Zahir Qasmi


Zahir Qasmi was a renowned qari, known for his unique style of qira’at.

Background

Zahir Qasmi was born in Uttar Pradesh, India, to Muhammad Tahir Qasmi, the son of Islamic scholar Hafiz Muhammad Ahmad, grandson of Maulana Qasim Nanautawi, founder of Darul Uloom Deoband.
He had three notable younger brothers:Maulana Asif Qasmi – founder of Jama Masjid Farooq-e-Azam, KarachiQari Shakir Qasmi – first qari to recite Tilawat-e-Kalam-e-Pak at the UNO Islamic century ceremonyQari Waheed Zafar Qasmi – famous naat khuan of Pakistan
His children also made their mark: daughter Zohra Qasmi was a student leader, and son Saud Qasmi became a film actor.

Career

On the day of Pakistan’s independence, 14–15 August 1947, Zahir Qasmi recited the Qur’an on Radio Pakistan. In the early 1950s, he founded a Qira’at institution in Karachi called Darul-Quran, Jamia Qasima. He served as secretary-general of the International Qur’an Recitation Association in 1966/1967 and attended international Qira’at conferences.
According to the Dawn newspaper archives, on 11 June 1970, Mohajir representatives in Karachi decided to form the Pakistan Mohajir Front and appointed Maulana Zahir Qasmi as its convener. He was part of a committee tasked with preparing the party’s constitution. This highlights his active role in Karachi’s political and social affairs at the time.
The exact quote was;
From the Dawn newspaper's archives 50 years ago, "On June 11, 1970 it was reported that the Mohajir representatives of Karachi had decided to form a political party the Pakistan Mohajir Front... The meeting also decided to make Maulana Zahir Qasmi its convener, and to appoint a committee consisting of Maulana Qasmi, Hamid Husain Farooqui, Ziaul Hasan Chishti, Dr Safdar Farooqui, M. Ghulam Murtaza and SM Sohail to prepare the constitution of the party".
He gained widespread popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Zahir Qasmi was also socially and politically active in Karachi, serving as convener for the Pakistan Mohajir Front in 1970.

Death and Legacy

Zahir Qasmi passed away on 4 September 1988 in Virginia, United States. A road in Karachi is named in his honour: Qari Zahir Qasmi Road.
Above quote from the Dawn newspaper archives makes it obvious that Zahir Qasmi was highly active politically and socially in Karachi more than 50 years ago.

Awards and recognition