Founding The Jamaat-i-Islami
In 1941, Maududi founded Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) in British India as a religious political movement to promote Islamic values and practices. The JI was against the creation of Pakistan, arguing that the leaders of the Muslim League did not have an Islamic outlook and that muslims of the subcontinent would be left divided and vulnerable. Presented with a fait accompli after the Partition of India, the JI was redefined in 1947 to support an Islamic state in Pakistan. The JI claims to be the oldest religious party in Pakistan.
With the Partition of India, the JI decided to split the organization with the new political boundaries of new countries carved out of British India. The organisation headed by Maududi is now known as Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan. Also existing are Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, and autonomous groups in Indian Kashmir, and also in Sri Lanka.
Maududi was elected Jamaat’s first ameer (president) and remained so until 1972 when he withdrew from the responsibility for reasons of health.
Read more about this topic: Abul Ala Maududi
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