Late Professor Dr. Muhammad Abdul Mannan, the founder and chairman of the House of Mannan Charitable Trust (HMCT), was a renowned authority in Islamic economics, banking and finance, who played a key role in establishing many institutions, including the Social Islami Bank Limited (SIBL).
He received his doctorate degree from Michigan State University, USA in 1973 and a master’s degree from the same institution. He also obtained a master’s degree from Rajshahi University, Bangladesh in 1960. He had profound knowledge in different aspects of economy like money, banking, finance, economic planning and had about 50 years’ experience in civil administration, teaching, and research in several universities and countries around the world including Australia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, U.K. and the USA. He was a pioneer and a world authority in the field of Islamic economics, banking and finance.
He was a visionary, a life-long educator, and a philanthropist. In addition to the being the Founder-Chairman of HMCT he was also the Founder Chairman of (a) Social Islami Bank Ltd. (SIBL); (b) Social Islami Bank Trust (SIBT); and (c) Bangladesh Social Peace Foundation (BSPF).
He had an extensive record of professional experiences at national and international levels that includes: Former Chief Economist, Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Jeddah (1982-96); Former Professor of Economics and Islamic Finance, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah (1978-1982); Former Dean, Faculty of Business Studies, University of Papua New Guinea (1974-78); Former Consultant, Monetary and Fiscal Economics, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Manila (1982-90); Former visiting professor at Georgetown University, USA and Muslim Institute, London (1983); Former Assistant Financial Advisor, Islamabad, Govt. of Pakistan (1964-67); Former Assistant Chief, Fiscal Monetary Section, Pakistan Planning Commission, Islamabad. (1968-70); Former Professor of Economics, Sirajganj Govt. College, Sirajganj, Bangladesh (1960-1964).
He was a distinguished and able economist as well as a prolific author on Islamic economics. He authored at least twelve books on Economics, Islamic Finance and Banking that includes the award-winning book (1970): Islamic Economics-Theory and Practice which is still an internationally recognized text book on the subject. It has been reprinted over 20 times and translated in a dozen of foreign languages. Dr. Mannan was placed on the top of the list, based on written contributions of six contemporary Islamic Economists in the world, selected for comparative analysis of their Islamic economic thought, in a book entitled: Contemporary Islamic Economic Thought: A Selected Comparative Analysis" published from Malaysia.
Other major publications of Dr. Mannan include: An Introduction to Applied Economics (Dhaka, 1963); Economic Problems and Planning in Pakistan (Lahore, 1968); Islamic Economics: Theory and Practice (revised edition UK, (1986); The Making of Islamic Economic Society (Cairo, 1984); The Frontiers of Islamic Economics (India. 1984); Economic Development and Social Peace in Islam (UK, 1989); Understanding Islamic Finance (IDB, Jeddah, 1993); Structural Adjustments and Islamic Voluntary Sector with Special Reference to Awaqf in Bangladesh (IDB, Jeddah, 1995); The Impact of Single European Market on OIC Member Countries (IDB, Jeddah 1996); Islamic Socio-Economic Institutions and Mobilization of Resources with Special References to Hajj Management of Malaysia (IDB, Jeddah, 1996).
He was enlisted in Marquis' Who's Who in the World (8th edition: 1978-88, Macmillan U.S.A.), Five Thousand Personalities in the World (2nd edition 1990, ABI, U.S.A.) and Men of Achievement (Cambridge, UK, 1989).