Islamic scholar of Bangladesh. Prof Ashraf made an international impact as the organising secretary of the First World Conference on Muslim Education held in Makkah in 1977. In 1980 he was appointed the first Director-general of the World Centre for Islamic Education. In the 1970s Prof Ashraf moved to Cambridge, the UK and later became Director-General of The Islamic Academy that was set up in Cambridge in 1983. He edited Muslim Education Quarterly, which began in 1983. His 1991 book Islam is now part of Britain's GCSE course on World Religions. Prof Ashraf, during his last years, helped set up Darul Ihsan University in Dhaka in 1993 and as vice-chancellor he divided his time between Dhaka and Cambridge. Syed Ali Ashraf was born in Dhaka, India, now Bangladesh and he died in Cambridge, England.