A Short History Of The Revivalist Movement in Islam
Sayyid Abu! A'la Maududi Translated By AI-Ash'ari
Markazi Maktaba Islami Publishers New Delhi
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.110025
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Name oftire Book
A Short History Of The Revivalist Movement in Islam Pages: 124
Au/hoI'
Maulana Sayylrl Abul A 'Ia MIIIIIIIIIIi
Translated by AI-Ash'ari
Edition
January 2009
500
Price : Rs. 55.00
Published by
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( CONTENTS, [Page [ Translator's Note Glossary Preface to the First (Urdu) Edition Preface to the Fifth (Urdu) Edition
Chapter I. Connict between Islam and Un-Islam Atheism Polytheism Asceticism �m Mission of the Prophets Nature of the Prophets' Mission The Rightly-Guided Caliphate Onslaught of 'Ignorance' Need for Mujaddids A Tradition and its Explanation
Chapter 2. The Nature ofIslamlc Revival (Tajdid)... Innovation and Revival Who is a Mujaddid?
A Mujaddid and a Prophet Aspects of Islamic Revival
The Ideal Mujaddid A1-Imam-ul-Mehdi.
Chapter 3. Some Great Mujaddids of Islam and their Achievements Umar bin 'Abdul 'Aziz The Four Imams Imam .Ghazali Imam Ibn-i-Taimiyyah Shaikh Ahmad of Sirhind
5
7 11 13 15
15 18
21 � 28 30 30 30 34 35 37 37
37 38 39
40 42 45
45 49
51 59 64
Chapter 4. The Achievements of Shah Waliullah of Delhi Work of Criticism Work of Reconstruction The Results Sayyid Ahmad Brelavi and Shah Isma'j[ Shahirl Causes of Failure The First Cause The Second Cause The Third Cause The End
73
74 83
88 88 91 92
94 95
99
Appendices 1.
n.
m.
IV. V.
Nature Of
Tajdid and Imam Mehdi
Revelation and Mujaddids Tasawwuf and the Image of Shaikh
An Allegation Refuted and His Place in Islam
Al-Mehdi
101
-105 111
114 117
TRANSLATOR'S NOTE The English Edition of Tajdid-o-Ihya-i-Din, a greatwork by Maulana Abul A'la Maududi, is before the reader. This wonderful book was originally published as far back as 1940 and has since run throug1l seven editions. It aims at reviving a new feeling among the Muslims of the Indo-Pak subcontinent for religious reawakening and reconstruction. It begins with a comparative study of the various philosophies and doctrines of life prevalent in the world from the earliest times and shows that Islam is tile only Way of Life suited to human nature. Then there is an enlightening discus. sion of the revivalist work in Islam, which outlines and explains, among other things, the salient aspects of the programme that has to be undertaken by a Mujaddid for the revival and estab lishment of Islam in its original pure form on the earth. This is indeed a marvellous chapter and perhaps the very heart of the book. The discussion about Al-Imam-ul-Mehdi, the Ideal scientifica'ily proves that Islam is eventually to
Mujaddid,
emerge as the World-Religion to cure Man of all his maladie.., physical and spiritual, and to deliver him from the agonies of want and fear. Then the author presents in a brief but te!ling way the history of the Revivaijst Movement in Islam from 8 critical angle. He rightly attacks Hero-worship that has become a religion both in the East and the West and is the virtual cause of many of the human ills. Though the Maulana expected that this would provoke Sufistic opposition he presented the hard facts of history with a view to learning lessons for future guidance. Likewise he stated boldly the causes of failure of the great Islamic Movement, led by so revered men as Sayyid Ahmed Shahid and Shah Isma'il Shahid, to attain its real objec tive, so that these may help us shape our future destinies for the glory of Islam.
6
REVIVALIST MOVEMENT IN ISlAM
Naturally, this frank appraisal b�ought in its wake a storm of scathing criticism. Those people: who were hit· for their hero-worship or who felt offended on account of their vague and exaggerated notions about Tajdid and, especially, about
Imam Mehdi, raised cries of protest against the Maulana. 'Some such typical objections and misgivings have been coolly and analytically dealt with in the appendices which offer a wealth of knowledge on, and afford a rare insight into, subjects like Tasawwuf, Revelation, Imam Mehdi, etc. With these remarks I present this book to the English reader. As for its language it cannot be expected to match with the unique style of the Maulana, who is undoubtedly the greatest prose-writer of modern Urdu.
The reader will do well to first go through the Glossary of the Islamic terms that have been used in this book.I am grateful to the Maulana himself who personally took interest in the preparation of this glossary.
Besides, I would be failing in my
duty ifI did not acknowledge the help given by Ch. Muhammad Akbar and Malik Ghulam Ali during my work of translation.
Lahore February, 1963
AI-Ash'ari
GLOSSARY
Akhbar-i-Ashaad are the Ahadith (pI. of Hadith) reported by a few reporters only as against the mashhoor (well-known among the scholars of Hadith) and mutawatir (commonly reported by reporters at every stage) Ahadith. Bai'at was originally the oath of allegiance taken by Muslims at the hand of a Caliph who was the religious as well as the political head of Islamic State, but in modern usage it implies the oath taken by the people at the hand of a spiritual-guide only.
Faqeeh is one well-versed in Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh). Fiqh is Islamic J urispru