Jamiat is the oldest and largest student organization in Pakistan.
Syed Abu-Al-Ala Maududi
September 25, 1903
September 22, 1979
Founder Jamaat-e-Islami
Syed Abul A‘la Maududi (RA) was born on 3rd Rajab 1321 AH, corresponding to 25 September 1903, on Friday at 11:30 a.m., in Aurangabad, Hyderabad Deccan (present-day Maharashtra, India).
From a very young age, he used to go to the mosque with his father and sit in the gatherings of scholars. Because he belonged to a religious family, his religious education started early. He memorized Quranic chapters and by the age of 9, he had learned Arabic grammar, Arabic, Persian, Fiqh, Hadith, and basic Urdu from his father.
At the age of 9, he was admitted to Madrasah Foqania Aurangabad (Rashidia) directly in the 8th grade. At the age of 11, in 1914, he passed the Molvi (10th-grade equivalent) examination. He was then sent to Dar-ul-Uloom Hyderabad for higher education, but due to his father’s illness, he could not continue. In 1915, he moved to Bhopal to live with his elder brother Abu Muhammad.
During this time, he developed a deep love for reading. Along with religious studies, he also studied science subjects and the English language extensively. His interest in writing grew, which led him into journalism. His father passed away in 1920, and until then, he continued living in Bhopal with his family.
During the early years of this period, while living in Hyderabad Deccan, Maulana Maududi began serious study and research in history. At that time, he was 25 years old. He wrote works on the political history of the Deccan, the Asaf Jahi state, and its relations with the British government. He also translated Ibn Khaldun’s history, titled “Al-Asfar al-Arba‘ah”. During this period, he also wrote poetry using the pen name “Talib”.
In 1930, on the request of the Hyderabad State Education Department, he wrote religious textbooks (Deeniyat), which were included in the high school syllabus of the state.
At the age of 30, in 1933, he launched the magazine “Tarjuman-ul-Qur’an”, through which he began addressing Muslims directly. Initially, he focused on explaining Islamic beliefs, values, and basic principles. Later, he started writing on current issues, especially the revival of the Indian Muslim nation. In a short time, he gained a strong intellectual position in society.
During this period, he wrote many important books, including Rights of Husband and Wife, Interest (Riba), Purdah, Free Will and Destiny, Islamic Civilization and Its Foundations, A Critical Study of Islamic Worship, Tafhimat, and Basic Flaws in Our Education System.
In 1937, at the age of 34, Maulana Maududi married Mahmooda Begum, who belonged to the Bukhari family of Delhi, a respected scholarly and wealthy family associated with the Imamat of Jama Masjid Delhi. She fully supported Maulana in his mission, migrated with him four times soon after marriage, showed patience during his imprisonments, and managed household affairs and children’s upbringing. She passed away in 2003.
Maulana’s ideas and personality gained recognition among serious intellectual circles. During this time, correspondence began between Allama Iqbal and Maulana Maududi through Chaudhry Niaz Muhammad, who wanted to establish an institution for research, education, and training in Pathankot. On Allama Iqbal’s suggestion, Maulana Maududi was invited to lead this project. After about two years, in 1938, Maulana moved to Pathankot with his family and founded Dar-ul-Islam, a research and intellectual center.
Dar-ul-Islam remained active from 1938 to 1939. During this time, the idea of forming an organized Islamic intellectual movement began. From 1939 to 1942, Maulana lived in Lahore, where he served voluntarily for one year at the Department of Islamic Studies at Islamia College.
At that time, the British agreed to provincial autonomy, and elections were held. The Congress government oppressed Muslims and promoted the idea of united nationalism. While many scholars supported Congress, Maulana Maududi strongly supported the Two-Nation Theory. He wrote powerful scholarly articles explaining the difference between Islamic governance and secular nationalism, which later helped the Pakistan Movement. These writings were later published as “The Freedom Movement of India and the Muslims” (two volumes).
Maulana’s ideas turned into a strong organized movement. His article “The Need for a Righteous Group” was published in Tarjuman-ul-Qur’an. As a result, on 25–26 August 1941, Jamaat-e-Islami was founded in Lahore at Islamia Park, with 75 participants from across India.
Later, in 1942, after World War II, the Jamaat’s center was shifted to Dar-ul-Islam, Pathankot for better research and training. The first All-India gathering was held there in 1945 with 800 participants, and the second in Allahabad in 1946 with 2,000 participants.
As the creation of Pakistan approached, several meetings were held in 1947 in areas expected to become Pakistan and India. During this time, Maulana wrote major works including Islamic Call and Its Method, Islam and Ignorance, Witness to Truth, and Moral Foundations of the Islamic Movement. He also began writing Tafhim-ul-Qur’an in 1942.
During the chaos of Partition, Pathankot became unsafe. About 8,000 Muslims took shelter at Dar-ul-Islam and were later safely sent to Pakistan. One worker was martyred, and all books and manuscripts were left behind. After ensuring everyone’s safety, Maulana migrated to Lahore.
Maulana reached Lahore in late August 1947. Initially, Jamaat workers lived in refugee camps. The Jamaat focused on relief work, burial of bodies, and city cleanup. Pakistan was organized administratively, and Jamaat expanded its work nationwide.
Maulana launched a movement for an Islamic constitution, delivering lectures across the country and on Radio Pakistan. His efforts led to the approval of the Objectives Resolution in 1949.
Due to false allegations, Maulana and other Jamaat leaders were imprisoned from 1948 to 1950. During imprisonment, he wrote major works including Tafhim-ul-Qur’an, Tafhimat, Rasail-o-Masail, and The Issue of Land Ownership.
In 1951, 31 scholars jointly presented the famous 22 Islamic Points for constitution-making.
Maulana faced multiple imprisonments, including a death sentence in 1953, later changed to life imprisonment. Pakistan’s first Islamic constitution was passed in 1956, but later abolished by Ayub Khan.
He traveled widely across the Middle East, played a role in founding Islamic University Madinah, and helped establish Rabita Al-Alam Al-Islami. His works during this time included Islam and Modern Economic Theories, The Constitutional Status of Sunnah, and Finality of Prophethood.
In 1969, he received the King Faisal Award. In 1972, after completing Tafhim-ul-Qur’an (after 30 years), he resigned as Amir of Jamaat due to health reasons.
He later began writing on the Seerah of the Prophet (ﷺ). The first volume, “Seerat-e-Sarwar-e-Alam”, was published in 1978.
In May 1979, he went to the USA for treatment and passed away on 22 September 1979. His funeral prayers were offered at six places, with the final prayer held at Qaddafi Stadium Lahore on 26 September, led by Allama Yusuf Al-Qaradawi. He was buried at his home in Ichhra, Lahore.
Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.
