Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani is a prominent Islamic scholar, jurist, and a leading figure in the world of Islamic finance. Born on October 5, 1943, in Deoband, India, into a family renowned for its scholarly contributions to Islam, he is the son of Mufti Muhammad Shafi, the former Grand Mufti of Pakistan.

Personal Life

Mufti Taqi Usmani leads a life dedicated to the service of Islam and the Muslim community. He continues to teach, write, and provide guidance on Islamic legal and financial matters. His work bridges the gap between traditional Islamic scholarship and contemporary issues, making him a vital figure in modern Islamic thought.

Education

Mufti Taqi Usmani's educational journey began at Darul Uloom Karachi, where he studied traditional Islamic sciences, including Quran, Hadith, Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), and Arabic literature. He completed his Dars-e-Nizami, a traditional Islamic curriculum, and received formal authorization (ijazah) in Hadith from his teachers, including his father. He also pursued secular education and earned degrees in law (LLB) from Karachi University and a Master's degree in Arabic literature from Punjab University.

Career

Mufti Usmani's career has been marked by significant contributions to both Islamic scholarship and practical applications of Shariah law in contemporary contexts. He has served in various influential roles:

• Judiciary: He served as a judge on the Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan from 1982 to 2002. His judicial work involved interpreting and applying Islamic law in the modern legal framework of Pakistan.

• Academic and Teaching: He has been a senior lecturer at Darul Uloom Karachi, one of the most prestigious Islamic seminaries in Pakistan. He has taught Hadith, Fiqh, and Islamic economics, influencing a generation of Islamic scholars and students.

• Islamic Finance: Mufti Usmani is a pioneer in the field of Islamic finance. He has been instrumental in developing Shariah-compliant financial products and services. He serves on the Shariah boards of numerous Islamic financial institutions worldwide and has written extensively on Islamic finance, contributing to its theoretical and practical frameworks.

Contributions and Works

Mufti Taqi Usmani has authored over 60 books in Arabic, Urdu, and English on various Islamic topics, including:

• Islamic Jurisprudence: His works on Fiqh, such as "Fiqh al-Buyu" (Islamic Law of Transactions), are highly regarded.
• Islamic Finance: Books like "Introduction to Islamic Finance" and "An Introduction to Islamic Finance: Theory and Practice" have become foundational texts in the field.
• Hadith: He has written commentaries and translations of key Hadith collections.
• Spirituality: His works on Islamic spirituality and ethics, such as "Discourses on Islamic Way of Life," offer guidance on leading a life in accordance with Islamic principles.