Azamgarh

Following Maulana Abul Lais Sahib’s letter dated January 7, 1963, I met him in Azamgarh on January 22. This meeting took place in two sessions: one before Asr prayer and the other after. Abdul Aleem Islahi, Amir of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Banaras, attended the first session, and in the second session, he, along with Hamidullah Sahib M.A., Amir the Jamaat Azamgarh, and Dr. Ikram Ahmed Khan (Azamgarh), were also present.

I began by stating that my primary issue is the status of Maulana Maududi’s literature. Other concerns I have raised about the members, structure, and policies of the Jamaat-e-Islami are incidental and not fundamental. I conveyed this same point to you in the local Shura meeting before departing from Rampur, but it was not accepted then. However, the matter could be resolved if you acknowledge this point now. Maulana Abul Lais responded that this would mean we completely reject and abandon the literature. I clarified that I did not mean to suggest it is entirely incorrect, nor do I object to its presence in the library or archives. My concern is its status, as I believe that within the Jamaat-e-Islami, this literature has been elevated as if it truly represents  the Jamaat’s ideology.

He replied that they do not ascribe such a status to the literature. Hamidullah Sahib added, “None of us believes that Maulana Maududi’s literature is the sole source of Jamaat-e-Islami’s ideology.” Maulana Abul Lais and others present endorsed this statement. At that moment, the tone of the conversation indicated that I was making an entirely unfounded claim and accusing the Jamaat-e-Islami of something no one within its ranks believed.

I then asked Maulana Abul Lais to put Hamidullah Sahib’s statement in writing, given his role as the senior responsible leader. He had said that “Maulana Maududi’s literature is not the sole source of Jamaat-e-Islami’s ideology,” so I requested that he write these exact words on plain paper and sign it. However, he was unwilling to do so. I repeatedly asked him to write Hamidullah Sahib’s words on paper and sign it, assuring him that I would accept it, but he did not comply. All the participants in this session are witnesses, as are the walls, furniture, and the large room on the second floor of House No. 9 in Mohalla Badrqa, and I have not altered any details in this account.

I mentioned that if you are unwilling to put it in writing, your verbal assurances alone cannot ease my concerns. Finally, as per Abdul Aleem Sahib Islahi’s suggestion, it was agreed that I would briefly summarise my point on a paper and hand it to Maulana Abul Lais Sahib, who would respond in writing. Accordingly, I wrote and submitted the following statement to him.