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Professor Khurshid Ahmad, Visionary of Islamic Economics, Passes Away at 93

Professor Khurshid Ahmad, the distinguished Pakistani economist, philosopher, politician, and Islamic scholar, passed away in Leicester, United Kingdom, on April 13, 2025, at the age of 93. His death marks the end of a remarkable life dedicated to the advancement of Islamic economics, public policy, and interfaith understanding, leaving an indelible mark on Pakistan and the global intellectual community.

Born on March 23, 1932, in Delhi, British India, Ahmad’s early life was shaped by the intellectual ferment of pre-partition India. An Urdu speaker with a deep appreciation for both Eastern and Western philosophical traditions, he pursued higher education with zeal, earning an MA with honours in Islamic Studies from the University of Karachi in 1962. His academic journey culminated in a PhD in Economics from the University of Leicester in 1968, where his groundbreaking thesis on Islamic economic jurisprudence challenged prevailing capitalist and socialist models. This work laid the foundation for Islamic economics as a distinct academic discipline, emphasizing wealth distribution, ethical commerce, and social justice rooted in Quranic principles.

Ahmad’s contributions to institution-building were transformative. In 1967, he co-founded The Islamic Foundation in Leicester with Khurram Murad, creating a vital platform for Islamic scholarship in the West. The Foundation became a beacon for research, publishing works that bridged Islamic thought with contemporary issues, fostering dialogue between Muslim and Western intellectuals. In Pakistan, Ahmad’s establishment of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) in Islamabad in 1979 exemplified his commitment to evidence-based policymaking. As its chairman, he guided research that influenced national debates on governance, economics, and social reform. His role in shaping the International Islamic University in Islamabad further solidified his legacy as an architect of educational institutions that married faith with intellectual rigor.

In the realm of public service, Ahmad’s impact was equally profound. As chairman of Pakistan’s Planning Commission during the Zia-ul-Haq administration in the 1980s, he spearheaded initiatives to align the national economy with Islamic principles, introducing interest-free banking frameworks and zakat-based welfare systems. His tenure as a senator from 2002 to 2012, representing the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal on the Jamaat-e-Islami platform, showcased his ability to translate scholarly insights into legislative advocacy. Known for his principled conservatism, Ahmad earned respect across Pakistan’s fractious political spectrum as a voice of reason and integrity.

Ahmad’s intellectual output was prodigious. He authored, edited, and translated over 70 books in English and Urdu, many of which were rendered into languages such as Arabic, Malay, and French, amplifying his global reach. Works like Islam: Its Meaning and Message (1975), Studies in Islamic Economics (1980), and Economic Development in an Islamic Framework remain seminal, offering lucid arguments for economies that prioritize human welfare over profit. His translations, including Maulana Maududi’s Tafhim-ul-Quran, introduced Islamic exegesis to broader audiences. Ahmad’s lectures, delivered at universities from Malaysia to the United States, inspired scholars and policymakers to rethink development through a moral lens.

His contributions earned him widespread recognition. In 1990, Ahmad received the King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam, a testament to his global influence. Pakistan conferred its highest civilian honour, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, in 2011, celebrating his lifelong service to scholarship and nation-building. Universities in Malaysia and Loughborough, UK, awarded him honorary doctorates in education, literature, and Islamic economics, reflecting his interdisciplinary impact. The Islamic Development Bank Prize in 1988 further acknowledged his pioneering work in economic thought.

Ahmad’s global engagement extended beyond economics. As a senior fellow of the Royal Aal-al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Jordan and a signatory to the Amman Message in 2004, he championed intra-Muslim unity and interfaith cooperation. His comparative studies of philosophical traditions—drawing parallels between Islamic ethics and Western thinkers like Adam Smith—enriched global discourse. Posts on X following his passing described him as “an institution in himself,” a sentiment echoed by Jamaat-e-Islami, which hailed him as a “pioneering thinker” and close associate of its founder, Syed Abul A’la Maududi.
A man of humility, Ahmad remained grounded despite his accolades. His Delhi roots informed a lifelong commitment to humanity, evident in his advocacy for marginalized communities and his writings on Kashmir’s self-determination. In a 2020 column, he described the Kashmir struggle as a “decisive” movement against occupation, reflecting his unflinching stance on justice.
Professor Ahmad’s passing leaves a void in Islamic scholarship and Pakistani public life. He is survived by [family details unavailable]. As tributes pour in, from Islamabad’s policy circles to Leicester’s academic community, his vision endures: a world where economies serve not just markets, but the human spirit. The Halal Times joins the global community in mourning a titan whose ideas will shape discourse for generations.

Author

  • Hafiz Maqsood Ahmed is the Editor-in-Chief of The Halal Times, with over 30 years of experience in journalism. Specializing in the Islamic economy, his insightful analyses shape discourse in the global Halal economy.

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