abdulaziz_sachedina

Indian-born Islamic scholar promoting interfaith dialogue and modernizing religious education

Abdulaziz Sachedina (1944-2021) was a Parsi-Zoroastrian convert to Islam who became Oxford-trained scholar revolutionizing Islamic studies. Born in Mumbai, he fled religious persecution to become a leading voice in Islamic reform . His work emphasized democratic principles in Islam and interfaith collaboration. As professor at the University of Virginia, he developed the first Islamic bioethics program. His groundbreaking research addressed women's rights, scientific ethics, and pluralism in Muslim communities. Sachedina's Islamic Theology in the Modern World (1987) remains a seminal text, challenging extremist interpretations while advocating for contextualized religious practice. His life exemplifies how faith can be a force for social progress and intellectual innovation across cultures.