# Sayyid Abul A'la Maududi (1903 – 1979) Canonical URL: https://www.readmaududi.com/biography Founder, Jamaat-e-Islami — Scholar, Reformer, Revivalist Sayyid Abul A'la Maududi (also spelled Mawdudi; 25 September 1903 – 22 September 1979), widely known as Maulana Maududi, was a 20th-century Islamic scholar, journalist, philosopher, and revivalist. Born in Aurangabad in the former princely state of Hyderabad (Deccan), now in India, he wrote more than 120 books and treatises on Islamic thought, law, politics, and Qur'anic exegesis. His magnum opus, the six-volume Tafhim-ul-Quran (Tafheem-ul-Quran), is among the most widely read modern commentaries of the Qur'an. In 1941 he founded Jamaat-e-Islami, which became a major Islamic movement in South Asia. He died in Buffalo, New York, on 22 September 1979, and was buried in Lahore. Read Maududi publishes this biography alongside the digital library of his works — books, Tafheem-ul-Quran, audio narrations, and lectures — so readers can go from his life to his writings in one place. ## Identity - Canonical name: Sayyid Abul A'la Maududi - Alternate names: Maulana Maududi; Maulana Abul Ala Maududi; Abul A'la Maududi; Abul Ala Maududi; Abul Ala Mawdudi; Abul A'la Mawdudi; Syed Abul A'la Maududi; سید ابو الاعلی مودودی; ابو الاعلی مودودی; مولانا مودودی - Birth: 1903-09-25 - Death: 1979-09-22 - Same as: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abul_A%27la_Maududi; https://ur.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%95_%D9%85%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AF%DB%8C; https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q317087; https://www.britannica.com/biography/Abul-Ala-Mawdudi ## Birth, Lineage, and Spiritual Heritage ### Birth Abul A'la Maududi was born on Rajab 3, 1321 A.H. (September 25, 1903 C.E.) in Aurangabad, a well-known town of the former princely state of Hyderabad (Deccan), now in India. ### Spiritual Heritage The family had a long-standing tradition of spiritual leadership. Several of Maududi's ancestors were associated with Sufi orders, most notably Khwajah Qutb al-Din Maudud (d. 527 A.H.), a distinguished figure of the Chishti order, from whom the family derives its name. His forefathers migrated from Chisht to the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent towards the end of the ninth century A.H., bringing with them a rich legacy of spirituality and religious scholarship. ### Lineage He was born into a respectable family whose paternal lineage is traced back to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). This noble ancestry formed an important part of the family's identity and heritage. ### Family Background His father, Ahmad Hasan (b. 1855 C.E.), was a lawyer by profession and a deeply religious and devout man. He was known for his commitment to faith, discipline, and moral values. ### Early Influences The environment of piety, discipline, and moral responsibility within the household played a defining role in shaping Maududi's character and outlook. These early influences laid the foundation for his future intellectual and spiritual development. ## Education and Self-Development ### Early Education Maududi received his early education at home under the supervision of his father. He later joined Madrasah Fawqaniyah, an institution that attempted to combine modern Western education with traditional Islamic learning. He completed his secondary education successfully and proceeded toward higher studies at Dar al-'Ulum, Hyderabad. ### Self-Development & Independent Learning His formal education was interrupted by the illness and death of his father, but his pursuit of knowledge never stopped. Through self-discipline and intellectual curiosity, he continued learning independently. By the early 1920s, he had gained proficiency in Arabic, Persian, and English alongside his mother tongue, Urdu. ### Intellectual and Moral Formation While he benefited occasionally from guidance by scholars, the bulk of his intellectual development was self-driven. His moral uprightness and deep commitment to propriety reflected the strong religious upbringing instilled by his parents. ## Legacy in numbers - 120+ books authored - 6 Tafhim volumes - 4 languages mastered - 46 years of writing ## Entry into Journalism and Early Public Life ### Journalism and Editorial Career Following the disruption of his formal