Dr. Israr Ahmad: How Not to Read the Quran in A Rigid And Islamist Paradigm?

Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times Dr. Israr Ahmad (26 April 1932 – 14 April 2010) was a distinguished Pakistani Islamic scholar, theologian, and philosopher renowned for his profound contributions to Islamic thought and education. Born in Hisar, Punjab, British India (now in Haryana, India), he migrated to…

March 24, 2025

2–3 minutes

allah, history, islam, ismaili-imamat, Quran

Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times

Dr. Israr Ahmad (26 April 1932 – 14 April 2010) was a distinguished Pakistani Islamic scholar, theologian, and philosopher renowned for his profound contributions to Islamic thought and education. Born in Hisar, Punjab, British India (now in Haryana, India), he migrated to Pakistan during the partition in 1947. Dr. Ahmad earned his MBBS degree from King Edward Medical College in Lahore in 1954 and later obtained a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies from the University of Karachi in 1965.

I also graduated from King Edward Medical College in 1985 and am approximately thirty years younger than him. I have lived in the USA since 1989 and have seen a somewhat different world than Dr. Ahmad. Today, his Islamism and his rigid interpretation of many aspects of the Quran seem very much out of place. From this perspective, I want to collect a few of his audio in this article. I do appreciate his sincerity, so I am praying for him as I critique him merely by collecting some of his videos and audios.

Initially a member of Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr. Ahmad parted ways with the organization in 1957 due to ideological differences, particularly concerning its engagement in electoral politics. He believed in a revolutionary approach to Islamic revival, emphasizing the establishment of an Islamic state governed by Sharia law. This conviction led him to establish Tanzeem-e-Islami in 1975, aiming to promote the implementation of Islamic values and systems in all facets of life.

Dr. Ahmad was a prolific author, penning approximately 60 books in Urdu on various aspects of Islam and Pakistan, with several translated into multiple languages. His lectures and writings focused on Quranic teachings, the restoration of the Caliphate, and the perceived challenges posed by Western influences to Islamic societies. In recognition of his scholarly contributions, he was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s third-highest civilian award, in 1981.

Throughout his life, Dr. Ahmad dedicated himself to the Quranic revival movement, striving to reawaken interest in Quran-based Islamic philosophy. His efforts garnered a substantial following not only in Pakistan but also across South Asia, the Middle East, Western Europe, and North America. Dr. Ahmad passed away on 14 April 2010 in Lahore, leaving behind a legacy of scholarly work and a commitment to the propagation of Islamic teachings.