Glimpses of Maulana Maudoodi By Dr. Kaukab Siddique

 

He wrote about the finality of prophethood and the unity of the Ummah. His ideas gradually spread all over Pakistan.

 

The government of Pakistan was secular. The rulers were extremely Westernized. Before Pakistan came into being, they used to say Maudoodi was against the creation of Pakistan.

 

But when Pakistan was assaulted by India, Maudoodi was invited to come on radio to help the Pakistani side. He urged the masses to fight back in the name of Allah. His message was powerful and united Pakistan for Islam. Pakistanis became mujahideen, and some gave their lives to blow up Indian tanks. As a result, the Indian army was devastated.  

 

Maudoodi had a study circle in the garden of his house.  I had the opportunity to attend the study circle. Very quickly I realized he was a scholar, who supported his teachings with in-depth references.

 

Once a young man listened to his teachings and came with evil intent.  The man drew out a long knife. He confessed that he had come to kill Maudoodi based on abusive reports he’d heard about the scholar on sectarian media. But after listening to Maudoodi himself, the would-be killer apologized and left.

 

On another occasion at a big public meeting, Maulana, as we called him, was confronted by a gunman sent by the regime. The gun man opened fire, killing one man. People shouted at Maulana sahib to get down. Maulana said, “If I sit down, who will keep standing?”  He was fearless.

 

Many years back, I found a book in my grandfather’s library titled Riba in which Maudoodi argues, with full references, that bank interest is haraam (forbidden) in Islam. He was outright against capitalism.

 

For years, he was imprisoned. In fact, his entire central committee was imprisoned. But the government could not stop his ideas from spreading. His writings were translated and spread all over the Muslim world. However, the Pakistani regime would not let him travel.

 

Once the travel ban was removed from him, all the media were invited to meet him. But most major media in Pakistan at the time were secular. Many, like Dawn, remain so. So, despite the unusual opportunity to interview such a prominent scholar, no one from the Pakistani press corps turned up.

 

I went and saw Syed Munawar Hasan there alone. Munawar was funny.

 

I asked him “Where are the media?”

 

He laughed and said, “You are the media.”

 

Munawar could win over anyone. He was amazing and slowly through him, Jamiat, the student wing of Jamaat-e Islami, became the biggest student group at Karachi University. I was enrolled in a degree program there, I came across him again, and gradually we became close friends. Munawar made Karachi University a major bastion of Islamic work.

 

Once Munawar came to my house, where I lived with rich relatives. He said, “Come out and meet the masses. Living here will be a waste of your abilities.”

 

My highest thoughts were influenced by Maulana Maudoodi. He encouraged me to write against secular Americanized groups which were taking over Pakistan. I read his numerous books. I also studied his tafseer of the Qur’an, and found it brilliant and thought provoking.

 

Later on, I’d moved to Canada to pursue my doctorate. During that time, Maulana Maudoodi visited there. He gave a major speech which I had the honor to translate (live) into English.

 

He encouraged supporters to use his writings to rebut secularism. “Come Let Us Change This World” is the title of the book in which I summarized his writing. It has been published in various countries.

 

He had some famous  quips. Once he was very tired from travelling. A student wanted to “press (massage) his legs,” as young people in  Pakistan do for elders. Maudoodi refused, saying “Main kubhi daba naheen.”