Professor Dr. Farkhanda Zia (1965–2025)
Distinguished Scholar of Shari’ah and Law, Educator, and Leader
It is with profound sorrow that Shari’ah Academy along with the academic and legal communities of Pakistan and beyond mourn the passing of Professor Dr. Farkhanda Zia on 22 June 2025. A trailblazing jurist, seasoned academic, and devoted reformer, Professor Dr. Farkhanda Zia’s passing leaves an indelible void in the intellectual and institutional landscape of Islamic jurisprudence and comparative law.
Born in Pakistan and later educated in both Pakistan and the United Kingdom, Professor Dr. Farkhanda Zia’s illustrious career spanned more than three decades. She held numerous distinguished academic and administrative positions, most notably serving as the Director General of the Shari’ah Academy at the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), a position she held until shortly before her passing. In this role, she infused visionary leadership into legal education and training by bridging Islamic jurisprudence with international legal standards and promoting a socially responsive understanding of Shariah.
During her tenure as Director General, Professor Dr. Farkhanda Zia initiated and oversaw numerous transformative programmes aimed at judicial, legal, and societal capacity building. She developed three comprehensive training manuals targeting judges, lawyers, muftis, and broader society.
Her directorship was marked by a series of impactful national initiatives that promoted peace, human rights, and gender justice. She pioneered and led various seminars and workshops focusing on contemporary legal issues, including training courses on family law, women’s legal rights, inheritance, along with other contemporary issues pertaining to Islamic & comparative Law. These efforts underscored her lifelong commitment to interpreting Islamic law through a humane, inclusive, and socially just lens.
Equally committed to advancing women’s participation in peacebuilding, Professor Dr. Farkhanda Zia was the driving force behind the “Dukhtaran-e-Pakistan” initiative, a national campaign designed to empower female scholars and peace advocates. This initiative served as a clarion call for inclusivity in religious discourse, encouraging hundreds of women across Pakistan to take on leadership roles in conflict resolution and social reconstruction.
Her contributions extended well beyond Pakistan’s borders. As a Research Fellow at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) and a Postdoctoral Scholar at Brunel University, London, Dr. Farkhanda Zia conducted seminal research on criminal justice, child rights, and the intersections of Islamic and international human rights law. Her scholarly output was both prolific and influential, encompassing several published books, peer-reviewed articles, and edited volumes addressing urgent legal and humanitarian challenges.
Professor Dr. Zia’s intellectual legacy is vast and enduring. She played a pivotal role in redefining the pedagogical framework of Islamic legal studies in Pakistan. She developed academic modules on subjects as diverse as International Human Rights Law, Islamic Banking, Corporate Governance, and the Sociology of Law, thus contributing to the modernisation of legal education in the Muslim world.
A committed educator, she supervised scores of graduate and doctoral theses on pressing legal issues—from gender justice and child protection to cyber warfare and refugee rights—nurturing a generation of scholars and practitioners imbued with critical insight and ethical resolve.
Professor Dr. Farkhanda Zia was also a respected voice in policy circles, serving on the Council of Islamic Ideology, advising on the development of progressive legal frameworks consonant with both Shariah and international norms. Her efforts in harmonising religious values with human dignity and social justice remain a guiding light for scholars and reformers alike.
In her personal conduct and professional life, Professor Dr. Farkhanda Zia exemplified a rare fusion of erudition, humility, and unyielding dedication to truth and justice. She was deeply respected not only for her intellectual achievements but also for her principled stance on the empowerment of the marginalised and the ethical administration of law.
As the Academy bid farewell to Professor Dr. Farkhanda Zia, we celebrate a legacy rooted in knowledge, compassion, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Her life’s work continues to inspire students, jurists, and scholars, affirming the profound impact of a life committed to faith, intellect, and public service.
The Faculty and Staff of Shari’ah Academy extend the deepest condolences to her family and pray that may Allah almighty forgive her sins and grant her highest place in Jannat ul Firdaus.