Faculty Of Islamic Studies & Law

Dean’s Profile

PROF. DR. SANAULLAH BHUTTO

Prof. Dr. Sanaullah Bhutto is a renowned Islamic scholar, educator, and administrator with over 30 years of impactful contributions to the global Islamic academic community. He graduated from the International Islamic University of Madinah and holds a Post Doctorate in Islamic Studies from Queensland University, Australia. Dr. Bhutto has served as the Dean of Islamic Studies at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, and began his teaching career at the International Islamic University, Islamabad.

Overview

The Faculty of Islamic Studies & Law at Al-Kawthar University is dedicated to advancing authentic Islamic knowledge through rigorous scholarship, research, and ethical education. The faculty offers a comprehensive academic framework covering Islamic theology, jurisprudence, history, comparative religions, and Islamic law, grounded in classical sources and contemporary relevance. It promotes intellectual inquiry, critical analysis, and curriculum development to address modern legal and societal challenges. With a strong emphasis on research, publication, and scholarly engagement, the faculty prepares graduates to serve as educators, researchers, jurists, and community leaders. Its academic environment reflects a commitment to global scholarly standards, multilingual competence, and the integration of Islamic values with modern academic practice.

Departments

Department of Islamic Studies

Faculty Members

Dr. Muhammad Ishtiaq

Chairperson & Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies

Dr. Muhammad Ishtiaq is a leading academician and researcher with over two decades of experience in teaching, research, and institutional development across Islamic Studies, Islamic Banking and Finance, Arabic, and interdisciplinary socio-economic studies. His scholarly work is distinguished by its integration of classical Islamic thought with contemporary challenges in finance, governance, sustainability, and human development.

Currently serving as Chairperson of the Department of Islamic Studies at Al-Kawthar University, Dr. Ishtiaq is leading academic and curricular development initiatives aimed at strengthening research culture, modernizing teaching pedagogy, and fostering interdisciplinary engagement. His academic vision emphasizes relevance, intellectual rigor, and the practical application of Islamic knowledge to modern financial, social, and ethical systems.

Dr. Ishtiaq holds a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Karachi and an MS in Islamic Banking and Finance from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi. He has also earned professional certifications in Islamic Finance from leading institutions including INCEIF Malaysia. His academic training reflects a rare combination of traditional Islamic scholarship and contemporary finance and management education.

He has served in teaching and leadership roles at several HEC-recognized universities and degree-awarding institutions, including DHA Suffa University, Bahria University, IBA Karachi, Binoria University International, PAF-KIET, and Preston University. His roles have included Head of Department, Coordinator of Islamic Finance Programs, member of Boards of Faculty, and contributor to accreditation and quality assurance processes, including participation in the AACSB accreditation effort at IBA Karachi.

As a researcher, Dr. Ishtiaq has published extensively in international and HEC-recognized journals, with research spanning Islamic finance, Islamic economics, Da‘wah studies, Qur’anic analysis, Seerah studies, and Shariah-compliant financial models. He is the author of multiple books and e-books and has several research projects under development, including innovative models linking Islamic finance with sustainable development goals, circular economy, and social finance.

Beyond academia, Dr. Ishtiaq is an active public intellectual and speaker, having delivered lectures, seminars, and workshops at universities, professional forums, and academic conferences on topics ranging from Islamic financial contracts and leadership to Qur’anic epistemology and the role of Islam in contemporary society. Through his teaching, research, and public engagement, he remains committed to developing ethically grounded, intellectually capable, and socially responsible scholars and professionals.