The Islamic Law and Constitution

Maulana Abu A’la Maududi [1903-1979] was a Muslim thinker, the­ologist and reformer. Maududi notes that Islam encompasses all aspects of life including faith, worship, morality, social, economic and political life. Therefore, Islam is a complete and comprehensive way of life. Maulana Maududi’s political thought conceptualizes Islamic State as comprised of Sovereignty of God, Supremacy of Shariah and Viceregen­cy. The very purpose of the establishment of an Islamic state is to develop a complete system of social justice for its people. The Islamic state shall establish a government which will promote the good and eliminate the evil. The chief characteristics of an Islamic state shall be the protection of the freedom of expression of its citizens and safeguard their interest unlike totalitarian, dictatorial and autocratic forms of government. In the then united India, he helped form Jama’at-e-Islami in early 1940s to work for establishment of Islamic State. All his life, Maududi continued producing literature and discussing as how to bring about a change in the society and establish an Islamic State, however, it could not materialize be­fore he left this world. But his personality, literature, speeches and the work of the Jama’at have left a lasting impact not only upon the Muslims in Southeast Asia but its impact could be felt as far as the entire Middle East.

By Dr. Fatimah Bint Abdullah