Renowned scholar and economist Professor Khurshid Ahmad passed away at 93
Professor Khurshid Ahmad, a towering intellectual, visionary economist, and distinguished Islamic scholar, passed away on Sunday in Leicester, UK. As the Patron-in-Chief of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad, and a pioneering figure in Islamic economics and policy thought, his legacy of purpose-driven scholarship, ideological commitment, and service will continue to inspire generations.
Professor Khurshid Ahmad, born on March 23, 1932, in Delhi, was a passionate advocate for an Islamic worldview rooted in justice, equity, moral integrity, and human dignity. Widely credited with founding the discipline of Islamic economic jurisprudence, he devoted his life to bridging the gap between faith and policy. His contributions significantly shaped Pakistan’s intellectual and ideological contours, especially in the fields of education, development, and Islamic thought.
Professor Ahmad’s legacy is deeply institutional. As the patron-in-chief of the IPS, Islamabad, and co-founder of The Islamic Foundation in Leicester, UK, Professor Ahmad established platforms that nurtured independent thought, critical inquiry, and ethical leadership. He also served on several governing bodies and boards, including the International Islamic University, Islamabad, Markfield Institute of Higher Education (UK), and the Royal Academy of Islamic Civilization, Jordan, contributing to educational development at both national and global levels.
In public service, Professor Ahmad remained a principled and respected voice, and, as a senior member of Jamaat-e-Islami, he remained above political partisanship in his intellectual work. He was a member of the Senate of Pakistan for over two decades, from 1985 to 2012 (excluding a brief hiatus), and served as Federal Minister for Planning and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission during the 1980s. In these roles, he championed Islamic revivalism and the integration of Islamic principles into Pakistan’s development frameworks. His efforts laid the groundwork for initiatives that aimed to harmonize economic growth with social responsibility and spiritual consciousness.
Professor Ahmad’s scholarship extended far beyond borders. Author and editor of more than 100 books in Urdu and English, many translated into Arabic, French, Turkish, Bengali, Japanese, German, Indonesian, Chinese, Persian, and other languages, his scholarship addressed the pressing concerns of modern Muslim societies and offered ethical alternatives grounded in the Islamic tradition. Doctoral theses have been written on his intellectual contributions in prestigious universities across Malaysia, Turkey, and Germany.
Professor Ahmad’s lifelong dedication was recognized by numerous accolades. He was awarded the King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam (1990), the Islamic Development Bank Award (1989), and Pakistan’s highest civilian honor, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (2011). He also received honorary doctoral degrees from the University of Malaya, International Islamic University Malaysia, and Loughborough University, UK, in recognition of his scholarly impact.
Yet, more than his titles and achievements, Professor Khurshid Ahmad will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to the revival of Islamic civilization through education, reform, and principled leadership. His vision of a self-reliant, morally anchored, and intellectually vibrant Pakistan remains a guiding light for scholars, policymakers, and youth alike.
