KARACHI: Prof Atiya Khalil Arab Ansari, former chairperson of Arabic department, the University of Karachi, passed away at a hospital in Dubai on Monday after a long illness. She was 80, her family said.

The eminent Islamic scholar, writer and literary figure had moved to the UAE after her retirement from the University of Karachi in 2004. She was born in Lucknow on Dec 27, 1935. Her father Allama Khalil Arab was a leading Islamic scholar.

Ms Ansari wrote her first book when she was 15. During her academic and literary career spanning over six decades, she wrote several books including an Urdu poetry collection, on the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and on the Holy Quran. She also authored hundreds of essays, academic and research papers.

She has left a daughter, Naila Jafri, a playwright, and two sons Imran and Hasan Kazmi and a large number of students, fans, admirers and colleagues to mourn her death.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2016