Ameer of Hefazat-e-Islam and eminent Islamic scholar Allama Shah Muhibullah Babunagari has said that "Islam means Muslims, but Jamaat means Maududi's religion - they have nothing to do with Islam."
Speaking at a seminar titled "History, Heritage and Contribution of Qawmi Madrasas" held at the Engineers Institute in the capital on Saturday, he sharply criticized Jamaat-e-Islami for what he described as its deviation from mainstream Islamic creed.
"Maududi even criticized the Sahaba (Companions of the Prophet)," Allama Muhibullah told the audience. "He claimed that prophets could make mistakes, but Allah clearly declared in the Qur'an that the prophets are innocent - free from error or sin."
He said Maududi had been repeatedly advised by senior scholars to correct his theological position, "but he never listened. Therefore, we cannot accept or follow his creed."
The Hefazat chief emphasized that Islam is a complete code of life that does not allow individual philosophical interpretations. "We follow the Qur'an, Sunnah, and the consensus of true scholars. Maududi's ideology is not Islam; it is his own invention," he added.
The seminar's keynote speaker, Maulana Ilyas Ghuman, a renowned Deobandi preacher and head of Ahl-e-Sunnat wal Jamaat Pakistan, echoed the same view. "We follow the prophets and messengers," he said. "Whether they made mistakes or not - that is something Allah Himself has clarified in the Qur'an. He says the prophets are free from faults, and those who claim otherwise go against divine revelation."
Maulana Ghuman alleged that Maududi's writings contained "numerous theological errors," including his assertion that Prophet Adam committed a mistake that carried moral implication. "But Allah accepted Adam's repentance and absolved him - Maududi distorted this story," he argued.
The Pakistani scholar also said, "We are followers of Ahl-e-Sunnat wal Jamaat and of the Hanafi madhhab. Our source of knowledge is Deoband. We interpret Islam based on Qur'an, Hadith, and the authentic chain of scholars - not personal opinion."
Speakers at the event repeatedly drew a line between Qawmi and Jamaat ideologies, saying the latter "politicizes religion while ignoring traditional scholarship." One participant remarked, "Jamaat has few genuine scholars, while Deobandi scholars continue to uphold authentic Islamic knowledge. It is the Deoband tradition that sustains Islamic education from Afghanistan to Bangladesh."
The event, organized by Dawatul Islam Bangladesh, was attended by prominent madrasa principals, teachers, and researchers. Speakers highlighted the historic role of Qawmi madrasas in preserving Islamic identity and moral education in the subcontinent.
They said Qawmi institutions had long served as centers of both spirituality and social reform, producing generations of scholars who guided Muslims through periods of colonialism and modern change.
In his closing remarks, Allama Muhibullah said Hefazat-e-Islam's mission is not political but spiritual. "We are not a political party," he stated. "Our responsibility is to preserve the Qawmi heritage and to convey the true message of Islam to the young generation. That is our jihad of knowledge." The seminar was presided over by Maulana Abdul Qayyum, President of Dawatul Islam Bangladesh.