education, Maududi turned to journalism to support himself. As early as 1918, he was contributing to a leading Urdu newspaper. By 1920, at the age of seventeen, he was appointed editor of Taj, published from Jabalpore. Later, he moved to Delhi, where he served as editor of Muslim (1921–1923) and subsequently Al-Jam‘iyat (1925–1928), both associated with the Jami‘at-i ‘Ulama-i Hind. Under his leadership, Al-Jam‘iyat emerged as one of the most influential newspapers among the Muslims of India. ### Public writing and the path to revival Through editorial leadership and public writing, he shaped debate on Muslim identity, colonial politics, and the role of Islam in modern life. This early public career prepared the ground for his later scholarly works and for founding movements that sought a comprehensive Islamic revival. ## Emergence as a Scholar and Thinker ### Translation and Early Writings Between 1920 and 1928, Maududi translated several works from Arabic and English while also contributing original writings. During this period, he steadily developed his intellectual and scholarly capabilities through writing, research, and publication. ### Al-Jihad fil-Islam His first major scholarly work, Al-Jihad fil-Islam, began as a series of articles published in Al-Jam‘iyat in 1927 and was later released as a book in 1930. The work presented a comprehensive exposition of the Islamic law of war and peace. ### Family Background The discipline and piety of his upbringing continued to inform his scholarly method: rigorous study, moral seriousness, and a refusal to separate intellectual work from lived Islamic ethics. These habits sustained a lifetime of writing and reform. ## Tarjuman al-Qur'an and Intellectual Mission ### Launch of Tarjuman al-Qur'an After resigning from Al-Jam‘iyat in 1928, Maududi moved to Hyderabad and devoted himself to research and writing. In 1933, he launched the monthly journal Tarjuman al-Qur’an, which became the principal platform for presenting and spreading his ideas. ### Addressing Islam and Modernity Through Tarjuman al-Qur’an, he explored the relationship between Islam and the modern world. He explained Islamic principles, values, and worldview while critically examining Western philosophical and social ideas through the lens of the Qur’an and Sunnah. ### A Distinct Intellectual Methodology Maududi developed a unique method of analyzing political, social, and economic issues in light of Islamic teachings. His writings combined deep scholarship with clarity and relevance, connecting classical Islamic knowledge to contemporary challenges. ## Frequently asked questions ### Who is Maulana Maududi? Sayyid Abul A'la Maududi (1903–1979), commonly known as Maulana Maududi or Abul Ala Mawdudi, was a 20th-century Islamic scholar, journalist, philosopher, and revivalist. He authored more than 120 books, including Tafheem-ul-Quran, and founded Jamaat-e-Islami in 1941. His full biography is published on Read Maududi. ### When was Maulana Maududi born and when did he die? Maulana Maududi was born on 25 September 1903 (Rajab 3, 1321 A.H.) in Aurangabad, Hyderabad State (now India). He died on 22 September 1979 in Buffalo, New York, and was buried in Lahore. ### Who founded Jamaat-e-Islami? Sayyid Abul A'la Maududi founded Jamaat-e-Islami on 26 August 1941. It became one of the most influential Islamic movements in South Asia. ### What is Tafheem-ul-Quran? Tafheem-ul-Quran (also spelled Tafhim-ul-Quran, Towards Understanding the Qur'an) is Maulana Maududi's six-volume commentary on the Qur'an. It is his magnum opus and can be read in full on Read Maududi. ### How many books did Maulana Maududi write? Maulana Maududi authored more than 120 books and treatises over roughly 46 years of writing, covering Islamic thought, law, politics, and Qur'anic exegesis. His first major scholarly work, Al-Jihad fil-Islam, appeared as a book in 1930. ### Where was Maulana Maududi born? He was born in Aurangabad, a town in the former princely state of Hyderabad (Deccan), now in Maharashtra, India. His family traced its name to Khwajah Qutb al-Din Maudud of the Chishti order. ### What languages did Maulana Maududi write in? Maududi's mother tongue was Urdu. By the early 1920s he had also gained proficiency in Arabic, Persian, and English, and he translated works from Arabic and English as well as writing original books.