Correspondence with Maulana Abul Lais Islahi Nadwi

DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE 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 Jamaate-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