Dr. Zafar Ishaq Ansari, an eminent Islamic scholar and president of the International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan, died of a heart attack on 24 April. He was 84.
He was the Director General of the Islamic Research Institute of the International Islamic University. Previously, he was the President of the International Islamic University Islamabad. He has published a number of books and articles on history, religion and social sciences. One of his most famous works is the English translation of Maulana Abul Ala Maudoodi’s Tafhim al-Qur’ān. This work is entitled Towards Understanding the Qur’ān, of which 10 volumes have been published so far. He has also spoken at international conferences on Islamic Studies and inter-religious dialogue.
Dr. Ansari obtained his M.A. and PhD from the Institute of Islamic Studies, McGill University, Montreal, Canada in 1966. His thesis for PhD was titled “The Early Development of Fiqh in Kufah with special reference to the works of Abu Yusuf and Shaybani”.
Dr. Ansari was buried in Islamabad following Asr prayer. Hundreds of people attended his funeral.