Asaf Ali Asghar Fyzee
Fyzee in June 1949
Ambassador of India to Egypt
In office 1949-1952
Preceded by	Syud Hossain
Succeeded by	K. M. Panikkar
Personal details
Born	(1899-04-10)10 April 1899 Matheran,Bombay Presidency,British India
Died	23 October 1981(1981-10-23) (aged 82) Mumbai,Maharashtra, India
Relatives	Tyabji family
Alma mater	St John's College, Cambridge
Occupation	Educator author jurist diplomat Islamic scholar
Awards	Padma Bhushan (1962)
Notable Works	Outlines of Muhammadan law A Modern Approach to Islam Cases in the Muhammadan Law of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
Cricket career
Cricket information
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1928-1930	Muslims
Career statistics
Competition FC Matches 2 Runs scored 17 Batting average 8.50 100s/50s -/- Top score 8* Catches/stumpings 1/-

Asaf Ali Asghar Fyzee (10 April 1899 – 23 October 1981) was an Indian educator, jurist, author, diplomat, and Islamic scholar who is considered one of leading pioneers of modern Ismaili studies. He also served as India's second ambassador toEgypt from 1949 to 1952, and Vice-Chancellor of theUniversity of Jammu and Kashmir from 1957 to 1960.^[1]

His best-known literary work isOutlines of Muhammadan law, which states that "in order to understand Islamic law, one has to be familiar with historic and cultural background of the law".^[2][3] He was honoured with thePadma Bhushan award by thePresident of India in 1962, India's third highest civilian award.^[4] In his writings, Fyzee advocates the need to incorporate modern reforms inIslamic law without compromising on the "essential spirit of Islam".^[5][6] Fyzee was the grandson ofBudruddin Tyabji and a member of the notableTyabji family.

Fyzee was born on 10 April 1899 to theTyabji family ofSulaymani Ismaili Bohra in theMatheran town ofMaharashtra. In his early years Fyzee was heir apparent toNawab SidiSir Ahmad Khan Sidi Ibrahim Khan III theNawab of Janjira state, as his marriage toNazli Begum had failed to produce an heir. The selection of Fyzee was discouraged and Sir Ahmed Khan ultimately remarried. During his time atJanjira, Fyzee was taughtSanskrit,Persian,Urdu, andArabic along withshooting andswordsmanship. Fyzee took his initial education in Mumbai and completed hisLL.B degree atGovernment Law College, Mumbai.^[7] In 1922 he went to England and studied atSt John's College, Cambridge. At Cambridge he also studiedArabic andPersian under eminent orientalistReynold A. Nicholson.

He competed in a fewFirst-class cricket matches between 1928 and 1930.^[8][9]

In 1925, at the age of 26, he became abarrister-at-law and started his career as an advocate in theBombay High Court from 1926 to 1938.^[1][10]

From 1938 to 1947, Fyzee was Principal and Perry Professor of Jurisprudence inGovernment Law College, Mumbai. After thepartition of India, he remained in that country and served as the second Indian ambassador to Egypt from 1949 to 1952.^[11] In 1952 he was appointed as a member of theUnion Public Service Commission,New Delhi. He also held the position of Vice-Chancellor of theUniversity of Jammu and Kashmir from 1957 to 1960.^[1][10]

Apart from his academic and government duties, Fyzee made significant contributions to the modern scholarship of Ismaili studies. He wrote several books based on Islam, which promoted the idea of modernizing Islam.^[1]

Following are some of books written by Fyzee.^[13][14][15]

• Outlines of Muhammadan law: This is Fyzee's most famous book. The first edition was published in 1949 byOxford University Press. This book discuss topics related to "Islamic law" with respect to India and topics related to "Freedom of religion".^[16] The fourth edition of the book included topics related to change in English law with respect to Muslim immigrants in England. It also incorporated new laws resulting from theformation of Bangladesh and theintroduction of Islamic policies inPakistan.^[17]
• A modern approach to Islam: This book posits a re-interpretation ofIslamic jurisprudence and re-discovery of original Islamic philosophy. In this book, Fyzee argues that modern reforms can be incorporated in Islamic law without compromising on the "essential spirit of Islam".^[5][6]
• Cases in the Muhammadan law of India and Pakistan
• Cases in the Muhammadan law of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh
• Compendium of Fatimid Law
• The Pillars of Islam

• In 1956 Fyzee was elected as a corresponding member of theArab Academy of Damascus.^[10]
• He was the honorary secretary of the Islamic Research Association from 1933 to 1949.^[10]
• He was awarded thePadma Bhushan by thePresident of India, the third highest civilian award of India.^[10]
• He is listed as a “famous Johnian” or notable alumnus ofSt John’s college, Cambridge.^[18]
• He was an original associated member on the executive committee of theEncyclopaedia of Islam.^[10]
• He lectured as a visiting professor in several American and Canadian universities.^[10]
• He was a member of theRoyal Asiatic Society.^[10]
• He held the "Commonwealth Fellowship".^[10]
• He was a member of the Indian delegation to the Third General Conference ofUNESCO, held inBeirut in November 1948.^[9]

• Syed Akbaruddin

• 1899 births
• 1981 deaths
• Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in literature & education
• 20th-century Muslim scholars of Islam
• Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge
• Politicians from Mumbai
• Indian Ismailis
• Sulaymani Bohras
• St. Xavier's College, Mumbai alumni
• University of Kashmir
• 20th-century Indian lawyers
• Indian legal writers
• 20th-century Indian educational theorists
• Writers from Mumbai
• Tyabji family
• Ambassadors of India to Egypt

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