Born in Lucknow, India, Syed Husain Mohammad Jafri obtained two PhD degrees, one from the University of Lucknow, and the other from the University of London. During his long teaching career, starting from 1962, he has served at the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur; the American University of Beirut; and the Australian National University, Canberra. In 1983 he joined the University of Karachi as founding Director of the Pakistan Study Centre, as well as founding Chair and Professor of Islamic/Pakistan Studies at the Aga Khan University, Karachi.