Why Al Meezan

Justice (Retd.) Muhammad Taqi Usmani is a renowned figure in the field of Shariah, particularly in Islamic Finance. He currently holds advisory positions in a number of financial institutions practicing Islamic Banking and Finance.

Justice (Retd.) Muhammad Taqi Usmani has vast experience in Islamic Shariah, teaching various subjects on Islam for 39 years. He has served as a Judge in the Shariat Appellate Bench, Supreme Court of Pakistan from 1982 to 2002. He is also the Editor of the magazine Albalagh (a weekly publication of Jamia Darul Uloom, Karachi) as well as an active contributor of articles in leading Pakistani newspapers.

Justice (Retd.) Muhammad Taqi Usmani graduated from Punjab University, Pakistan in 1970 and also holds an LLB from Karachi University, Pakistan. Prior to these, he completed the Takhassus course, which is the specialization course of Islamic Fiqh and Fatwa (Islamic Jurisprudence) from Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi, Pakistan.

In March 2004, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Minister of Defense) presented a special award to Justice (Retd.) Muhammad Taqi Usmani in recognition of his lifetime service and achievement in Islamic Finance at the occasion of International Islamic Finance Forum, Dubai, which is one of the biggest events in the Islamic Finance Industry.

Dr. Muhammad Imran Ashraf Usmani, son of Justice (Retd.) Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani, holds an LLB, M. Phil, and PhD. in Islamic Finance and graduated as a scholar with specialization (Takhassus) in Islamic Fiqh and fatwa from Jamia Darul-Uloom, Karachi.

Dr. Muhammad Imran Ashraf Usmani, Shariah Advisor and Group Head of the Product Development & Shariah Compliance Department (PDSC) at Meezan Bank, is responsible for R&D and Product Development of Islamic banking products, advisory for Shariah-compliant banking and supervision of Shariah Audit & Compliance.

Dr. Muhammad Imran Ashraf Usmani has served as an advisor / member of Shariah Boards of several renowned institutions since 1997 which includes the State Bank of Pakistan, HSBC – Amanah Finance, UBS – Switzerland, Guidance Financial Group USA, Lloyds TSB Bank – UK, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JABIC), Credit Suisse Switzerland, RBS Global, Old Mutual Albarakah Equity & Balanced Funds South Africa, AIG Takaful, ACR Retakaful Malaysia, Capitas Group USA, Bank of London And Middle East Kuwait, BMI Bank Bahrain, Al Khaliji Bank Qatar, Sarasin Bank Switzerland, DCD group Dubai and other Mutual and Property funds, Takaful Companies and international Sukuk etc. He is also an Executive Committee Member of AAOIFI (Dubai) and Shariah Supervisory Board of International Islamic Financial Market (IIFM) Bahrain and International Center for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF) Malaysia, Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi and Center for Islamic Economics (CIE), Karachi.

Dr. Muhammad Imran Ashraf Usmani is the author of numerous publications related to Islamic finance and other Shariah-related subjects. He has presented papers in numerous national and international seminars and has delivered lectures at academic institutions including Harvard, LSE, LUMS and IBA. Dr. Usmani is also the head of Hira Foundation School, a project of Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi to provide a high standard education from Montessori level to University level combining conventional modern academics with Islamic teachings. He also serves as a lecturer of different subjects of Shariah and is amongst the administration board of Jamia Darul-Uloom, Karachi. He is a visiting faculty member at Karachi University and IBA. He has also been leading Friday khuthbah and prayer at a Jamia Mosque for 20 years.

Born in Bahrain Sheikh Essam M. Ishaq graduated in Political Science from McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Currently he is teaching Fiqh, Aqeeda and Tafseer courses in Bahrain. He holds the position of Shariah Advisor at Discover Islam Bahrain and is also a Director in a number of Business and Educational institutions.