Hefazat Ameer’s bold statement about Jamaat-e-Islami

Staff Correspondent

The Ameer of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, Allama Shah Muhibbullah Babunagri Hafizahullah, gave very clear statements about Jamaat-e-Islami and Maududi doctrines in several mahfils.

He said,

“After the United Front elections of 1954, I went to Deoband. In the elections, the Nizam-e-Islam Party came third. Therefore, the scholars of Pakistan wanted to know the opinion of Hazrat Shaykh-ul-Islam Hussain Ahmad Madani (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding unity with them, thinking that it would be easier to establish Islamic rule in Pakistan if they united with Jamaat-e-Islami in the next elections.”

Hazrat Madani (may Allah have mercy on him) said to them: “Tell me first – are the Islam of Nizam-e-Islam and the Islam of Jamaat-e-Islam one? Or are they two? If they are one, then let them work together, but if they are two, how can they be united? In fact, they are two! The Islam of Nizam-e-Islam is the Islam of Medina, and the Islam of Jamaat-e-Islam is the Islam of Maududi. When Islam is two, then which Islam will you establish together – that of Medina? or that of Maududi?”

Babunagri Huzur also said,

“Hazrat Madani (RA) used to give lectures on the Kharijite teachings of Bukhari Sharif after the Isha prayers. Every Tuesday he would answer the questions of the guests who came. One Tuesday, when asked about Maududi Sahib, he discussed a clause in Maududi’s constitution—’He will not make anyone the standard of truth except the Messenger of Allah, he will not consider himself above criticism, and he will not be immersed in the servitude of anyone’—until 11:30 at night.”

At the end of the discussion, the people present said: ‘Hazrat! Your discussion proves that Maududi is a kafir. What is your verdict?’
Hazrat Madani (may Allah have mercy on him) said: ‘That is what you have understood from my discussion. However, I alone do not call him a kafir. Because a unanimous fatwa has not yet come from the scholars. If a fatwa of kufr comes from the scholars, I will be with them. However, I consider Jamaat-e-Islam to be the worst of all the misguided sects – even worse than the Qadianis.’

He also said: ‘Because all non-Muslims know about Qadianis. But people are being deceived into thinking that Jamaat-e-Islam is Muslim. Using the name of Islam, they have cut off the roots of Islam. That is why they are more harmful than Qadianis.’
(25 October 2024, speech given at the Hefazat Mahasammlung at Feni Mizan Maidan; 22 November 2024, speech given at the annual sermon of Hathazari Madrasa)

He also said,

“Jamaat-e-Islami is a fake Islamic party; it is not a true Islamic party. Their Islam is the Islam of Maududi. And our Islam is the Islam of Medina. If you accept the Islam of Maududi, your faith will be destroyed. Therefore, we do not consider Jamaat as an Islamic party.”

(4 August 2025, discussion meeting titled ‘What Ulama-e-Keramgan should do to build the future of Fatikchhari’ at Nazirhat, Fatikchhari)

The Amir of Hefazat said in another statement,

“O Ulama-e-Karam of Qawmi Madrasa! As much as Awami League is not the enemy of Qawmi Madrasa, Maududi Jamaat is a greater enemy. I can swear – (God forbid) if this nation of Pharaoh comes to power, they will not have any Deobandis or Ahl-e-Sunnat wal Jama’at madrasas in the country. You will see it with your own eyes!”
(11 September 2025, discussion meeting titled ‘Allama Junaid Babunagari’s life and work’ organized at Hathazari Dakbungal premises)

Babunagri Huzur also said,

“To go to Paradise, we must follow the path of Sirat Mustaqim, followed by the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous. We must avoid the temptation that is the opposite of Sirat Mustaqim – the Maududi Jamaat. Because they do not consider the prophets to be sinless. However, considering the prophets as sinners is an insult to the prophets. Those who insult the prophets can never be Muslims. They do not consider the companions as the standard of truth. Therefore, they are the enemies of the prophets and the companions. That is why Hazrat Madani (may Allah have mercy on him) called them worse than the Qadianis.

The elders also said – whoever doubts that Maududi is a kafir is also a kafir. Therefore, to be in Paradise, one must stay away from this misguided sect and follow the path of Sirat Mustaqim.”
(Speech given at the annual gathering of Jamia Darul Quran, Sylhet, 12 January 2025)