Abul A'la Maududi أبو الأعلى المودودي

1903–1979 CE

Founder of Jamaat-e-Islami (1941) and a theorist of political Islam alongside Sayyid Qutb. His Tafhim al-Quran is a comprehensive commentary designed to make the Quran accessible to modern readers. His concept of divine sovereignty (hakimiyya) shaped Islamist movements worldwide.

Why They Mattered

He developed a systematic modern theory of an Islamic state — arguing that sovereignty belongs to God alone and that politics must align with divine law. His ideas influenced Islamist movements from Egypt to Southeast Asia.

Intellectual Role

Abul A'la Maududi emerged as a pivotal figure in the realm of political Islamic thought, distinguishing himself through his comprehensive vision of an Islamic state. He founded Jamaat-e-Islami in 1941, which aimed to establish a socio-political structure rooted in Islamic teachings, thereby explicitly connecting religion with the governance of society. His approach was marked by a unique interpretation of Islamic principles that emphasized the notion of 'hakimiyya,' or divine sovereignty, asserting that all authority ultimately belongs to God. This contrasted sharply with contemporary secular…

Legacy

Jamaat-e-Islami remains a significant political force in Pakistan and Bangladesh. His Tafhim al-Quran is widely read as a modern tafsir in Urdu. His political theory of 'theo-democracy' contributed to constitutional debates in Muslim-majority nations.