PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
PROFILE
Shariah scholar and Mufti with more than three decades in Islamic jurisprudence and over two decades of Shariah governance for Islamic banks, asset managers, takaful operators, regulators, and standard-setting bodies in Pakistan, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, North America, Africa, and Australia.
Vice Chairman of the Shariah Supervisory Board of Meezan Bank Limited; Chairman of the Shariah boards of Raqami Islamic Digital Bank (Pakistan), Amana Bank (Sri Lanka) and Islamic Co-operative Finance Australia; Member of the Shariah Board of Guidance Financial Group (USA); and a Registered Shariah Adviser with the Securities Commission Malaysia.
Former member of the Shariah Board of the State Bank of Pakistan (2003–2011) and member of the Government of Pakistan’s Steering Committee guiding implementation of the Federal Shariat Court’s judgment on Riba. Deputy President of Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi, founder of Usmani & Co, author of books on Islamic banking and Islamic law, and a speaker at international forums of AAOIFI, ISRA/INCEIF, and the AlBaraka Forum.
HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS
- Doctor of Philosophy (Islamic Learning) and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Karachi; Takhassus fi al-Ifta (specialisation in Islamic jurisprudence and fatwa) from Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi and Shahadat al-‘Alamiyyah from Wifaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia Pakistan.
- Board-level Shariah leadership: Vice Chairman, Shariah Supervisory Board, Meezan Bank; Chairman of the Shariah boards of Raqami Islamic Digital Bank, Amana Bank (Sri Lanka) and ICFAL (Australia); Member, Shariah Board, Guidance Financial Group (USA).
- International Shariah Advisory to banks, funds and takaful operators in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Qatar, Malaysia, Japan, South Africa, the United States, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka and Australia.
- Product development and Shariah compliance: leads Meezan Bank’s Product Development & Shariah Compliance (PDSC) function; has trained Meezan Bank’s Board of Directors on Sukuk.
- Author of more than a dozen books in Urdu and English on Islamic banking, finance and Islamic law, including Meezan Bank’s Guide to Islamic Banking and Islamic Finance; has issued more than 1,000 fatwas.
- Continuing professional development: SIDC CPE-accredited courses (Malaysia) on ESG, green finance, artificial intelligence, fintech and sustainable investing (2023–2025).
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Islamic Learning
Karachi, February 2000
University of Karachi, Faculty of Islamic Studies (Department of Islamic Learning); degree awarded 16 February 2000
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
Karachi, 2005
University of Karachi, Faculty of Law; annual examination 2004, Second Class; degree awarded 3 May 2005
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Karachi, 1995
University of Karachi, Faculty of Arts; annual examination 1994, Second Class; degree awarded 8 May 1995
Takhassus fi al-Ifta – Specialisation in Islamic Jurisprudence and Fatwa
Karachi, 1411 AH / 1991
Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi; three-year specialisation, Grade A (Jayyid Jiddan); thesis: Kitab al-Buyu‘ (Islamic law of sale)
Shahadat al-‘Alamiyyah fi al-‘Ulum al-Islamiyyah wa al-‘Arabiyyah
Karachi, 1409 AH / 1989
Wifaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia Pakistan (studies completed at Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi); Grade Mumtaz (508/600)