Mumtaz Ahmad

Abstract

Wise, kind, humorous, humble, profoundly honorable and dignified – these are just some of the words that describe our beloved Mumtaz Ahmad, whose passing we mourn. A great scholar, mentor, friend, and family man, he will be missed by the countless people whose lives he influenced. I feel honored to count myself among them. With degrees in economics, Islamic studies, and development administration, and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago, Ahmad published eight books. His most recent is Observing the Observer: The State of Islamic Studies in American Universities (Herndon, VA: International Institute of Islamic Thought, 2012). Bringing together a stellar array of scholars, this book is particularly prescient in stressing the importance of the responsible study of Islam in a country whose policies so deeply impact Muslims. He also published dozens of articles and chapters, and delivered hundreds of lectures throughout his native Pakistan and North America, as well as Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South and Southeast Asia. He served as president of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists as well as the South Asian Muslims Studies Association. In addition, he served on numerous editorial boards, was editor of Studies in Contemporary Islam, and associate editor of the American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences and the East-West Review. His work was supported by grants from the Fulbright Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trust, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the United States Institute of Peace, the National Bureau of Asian Research, and the Brookings Institution, among others ...