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Discourse on Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami…

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06.02.2010 at 02:59pm

Discourse on Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami

and Its Founder Abu al-Ala al-Mawdudi

Uncovering the Philosophy and Nuance

of America’s Adversary in Pakistan

by Commander Youssef Aboul-Enein,

MSC, USN

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Discourse on Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami…

Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has expended extensive efforts in imposing their

vision of Sharia on Pakistan’s public life since the founding of the state in 1947. 

They stand opposed to any secular ideas introduced into Pakistan and are intolerant

of other Muslim belief systems that do not espouse their views. JI, like other Islamist

groups, confuse secularism as a modern form of religion versus as a mechanism to

manage Pakistan’s diverse ethnic and religious (Muslim and non-Muslim) groups. 

In order to interact effectively with Pakistan, America’s leaders must gain an understanding

of the core struggle between two of Pakistan’s founders:  the secular vision

of Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948), and the Islamist vision of Abu al Ala al-Mawdudi

(1903-1979).  This essay is a distillation of a dozen books written by Mawdudi

and published in Arabic, and attempts to get into the mind of an important ideologue

of modern radical Islamist movements.  Mawdudi’s books are referenced in this

essay.  Commentary and analysis of Mawdudi’s work, as well as comparisons are

listed at the end of this work.

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Discourse on Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami…

Commander Youssef Aboul-Enein is author of

Militant Islamist Ideology: Understanding the Global Threat recently published

by Naval Institute Press.  He is currently studying at the Industrial College

of the Armed Forces in Washington DC.  Commander Aboul-Enein wishes to thank

Dr. Christina Lafferty for her edits and comments that enhanced this work. 

In addition, he wishes to thank the Bolling AFB Library and the National Defense

University Library both in Washington DC for their assistance and for providing

a place to write this piece.  The views represented are that of the author,

and do not represent the views of the U.S. Government.

About The Author

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