Abstract

Syed Abul A'la Maududi, a prominent Islamic scholar and political thinker, articulated a vision of society that contrasted significantly with the ideologies of capitalism, socialism, communism, and Marxism. His thought emphasized the primacy of Islamic principles in governance and social order, advocating for an economic and political system grounded in divine guidance rather than human-made ideologies. Maududi's critique of capitalism centered on its inherent exploitation of the working class and moral decay, while he opposed socialism and communism for their materialistic and atheistic foundations, which he believed neglected spiritual and ethical values. Unlike Marxism, which calls for class struggle and the eventual establishment of a stateless, classless society, Maududi argued for a state governed by Sharia law, where wealth is justly distributed through Islamic principles of social justice. His vision sought a synthesis of religious values and social justice, offering an alternative to the secular frameworks of capitalism and socialism, while maintaining a strong commitment to the idea of a divinely ordained social order that transcended both Western and Marxist ideologies. This abstract seeks to explore the key aspects of Maududi's critique of these political systems and his unique proposition for an Islamic political economy.