JIHAD A HOLY WAR OR TERRORISM: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF MAULANA MAUDUDI'S APPROACH

Islam is a religion of peace and harmony and promote welfare and prosperity. Since its inception Islam has rejected intolerance and violence which is infact the basic preaching of any divine religion. Several verses of Quran and Traditions of Prophet (SAW) highlight the importance and restoration of peace in society. While in recent past and more specifically in post 9/11 era Islam often been labeled as a religion of terrorism. Western media continuously trying to portray Islam as violent religion and many misconceptions and ambiguities about Jihad have been spread intentionally. People are not aware of the real spirit and concept of Jihad. It’s the need of hour to answer their misconceptions. In recent past many modern Islamic scholars have responded well to the propaganda spread by critics of Islam, Maulana Maududi is one of them. Maulana presented the face of Islam which they were completely unaware of, and wrote on number of topics that are of great importance in the present day. Western world linking Islam with terrorism is a contemporary issue but still Maulana’s writings from mid 20th century seems as these were written by Maulana to address these contemporary issues. Maulana in his writings described Jihad in such a way that we get detailed and accurate answers to the questions arise regarding Jihad in the present era. This study explores the importance of the writings of Maulana Maududi to address the critics of Islam about Jihad and also focuses on his critical review of his exegetical and jurisprudential approach to discuss Jihad it’s objectives and implication. Keywords: Islam, Jihad, Terrorism, Misconceptions, Maulana Maududi