'They follow Islam of Maududi': Hefazat ameer urges unity among all Islamist parties except Jamaat

Hefazat-e-Islam Ameer Muhibbullah Babunagari today (8 November) called upon all Islamist parties in the country — excluding Jamaat-e-Islami — to unite, saying Jamaat's version of Islam is fundamentally different from theirs.

"Jamaat's Islam is not the same as ours. We follow the Islam of Madinah, while they follow the Islam of Maududi," Babunagari said while addressing as chief guest at a discussion and national Ulama-Mashayekh conference titled 'History, Heritage, and Contribution of Qawmi Madrasahs', organised by Dawatul Ihsan at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, reports Samakal.

He added, "I have repeatedly called for unity in the past, but unfortunately, that unity has not yet been achieved. My advice is — do not take any decision that harms Islam or its mainstream principles."

The Hefazat chief said the nation is passing through a critical time, with conspiracies being hatched against Islam and the Muslim Ummah on one side, and multifaceted attacks being carried out against Bangladesh's independence, sovereignty, and Islamic values on the other.

"I want to state clearly — establishing a United Nations Human Rights Commission office in Bangladesh is a grave threat to the country's independence, sovereignty, and religious values. It goes against both Islam and national interests," he said.

Babunagari also criticised Jamaat founder Syed Abul A'la Maududi, saying, "Maududi spent his entire life creating controversies about the Sahabis [companions of the Prophet (PBUH)]. If the Sahabis are not accepted as the measure of truth, the Quran and Hadith themselves will become disputed. That's why leading Islamic scholars worldwide have declared that Jamaat's Islam is not the Islam of Madinah."