxicated them with the liquor of populist selfishness, blind nationalism and full-blown arrogance. Now democracy has given full power to legislate to the social desires of the unhinged, intoxicated and self-worshiping people (ibid. 22). Maududi also appeals to Muslims: 'Modern secular national democracy is inimical to your Islam and Iman. If you bow your head before it, it will be throwing your Holy Qur'an back. If you participate in its establishment and management, it will be a grave betrayal of your Holy Prophet. If you take up your flag, you will raise a flag of treason against your God. Do you claim to be Muslims in the name of any holy Islam; it is in open conflict between its spirit and the spirit of this unholy system. There is an apparent conflict between its fundamental principles and its fundamental principles. Every element of it is in relentless war with every element of it. There is no single point on which Islam agrees with the said system. Where the power of that system reigns, Islam will be a mere waterline…. Wherever you are, if you truly believe in Islam as revealed by the Holy Qur'an and the Messenger, It is your indispensable religious duty to defend this nationalism based on secular materialism and instead to fight for the establishment of that human representation based on the belief in God (Ibid Book:31-32). Maududi is calling here to start a struggle to establish the rule of Islam that he wants. Maududi also reiterates that democracy and secularism are systems that deny religion (Kufr). Islam is a holistic religion with ample fluidity to evolve as per social growth. The Islam is being weaponised by people with vested interests. Jamat e Islami is one of them. The teachings of Maulana Maududi is incompatible with the progress of society and have lurking dangers beneath them. The talk of its validity is infructuous, as the ideology has met its expiry date. Moderate version of Islam has to be promoted and propagated widely. ------ A regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com, Mubashir V.P is a PhD scholar in Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and freelance journalist. Part One of the Article: Theocratic Nation of Maulana Maududi and His Jamaat-e-Islami's Vision - Part 1 Part Two of the Article: Theocratic Nation of Maulana Maududi and his Jamaat-e-Islami’s Vision - Part 2: Influencing Jinnah and his Muslim League URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-politics/theocratic-nation-maududi-jamaat-islami-jahiliyyah/d/127851 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism