Prominent Scholar Professor Khurshid Ahmad Passes away in UK
By Dr A. Khan
Chicago, IL
Professor Khurshid Ahmad — a prominent scholar , a distinguished Islamic economist, a visionary thinker, and an honest politician — passed away on Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Leicester, United Kingdom. He was 93.
With the demise of Professor Khurshid Ahmad, a great chapter of Islamic intellectual legacy has closed. Among the five most prominent alumni of Dabistan-e-Abul Aa’la Maududi — Naeem Siddiqui (1916-2002), Dr Israr Ahmed (1932-2010), Dr Zafar Ishaq Ansari (1932-2016), Kurram Murad (1932-1996), and Professor Khurshid Ahmad (1932-2025)— he was the last one to leave this earthly abode.
Khurshid Ahmad was born on March 23, 1932, in Delhi, British India. He received his early education at Delhi College, presently known as Zakir Hussain Delhi College. After the creation of Pakistan in 1947, his family migrated to Lahore, Pakistan. He pursued his early college education at Government College Lahore, and completed his bachelor’s in economics with honors in 1952. His academic pursuits continued at the University of Karachi where he earned his master’s in Islamic Economics and Islamic Studies (1955) and an LLB (1958). In 1965, Professor Khurshid went to the United Kingdom to pursue his doctorate in Economics at the University of Leicester.
He was influenced by the teachings of Abul’ Aa’la Maududi. In 1949, he became an active member of Islami Jamiat Talaba and was elected as its central president in 1953. In 1956, he joined Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Pakistan, and later progressed through the ranks to become its deputy chief.
Professor Khurshid and Khurram Murad co-founded the Islamic Foundation which has emerged as the key institution for research and education in Islamic thought in the West. Professor Khurshid was recognized internationally for his work. In 1990, he was awarded the prestigious King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam. In 2011, he received Pakistan’s highest civilian award, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, for his contributions to Islamic scholarship, public service, and economic thought. The University of Karachi conferred upon him an honorary degree in Education for his outstanding contributions in academia.
Professor Khurshid Ahmad played a key role in formulating public and economic policies in Pakistan. He served as an advisor in General Zia-ul-Haq’s regime and held many important positions— federal minister for planning and development (1978), and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of Pakistan. He was elected to the Senate in 1985, 1997, and 2002. He also chaired the Senate’s Standing Committee on Economic and Planning Affairs.
Professor Khurshid Ahmad was a prolific writer. He has authored, co-authored and edited more than seventy books, magazines and journals. His major works include: Islam and the New World Order, Family Life in Islam, Fanaticism, Intolerance and Islam, Islam and the West, Islam: Its Meaning and Message, Maulana Abdul Aa’la Maududi: An Introduction to His Vision of Islam, Islami Nazariya-e-Hayat, Mazhab Aur Daur-e-Jadeed, Islam Ka Nazariya-e-Taleem, The Position of Women in Islam, Studies in Islamic Economics, Islamic Law and Constitution, The New Era (1955-56), The Voice of Islam (1957-68), Chirag-e-Rah (1957-64), The Iqbal Review (1960-64), and many others. A complete list of his books is available at: https://khurshidahmad.info/books/
Professor Khurshid Ahmad — throughout his life was an advocate of Islamic scholarship —mentoring and nurturing young scholars, people and institutions to promote critical thinking and bridge-building among different communities, cultures, faiths and nations around the globe.
Professor Khurshid Ahmad is survived by his family, students, friends, colleagues, and a community of admirers around the globe.
May Allah (SWT) bless Professor Khurshid Ahmad and assign him the highest station in Janet ul Firdous for his exemplary scholarship and impeccable services to the global Muslim Community. Ameen.
