Azamgarh–January 23, 1963

Respected Maulana Abul Lais Sahib, Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind,

Assalamu Alaykum,

You may recall that on December 6, 1962, in the office of the Principal at Rampur, in the presence of Maulana Sadruddin Sahib, Afzal Hussain Sahib, Abdul Hai Sahib, Urooj Qadri Sahib, and Jalaluddin Ansar Sahib, I stated that if you confirm that “Maulana Maududi’s literature is not the authoritative interpretation of Jamaat-e-Islami’s ideology,” then I would withdraw my objections and continue my work within the Jamaat as before. This remains my primary concern today, and I wish to receive a clear response from you.

My concern is that Maulana Maududi’s literature, currently published by Jamaat-e-Islami’s publishing house, does not present the faith in its true light. For some reason, it has become predominantly political in tone. Additionally, I feel that members of Jamaat-e-Islami regard this literature as the sole authoritative source of the Jamaat’s ideology. Given my understanding, this status of the literature has become a matter of conscience for me. The concept of deen that I find in the Quran and Hadith—and which I have expressed in my writings in Monthly Zindagi (Rampur) over the past years—seems distinct from the specific tone of this literature.

Since Jamaat-e-Islami’s authentic ideology should align with what its members generally understand it to be, and, in my view, this is almost entirely what Maulana Maududi has presented, working within the Jamaat with a differing approach feels inconsistent with my sense of integrity.

My concern could be addressed if you provide a written statement affirming that Maulana Maududi’s literature does not hold the status of an authoritative interpretation of Jamaat-e-Islami’s ideology.

Please respond in the most explicit possible terms.

Wahiduddin