21/05/2026
One-Day International Conference: "Islam, State, and Sovereignty: Reassesing Sayyid Mawdudi’s Political Thought and Democratic Discourse"
Venue: Sayyid Mawdudi Memorial, Ichhra, Lahore
Date: May 17, 2026
Organized by: Institute of Discourse Perspectives (IDP), the Sayyid Mawdudi Memorial, and the Educational Research Institute of Tanzeem-e-Asatiza Pakistan.
Conference Overview
This conference was organized to map out the intellectual legacy of Maulana Sayyid Abul A'la Mawdudi (RA)—one of the most prominent thinkers and Quranic exegetes of contemporary Muslim academia—and to recontextualize his political vision, concept of sovereignty, and democratic discourse for the modern era. The core objective was to critically re-examine the Islamic theory of the state against the backdrop of changing 20th and 21st-century political dynamics, post-colonial secularism, and contemporary democratic challenges.
This significant intellectual gathering brought together renowned scholars, researchers, and thinkers from across the country to present their research papers. The event formally commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran.
Opening Remarks and Keynote Addresses
Dr. Hafiz Sajid Iqbal, Chairman of the Institute of Discourse Perspectives (IDP), delivered the welcome address. He thanked the distinguished guests and researchers traveling from universities nationwide and outlined the conference's core goals.
The conference was chaired by Dr. Osama Razi, Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. In his opening address, Dr. Razi offered a comparative analysis of Sayyid Mawdudi’s "concept of sovereignty" versus Western political philosophy. He emphasized that Mawdudi’s theory is not merely a traditional academic debate but offers practical solutions to the current intellectual crisis facing modern states and institutions.
Academic Sessions and Scholar Presentations
During the academic session, researchers from various institutions presented their papers. Participating universities included the University of Karachi, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Hazara University, NUML, Al-Hamd University, Jamia Mohammadia Shareef Chiniot, the University of Management and Technology (UMT) Lahore, the University of Narowal, and Ghazi University Dera Ghazi Khan.
Following the general presentations:
Dr. Ammar Khan Nasir, a prominent researcher and faculty member at GIFT University Gujranwala, delivered a keynote address focusing on Maulana Mawdudi's concept of sovereignty and contemporary challenges.
Sahibzada Amanat Rasool, head of the Idara Fikr-e-Jadeed Lahore, presented a concise summary of his book, "The Impact of Mawdudi’s Thought on Global Movements."
Khaled Mahmood Abbasi, a leading scholar and head of Shubban-ul-Muslimeen, addressed modern intellectual dilemmas and misconceptions in light of Maulana Mawdudi’s landmark book, "Four Basic Quranic Terms."
Afternoon Session and International Perspectives
The most critical and concluding session of the conference took place after the Zuhr prayer and lunch, beginning with an introduction to Mawdudi Studies.
Dr. Ishtiaq Gondal, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Leeds University, gave a brief address focusing on Sayyid Mawdudi’s rational arguments and the modern challenges facing his intellectual legacy.
Dr. Altaf Hussain Langrial, President of Tanzeem-e-Asatiza Pakistan and Director of the Islamic Research Centre at Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, also shared brief remarks.
International Speakers: A major highlight of the conference was the participation of two global scholars: Professor Dr. Humeira Iqtidar from King’s College London, and Dr. Hafiz Hamdullah from Australia. Both scholars delivered highly academic insights, connecting Maulana Mawdudi’s concepts with contemporary democratic and legal discourses.
Key Research Themes Presented
Some of the core research paper topics included:
"Interpreting Sayyid Mawdudi’s Concept of 'Theo-Democracy' within Modern Political Systems."
"A Comparative Study of Western Democracy and Islamic Shura (Consultation)."
"Balancing Popular Vicegerency (Constitutional Sovereignty of the People) and Divine Commands."
"Post-Colonial Secularism and the Intellectual Journey of the Muslim State."
Presidential Address and Closing Ceremony
In his final presidential address, conference chair Dr. Osama Razi lauded the Institute of Discourse Perspectives (IDP) for organizing such a rigorous academic event, noting that similar intellectual seminars are sorely needed in universities today. Summarizing the day's debates, he detailed his own comprehensive analysis of the subject and advised young scholars to move beyond purely theoretical discussions to research and write about practical, real-world issues.
The event saw attendance from several notable figures, including Dr. Khalid Mahmood Malik (former Vice-Chancellor of Punjab University), Syed Ehsanullah Waqas (Vice President of Al-Khidmat Foundation), Syed Waqas Anjum Jafray (Deputy Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan), Professor Ayub Munir, Dr. Mian Muhammad Akram, and prominent columnist Dr. Zakir Khan.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
The conference concluded with the distribution of certificates and honorary shields to all paper presenters, session chairs, guests, participants, and organizing committee members.
The gathering underscored the vital need for ongoing intellectual dialogue and a purely academic, prejudice-free study of Sayyid Mawdudi’s political thought in modern times. To preserve these insights, the organizers reiterated their commitment to compiling all peer-reviewed research papers presented at the conference into a book format or publishing them as a special issue in a Higher Education Commission (HEC) recognized journal
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