Who was Maulana Abul A'la Maudoodi? Which Math-hab did he follow?

Answer

Hadhrat Mufti Mahmudul Hasaan Gangohi (rahmatullah alayh) discussing Mr. Maudoodi says:

"Many of the books written by Sayyid Abul A'la Maudoodi are in conflict with the maslak of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah. He has his own maslak (way) in Kalaam and Fiqh. He did not follow any of the Aimmah among the Salf. Teachings of the Mu'tazilah and Khawaarij are also found in his writings. Therefore it is harmful from the Deeni aspect to study his books. His words are extremely deceptive. The effect of his words is liberalism which in turn induces people to deduct their own rules from the Qur'aan and Hadith. Thus, they rely on their own personal understanding. In this process they ignore the understanding of the Mufassireen, Muhadditheen, Fuqaha-e-Mujtahideen and the senior authorities of the Deen.

Frequently the effect of his writings leads to abandonment of reliance on the understanding of even the Sahaabah. On this basis he has extremely baseless criticism levelled against even the Sahaabah and the senior authorities of the Shariah. He accepted such Ahaadith which placated his heart, and claimed them to be authentic. On the other hand, Ahaadith which militated against his disposition, he would refute by saying it is incompatible with the disposition of the Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and the way of Islam. (This is a baseless principle fabricated by Maudoodi – The Majlis). The attempt to erode reliance on the Salf-e-Saaliheen is extremely dangerous. It is destructive for the deen and manifest deviation. Hence, the general public should be discouraged from reading his books.

Sayyid Abul A'la Maudoodi is a writer and an editor. He is not a mustanad (qualified) Aalim. He is self-taught. In fact he himself has conceded that he is not among the Fraternity of the Ulama. His primary objective was to convince people that since the time of the Sahaabah no one has correctly understood the Deen. Thus Maudoodi and those influenced by his writings have severely criticized even the Sahaabah. His criticism did not spare even those senior Sahaabah whom Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) mentioned by name to be the inmates of Jannat (the Ten Sahaabah whom were given the assurance of Jannat).

Maudoodi has presented a new brand of Islam which is based on his personal 'ijtihaad'. In his writings, Maudoodi has specifically targeted Hadhrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu anhu) and Hadhrat

Muaawiyah (radhiyallahu anhu) for his criticism despite the fact that both these seniors are Sahaabah whose virtues the Ahaadith confirm. He searched for defects and faults in the blessed lives of the Sahaabah Kiraam. He proudly publicized such criticism (of the Sahaabah) whereas Rasulullah (sallaallahu alayhi wasallam) had warned against making his Sahaabah a target for criticism, and emphasized love for them. Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) equated love for the Sahaabah with his love, and hatred for them with his hatred. (Those who love the Shaabah, do so because of their love for Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), and those who bear animosity for them, do so because of their animosity for Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

According to Maudoodi no one has hitherto understood Islam properly. All the Sufi-yah, Mutakallimeen, Mufassireen, Muhadditheen, the Sahaabah and the Taabieen had misunderstood the Deen. He accused Hadhrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu anhu) of being unqualified for the Khilaafat." ---Extracts from Fataawah Mahmudiyah, Vol. 1

Mr. Maudoodi was among the worst deviates of this era. He rejected the authority of the Sahaabah whose authority Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) affirmed. Regarding the Sahaabah, our Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: "Honour my Sahaabah, for they are the noblest among you; then those after them, then those after them. Thereafter will be falsehood." There are numerous Ahaadith stating the authority of the Sahaabah. The entire edifice of Islam is structured on the narrations and interpretations of the Sahaabah. Minus the Sahaabah, there is no Islam. When Maudoodi had targeted this very first wrung of Authorities of the Shariah, and had endeavoured to downgrade and destroy their authority, then his deviation, in fact kufr, is conspicuous.

Maudoodi went astray – was led astray by shaitaan. His brains became infected with a kind of insanity which blinds intellectual comprehension of reality. When a man fails to understand the authority of the Sahaabah – those who were educated by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) – those whose obedience Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) imposed on the Ummah – it is a confirmation of his Satanism which completely destroys a person's intellect. His kufr had calcified his brains depriving it of straight thinking and comprehension of simple realities of the Qur'aan and Sunnah.

Maudoodi's crime is not restricted to fisq (he used to cut his beard shorter than the mandatory fist length). His rejection and criticism of the Sahaabah and their authority are in fact kufr. It is therefore not permissible to study his writings. Laymen are bound to go astray by the deceptions preponderating his books.