Abul Ala al-Mawdudi

Abu al-Ala Sayyid Abul Ala al-Mawdudi (1903-1979 CE / 1321-1399 AH) was a Pakistani scholar, political thinker, and journalist who founded Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the most influential Islamic political movements of the 20th century. Born in Aurangabad, British India, he was largely self-educated and began his career as a journalist before turning to Islamic scholarship and activism.

Al-Mawdudi's most important literary work is Tafhim al-Quran (Towards Understanding the Quran), a comprehensive Urdu tafsir completed over thirty years that presents the Quran as a coherent guide for establishing an Islamic social and political order. His other major works include al-Jihad fil-Islam on the Islamic concept of struggle, al-Khilafah wal-Mulk (Caliphate and Kingship), and numerous works on Islamic governance, economics, and social organization. He developed the concept of divine sovereignty (hakimiyyah) as a political principle.

Al-Mawdudi's vision of Islam as a complete system encompassing governance, economics, and social life influenced Islamic political thought worldwide. His writings were translated into Arabic and other languages, reaching a global audience. Jamaat-e-Islami became a major force in Pakistani politics and inspired similar movements elsewhere. His ideas have been both praised for their systematic presentation of Islam as a comprehensive way of life and criticized by traditional scholars who questioned some of his interpretations. He passed away in Buffalo, New York, while receiving medical treatment.