The Tradition of Refutation in the Indian Subcontinent: The Critique of Mawdūdī by Muḥaddith and Educator Banūrī
The Tradition of Refutation in the Indian Subcontinent: The Critique of Mawdūdī by Muḥaddith and Educator Banūrī

Summary/Abstract: In the modern era, intellectual disagreements among Islamic movements have led to significant debates, particularly in the Indian Subcontinent, where they took shape within the tradition of radd (refutation) and produced notable scholarly works. This article examines the criticisms of Muḥammad Yûsuf al-Banūrī (d. 1977), a scholar of the Deobandi tradition, directed at the contemporary thinker Mawdūdī (d. 1979). The study is based on Banūrī’s work al-Ustāḏ al-Mawdūdī wa Shayʾun min Hayātihi wa Afkārihi and is limited to the contents of that text. Banūrī’s criticisms are classified under various headings, with a focus on passages he directly references. Occasionally, references are also made to Turkish translations of Mawdūdī’s works. Banūrī’s identity as both muḥaddith and an educator significantly informs the background of his critiques. A committed adherent to the Ahl al-Sunna and the Hanafi school in practice, he grounds his criticisms in accordance with these principles. As a reflection of his pedagogical orientation, he frequently criticizes Mawdūdī for engaging in religious discourse without having undergone a traditional education, and he highlights the perils of expressing opinions in disciplines in which one lacks proper qualifications. The study aims to introduce the Turkish readership to an example of the refutational tradition that has flourished—so much so as to merit the appellation “a paradise of refutations”—in the subcontinent. It also highlights the need to examine influential Muslim thinkers not through blind allegiance, but through scholarly analysis and critical inquiry. While Banūrī occasionally adopts a sharp tone, he seeks to ground his arguments in evidence and calls for fairness and guidance. Emotional assumptions about intent are also present, yet the work as a whole stands as a noteworthy contribution to the literature of refutation. Such studies are valuable for grasping key themes and regional perspectives in intellectual debates of the Indian subcontinent.

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