Hamdard Islamicus 105 Vol. XXXIX, No. 2

OBITUARY

PROF. DR. ZAFAR ISHAQ ANSARI

We announce the passing away of Prof. Dr. Zafar Ishaq

Ansari, a permanent, notable member of the Advisory Board of our

journal, the Hamdard Islamicus.

Prof. Ansari (27 December 1932-24 April 2016), after

graduation from the University of Karachi joined the McGill

University, Canada and did his Ph. D. (1966) on the contributions

of the two celebrated classical Muslim jurists and fuqahÉ’, ImÉm

AbË YËsuf and ImÉm MuÍammad b. al-×asan al-ShaibÉnÊ. He

also acquired mastery over Arabic, Persian, English, French and

German languages.

He started his teaching and academic career from the

Department of Oriental Studies of the Princeton University (USA).

He also taught at various international universities. In Pakistan he

served as the President of the International Islamic University

Islamabad (IIUI) and since 1988 had remained the Director General

of its Islamic Research Institute and also the Editor of its quarterly

research journal, the Islamic Studies.

After retirement he was appointed as Professor Emeritus of

the University.

He was also a member of the International Scientific

Committee of UNESCO.

Prof. Ansari was noted for his high standard of academic

research, particularly about rendering the celebrated work of MaulÉnÉ

Syed Abul A‘lÉ MaudËdi, the TafhÊm al-Qur’Én into English entitled

Towards Understanding the Qur’Én of which so far ten volumes



Hamdard Islamicus 106 Vol. XXXIX, No. 2

have been published. He was author of a number of books and

articles on history, religion, law, Qur’Én, ×adÊth and other social

sciences. He has contributed a large number of research articles to

journals of international repute and to Encyclopaedia Britannica

and Encyclopaedia of Religions.

He will be long remembered for his contributions and it will

not be easy to fill the gap created by his demise.

May Allah rest his soul in peace and grant solace to his

bereaved family members and his well wishers – Amen!

Islamicus