Abstract

The conflict between Islam and Jahiliyah is more than a historical contrast; it reflects a fundamental difference in worldview and the structure of life. Islam offers a comprehensive, God-centered system based on divine revelation, where every aspect of life spiritual, social, political, and economic—is guided by the principles of justice, morality, and unity under the sovereignty of Allah. In contrast, Jahiliyah represents a life of ignorance, where human desires, tribalism, and man-made laws replace divine authority. Historically, this ignorance led to moral corruption and social injustice in pre-Islamic Arabia, but Maulana Maududi emphasized that Jahiliyah is not limited to the past. He argued that modern ideologies such as secularism, materialism, and nationalism are contemporary forms of Jahiliyah because they deny God's authority and disconnect religion from everyday life. Maulana Maududi saw Jahiliyah not merely as a lack of knowledge but as a conscious rejection of divine truth, which leads to spiritual blindness and societal decay. He warned that without God's guidance, humanity is left vulnerable to oppression, moral confusion, and inner emptiness. According to Maududi, the only way to overcome this ignorance is by reviving true Islamic consciousness, a return to a way of life fully grounded in the Qur’an and Sunnah. He called for a holistic transformation of society, where individuals submit to Allah in worship, governance, economics, and social behavior. In today’s world, where ignorance often disguises itself as progress, Maududi’s vision remains a powerful reminder that true enlightenment comes only from living by divine
guidance.