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Muhammad Hassan Hito, the renowned Syrian Shafi‘i jurist and scholar of Islamic legal theory (Usul al-Fiqh), passed away after a lifelong journey of scholarship, teaching, and service to Islamic sciences. His death marks a great loss for students of knowledge and the global scholarly community.

Born in Damascus in 1943, Dr. Hito pursued his higher Islamic studies at Al-Azhar University in Egypt, where he specialized in Usul al-Fiqh and earned his PhD. Over the decades, he became widely respected for his mastery of multiple disciplines, including jurisprudence (fiqh), creed (‘aqidah), Hadith, Qur’anic exegesis (tafsir), and logic (mantiq). His scholarly method reflected the depth and rigor of the classical tradition, combined with contemporary academic precision.

Dr. Hito’s journey to Al-Azhar was marked by hardship and determination. Coming from a family known for religious learning, he insisted on studying Islamic sciences despite initial resistance from his family. He traveled to Egypt under difficult political circumstances in the 1960s and lived in poverty during his early years of study, without financial support. Through patience and perseverance, he eventually received a scholarship and devoted himself fully to learning and research.

After completing his doctoral studies, Dr. Hito taught in Kuwait and participated in major scholarly projects, including contributions to the Encyclopedia of Fiqh (Kuwait). He later played a key role in founding and serving as dean of Imam al-Shafi‘i University in Indonesia, and he established and directed the International Center for Islamic Sciences in Germany. His efforts helped spread structured Islamic learning across multiple regions of the Muslim world and beyond.

Dr. Hito authored and edited dozens of important works in Islamic jurisprudence and legal theory. Among his notable books are Al-Wajiz fi Usul al-Tashri‘ al-Islami (The Concise Guide to the Principles of Islamic Legislation), Al-Ijtihad wa Tabaqat Mujtahidi al-Shafi‘iyyah (Ijtihad and the Ranks of Shafi‘i Jurists), and Al-‘Aql wa al-Ghayb (Reason and the Unseen).

His most ambitious scholarly project was the Encyclopedia of Shafi‘i Fiqh (Comparative), planned to reach more than 140 volumes. At the time of his passing, around 60 large volumes had already been completed, making it one of the most extensive contemporary works in Shafi‘i jurisprudence and comparative fiqh.

[Some of the books written by him]

Egypt’s Minister of Religious Endowments, Osama Al-Azhari, mourned the passing of Dr. Hito, describing him as an exemplary Azhar-trained scholar who embodied the scholarly spirit of the classical tradition. He praised Dr. Hito’s lifelong dedication to teaching, research, and nurturing generations of students, and extended heartfelt condolences to his family, students, and admirers.

Dr. Muhammad Hassan Hito leaves behind a towering intellectual legacy and generations of students influenced by his humility, discipline, and devotion to knowledge. His life stands as a testimony to sincere scholarship, perseverance in the pursuit of knowledge, and service to the Ummah through rigorous academic work.