Condolences upon passing of Dr. Jaafar Idris

By Shaheer Choudhury and Shaykh Dr. Haitham al-Haddad

Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhī rājiʿūn. Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we are returning.

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the Friday passing of esteemed scholar Dr. Jaafar Idris; he had been battling a period of illness. May Allah have mercy upon him.

The late professor was born on 28 Muharram 1350 (15 June 1931) and — by the will of Allah — passed in the same blessed month, some 97 Hijri years later.

Dr. Mohamed Yousri Ibrahim, Vice-President of the American Open University (AOU) and member of the Board of Directors of the Muslim World League, said of the passing,

May Allah forgive him by His grace, grant him the highest level of Paradise by His mercy, reward him abundantly for his service to Islam and the Muslims, raise his rank among the rightly guided, and be his successor among those he leaves behind. May Allah forgive us and him, all together.

O Allah, grant his family, relatives, and loved ones beautiful patience, and reunite us with him, our parents, and our loved ones in the Gardens of Bliss, alongside the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous — and what an excellent company they are.” 

Background

Born in Port Sudan, Sudan, Professor Jaafar Idris had a modern schooling that was elevated by the study of the Qur’ān.

He also studied Hadīth, Fiqh, and the Arabic Language under traditional educators in the city. The late scholar undertook Aqīdah studies with Ansar al-Sunnah.

In 1970, he competed his PhD in Philosophy, from the University of Khartoum/University of London. His doctoral thesis was entitled The Concept of the Causality in Islam.

Legacy

Dr. Jaafar Idris played a key role in shaping Islamic education in the West, serving as Chairman of the American Open University (AOU) and later directing the Research Center at the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in America.

His academic work extended to Saudi Arabia, where he taught Islamic studies in the departments of Aqīdah, Da’wah, and Information at Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University.

In regards to his doctorate, as noted above, research focused on the concept of causality in Islam — an early sign of his effort to bridge traditional Islamic thought with modern philosophical inquiry.

Throughout his career, he consulted for Islamic organisations across the globe and lectured widely, contributing to discussions on Islamic thought in both Muslim-majority and Western contexts.

A highly influential teacher

A senior scholar at Islam21c, Shaykh Dr. Haitham al-Haddad, said of the news,

The passing of Shaykh Jaafar Idris is a significant loss to the Ummah.

He was among the most influential teachers of my lifetime, personally and broadly speaking. I had the utmost privilege of meeting with and discussing with him.

Shaykh Jaafar visited the UK a number of times and his efforts benefited a great many people.

May Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) grant him the highest rank in Paradise and may He grant patience to his loved ones.”

Source: Islam21c

Notes

[1] https://x.com/DrMohamadYousri/status/1946228255213678763

[2] https://iou.edu.gm/instructors/dr-jafar-shaikh-idrees/

Shaheer Choudhury: As Head of Editorial at Islam21c, Shaheer is a regular contributor who has an unwavering passion and commitment for staying on the pulse in regards to global geopolitical and general current affairs, whilst paying close attention to the changing world conditions of Muslim populations. Prior to joining Islam21c, he developed a number of years' experience in the health and social care sector, and previously worked as a caseworker at HHUGS. He has also volunteered at the Muslim Youth Helpline. Shaheer holds a bachelor's degree in Business Management from Kingston University.

Shaykh Dr. Haitham al-Haddad: Shaykh Dr. Haitham al-Haddad is a jurist and serves as a judge for Islamic Council. He has studied the Islamic sciences for over 20 years under the tutelage of renowned scholars such as the late Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, as well as the retired Head of the Kingdom's Higher Judiciary Council. He specialises in many of the Islamic sciences and submitted his doctoral thesis on Islamic jurisprudence concerning Muslim minorities. He is highly respected, having specialised knowledge in the field of Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Maqāsid al-Shari'ah, Ulum al-Qur’ān, Tafsīr, Aqīdah, and Fiqh al-Hadīth. He provides complex theories that address the role of Islamic jurisprudence within a Western environment, whilst also critically re-analysing the approach of Islamic jurists in forming legal rulings (ifta’) within a Western sociopolitical context.