By Shaikh Ahmad Kutty

Professor Khurshid Ahmad was a major intellectual whose work shaped my journey. I first encountered his English translation of Mawlana Mawdudi’s Towards Understanding Islam during my college years at Santapuram. That experience left a lasting mark. At nineteen, I translated the footnotes of that work into Malayalam. They were later included in the book’s Malayalam edition. This early engagement with Islamic scholarship sparked my interest, thanks to Professor Ahmad’s clarity and commitment to Islamic values.

From then on, I eagerly read his writings, always hoping to gain insights. Years later, I met him at an ICNA lecture in Toronto. In 1982 Sharing the stage with him was humbling, connecting decades of admiration and learning.

A Life Rooted in Vision

Born in Delhi in 1932, Professor Ahmad migrated to Pakistan during the Partition in 1947. He quickly made his mark in academia, earning degrees in Economics (with first-class honors), Law (LL.B.), and Islamic Studies (M.A.). He completed a Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Leicester (1967–68). His academic prowess earned him several honorary doctorates in fields like education, literature, and Islamic economics.

Building Institutions, Shaping Minds

Professor Ahmad was more than a writer; he built institutions. He helped create influential centers of Islamic thought and education, including:

• The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad (1979)
• The Islamic Foundation, Leicester, UK (1978)
• The Markfield Institute of Higher Education, UK, where he served as Rector since 2001
• The International Institute of Islamic Economics, International Islamic University, Islamabad (1983–87)

He also held professorships at the University of Leicester and advisory roles at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah.

From Thought to Policy

What set Professor Ahmad apart was his ability to turn theory into public policy. As Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Statistics (1978–79) and later Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, he aligned economic policies with Islamic principles. His long parliamentary career from 1985 to 2012 included chairing the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Economic Affairs, and Planning, where he promoted ethical governance rooted in justice.

A Canon of Islamic Economic Thought

Professor Ahmad authored and edited many influential works, including:

• Studies in Islamic Economics (1980): A foundational text
• Islam: Its Meaning and Message: An accessible introduction to Islam’s worldview
• Towards a Just Monetary System (1983): A critique of interest-based finance with Islamic alternatives
• Islamic Resurgence: Challenges, Directions & Future Perspectives (1994): A blueprint for Islamic revival
• Islam and the West: An exploration of civilizational dialogue and tensions

🌍 A Vision Anchored in Tawḥīd

At the center of Professor Ahmad’s vision was Tawḥīd—the oneness of God. He viewed it as the key to integrating ethics, politics, economics, and society. He emphasized ijtihād(independent reasoning) and tajdīd (renewal) as crucial for navigating modern complexities while staying true to Islamic values.

He critiqued both capitalist and socialist models for their injustices. Instead, he proposed an Islamic economic system focused on social justice, human dignity, and fair wealth distribution. This model included zakāt, partnership financing, and moral market regulation.

🧠 A Global Influence

Professor Ahmad was one of the five main architects of modern Islamic economics, alongside Mawdudi, Siddiqi, Chapra, and Zarqa. His ideas influenced academic programs and policy in Malaysia, Turkey, Sudan, Nigeria, and the UK. Institutions like the Islamic Development Bank and OIC’s COMCEC also benefited from his work. His mentorship inspired many scholars dedicated to ethical, faith-based economic reform.

🏅 Honors and Legacy

Professor Ahmad’s contributions brought him many accolades:

• The King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam (1990)
• The Islamic Development Bank Prize for Islamic Economics (1989)
• Pakistan’s highest civilian honor, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (2011)
• The La-Riba Award in the US (1998)

These honors reflect the esteem he held among scholars, statesmen, and spiritual leaders.

🔍 A Legacy Beyond Critique

While widely respected, Professor Ahmad’s work faced criticism. Some saw his vision as idealistic or too reliant on state-led Islamization. However, he advocated a balanced approach, combining top-down reform with grassroots empowerment. Critics also pointed out a lack of detailed classical fiqh and empirical models. Yet, his focus on moral philosophy and maqāṣid-oriented jurisprudence gave Islamic economics its ethical foundation.

Those who criticized his binary critique of economic systems often missed the deeper truth: Professor Ahmad was not just an economist. He was a moral philosopher offering a faith-based alternative to systems that lost their ethical compass.

Continuing the Journey

For those wanting to understand Professor Khurshid Ahmad’s legacy, his works are essential:

• Islam: Its Meaning and Message – for a foundational understanding of Islam
• Studies in Islamic Economics – for insights into Islamic economics
• Towards a Just Monetary System – for critiques of riba and interest-based systems
• Islamic Resurgence – for vision on contemporary Islamic revival
• Islam and the West – for thoughtful engagement with civilizational challenges

Professor Khurshid Ahmad’s life blended faith, intellect, and action. As a scholar, institution-builder, and public servant, he reshaped Islamic economics and redefined the pursuit of justice. His legacy continues to guide future generations of Muslims striving for ethical living, critical thinking, and just action.

May Allah exalt his status in Jannah and grant him the honorable companionship of the Prophet of Mercy (peace and blessings be upon him).