Hafiz Mohammad Idrees was born to a religious family of Chak Miana District Gujrat on October 17, 1945. His father, Mian Faiz Mohiuddin, was local ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami and a prominent personality of his town enjoying considerable respect among the people of the area. Mian sahib was among the early companions of JI founder Maulana Abul Aala Maudoodi and took active part in the Pakistan movement. Hafiz Mohammad Idrees obtained early education from local schools, during which he learnt the Holy Quran by heart (Hifz) at the age of nine.

He was an intelligent and hardworking student and his academic career was studded with countless colors and achievements.

He notched top positions in all examinations throughout his academic career. He won various scholarships and medals. Hafiz Sahib was awarded gold medals in his BA from [formerly] Government College, Lahore in 1967 and MA (Arabic) from Punjab University in 1969. Later, he also completed MA (Islamiat) from Punajb University in 1971.

Right from the childhood, Hafiz Idrees took keen interest in preaching Islam. He was an active member of Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) during his college career and was also elected Nazim of IJT Lahore during 1968-70. He remained a member of IJT central shoora during [1969-70] and elected as president Punjab University Students' Union in 1970.

He became Member (rukn) of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan in 1971. Owing to his zeal and outstanding activities for preaching Islam, Jamaat-e-Islami founder ameer and great scholar of Muslim world Maulana Maudoodi assigned him the task of preaching in Kenya (Africa). He was appointed as Director of Islamic Foundation, Nairobi (Kenya) where he served from 1974 to 1985. During his stay at IFN he undertook a number of ventures to spread the light of Divine knowledge to the African people.

After his return to Pakistan, he was appointed as Deputy Secretary General Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan in November 1985. He was elected ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, Punjab in 1991 and was re-elected four times till Sep. 2003 when he resigned and proposed the name of Liaqat Baloch as his successor.

He was appointed as Deputy Director, Lahore chapter of Islamic Research Academy, a prestigious research body founded by Maulana Maudoodi to undertake scholarly pursuits in the field of Islamic literature and research.
In May 2004, Hazif Sahib rose to the post of its Director and was appointed naib ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan as well.
A dynamic personality, Hafiz Idrees undertook various activities for the welfare of the poor and less privileged classes besides taking care of the families of those martyrs of Islam who laid down their lives while waging jihad against occupation armies in Kashmir and Afghanistan.

In 1995, he was elected chairman of Shuhada-e-Islam Foundation, an organization for committed to the welfare of the families of the martyrs, and is still serving in this capacity. Besides, he also served as chairman Ghazali Education Trust, a non-governmental organization striving to provide quality education to the poor and destitute as no profit, no loss venture.

Known as an ardent supporter of Muslim unity, Hafiz Idris was elected as president Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Punjab in 2002 when the alliance of six top religious parties was founded to counter anti-Islam and anti-state conspiracies particularly in the aftermath of 9-11.

Hafiz Idrees has a passion for literature, research and journalism. He authored about 20 books, which includes work on Seerat-e-Nabwi (PBUH), Literature, travelogue, and translations from Arabic etc. He also rendered about 300 articles, on various topical issues, to national and international magazines and periodicals. He is also holding the responsibility of Publisher of Jamaat-e-Islami's weekly spokes-paper Weekly Asia, Lahore.

Besides, Hafiz Mohammad Idrees has widely traveled in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, America and Far Eastern countries in order to attend various international moots/conferences.

He has two sons and one daughter. Both the sons are members (Rukn) of JI while daughter is Rukn in waiting of women wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan.