THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN ISLAM AND JAHILIYYAH IN THE THOUGHT OF MAULANA SYED ABUL A'LA MAUDUDI: AN INTELLECTUAL ANALYSIS

This paper looks at the ongoing struggle between Islam and Jahiliyyah (ignorance) through the ideas of Maulana Syed Abul A'la Maududi. Maududi argues that Jahiliyyah is not just something that existed in pre-Islamic times, but is a constant reality wherever human-made systems replace divine guidance. For him, Jahiliyyah appears whenever societies reject Islamic teachings and adopt secular, man-made ideologies, leading to moral and spiritual decline. The study draws primarily from Maududi’s work "Islami Nizam-e-Zindagi aur us ke Bunyadi Tasawwurat", especially the chapter "Islam aur Jahiliyyah". It explores how Maududi defines Jahiliyyah and shows how it still exists in the modern world. Despite advancements in technology and society, modern secularism, materialism, and other ideologies continue to carry the essence of Jahiliyyah. Furthermore, the paper highlights Maududi’s call for an Islamic revolution—one that replaces secular systems with a comprehensive way of life based on the sovereignty of Allah. Ultimately, this research aims to offer a clearer understanding of Maududi’s vision of an Islamic order that confronts and overcomes the challenges of modern-day Jahiliyyah. Keywords: Maulana Maududi, Jahiliyyah, Islamic political thought, Modern ignorance, Ideological conflict, Islamic system, Revivalism in Islam, Secularism vs Islam, Islamic governance