A Reflection Paper On Maududi’s Political Theory Of Islam Article Review

In the Political Theory of Islam, Abul’ala Maududi gives a short history and basis for his belief that governments should be ruled by one religion, which is Islam, and one God which is Allah. Citing sources from the Holy Quran, the article tackled first the history of evil. According to Maududi, the domination of man over the other is the root cause of all evil. In the past, man’s thinking that he can be God had caused inequality in all societies. He gave as an example how the prophets warned men not to worship nature, pagan gods, idols, deities, kings and pharaohs. He also described how the man’s intoxication to godhood is parallel to today’s socio-political systems. He insists that men are “chained by false gods” which he believes are today’s political parties, group, ruler or money magnate dominating over the majority causing unrest, further inequality and conflicts everywhere in the world.
He therefore concludes that the only solution for men to stop dominating others and end all conflicts is for the world to believe in one God and establish an Islamic State.
As I was reading the article, I realized that there is so many things that the mainstream world doesn’t know about Islam. From an outsider’s point of view, Islam is always associated with terrorism. However as I was reading the political basis of the religion, there is some sense to wanting to change the world for the better. Who wouldn’t want to end the wars? Who doesn’t want peace?
However, in the principles of the Islamic political theory, Maududi pointed out clearly that “No onecan lay claim to sovereignty”. Even nations can’t claim their sovereignty (even if they have fought for it). Only God is “sovereign” and all others are his subjects, obliged to obey His law as directed through His prophets. It’s as if men are servants or slaves of one religion following rules and laws given by the prophets hundreds of years ago. Who decides on present issues not applicable to the past like technological advancements or modern systems? How can a religious state advance if it is bounded by laws of God created in the past without rooms for revisions as stated in the third principle of the Islamic Political theory? As I finished the article many questions fluttered like butterflies inside my head. The only solution is to learn and understand more about the religion in an academic perspective.

Works Cited

Sayyid [Syed] Abul A’la Maududi. Political Theory of Islam. Lahore: Islamic Publications Limited, 1976, pp. 4-22.