A Critical Appreciation of Abū al-A‘lā al-Mawdūdī’s Reading of Sufism
Teosofi Jurnal Tasawuf dan Pemikiran Islam December 20, 2020 Muhammad Maroof Shah
The negative image of Syed Abū al-A‘lā al-Mawdūdī as an opponent of Sufism persists partly because scholars engage only superficially with his doctrinal positions and read his statements in isolation. This paper argues that a more complete reading reveals Mawdūdī entered into a dialogue with Sufism, acknowledged his debt to it, and should be seen as a contributor to debates on Sufism rather than a simplistic denier. Evidence includes his moral mysticism, respect for Sufi masters, celebration of his Sufi ancestry, early Sufi-influenced poetry, engagement with Mulla Sadra's al-Asfār al-Arba‘a, and reworking of Sufi themes and organizational structures in the Jamaat-e-Islami.