Zahir Qasmi Urdu: قاری ظاہر قاسمی (2 August 1922 – 4 September 1988) was a qari (reciter of the Qur'an), mainly known for his qira'at (technique of recitation).[1][2]

Zahir Qasmi
Born2 August 1922
Died4 September 1988 (Aged 66)
OccupationQari
Relatives

Background

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Zahir Qasmi was born to Muhammad Tahir Qasmi, son of Islamic scholar Hafiz Muhammad Ahmad, son of Maulana Qasim Nanotvi mohtamim & founder of famous Dar-Ul-Ulum Deobund, Saharanpur, UP, India. Qari Zahir Qasmi's three younger brothers, (i) Maulana Asif Qasmi was the founder of Jama Masjid Farooq-e-Azam, North Nazimabad, Karachi. (ii) Qari Shakir Qasmi has got the honor as a first Qari ever recited Tilawat-e-Kalam-e-Pak at the ceremony of starting of the new Islamic century in UNO. (iii) Qari Vaheed Zafar Qasmi the famous naat khuan of Pakistan. Qari Zahir Qasmi's daughter Zohra Qasmi was a girls student leader of Sir Syed College and Karachi University. His son Saood Qasmi is a famous film actor. [3]

Zahir Qasmi had a very unique honour for Qur’an recitation. On August 14/15, 1947, day of independence of Pakistan, Qari Zahir Qasmi recited on Radio Pakistan for the country.[4][2] He also established a Qira’at Institution in the early 1950s in Pakistan called “Darul-Quran, Jamia Qasima” in lazvella, Karachi.[5] In 1966/1967, Qari Zahir Qasmi was the secretary general of the International Qur'an Recitation Association and he attended both international Qira'at conferences.[5] He had gained a lot of popularity in the late 1970s, and the early 1980s. Qari Zahir Qasmi died on September 4, 1988, in the state of Virginia (United States).[6]


There is a 'Qari Zahir Qasmi Road' in Karachi, Pakistan named after him.[7]

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 (advocate), Ziaul Hasan Chishti (advocate), Dr Safdar Farooqui, M. Ghulam Murtaza and SM Sohail to prepare the constitution of the party".[1]

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.[1]

Awards and recognition

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Peerzada Salman (11 June 1970). "This week 50 years ago: New political front and trends in drama (Zahir Qasmi's political and social role in Karachi back then)". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Tareekh e Pakistan - Death of Qari Zahir Qasmi (قاری زاہر قاسمی کی وفات) | Online History of Pakistan".
  3. ^ Aks-e-Ahmad (in Urdu). Darul Uloom Waqf: Hujjatul Islam Academy. May 2014. p. 464. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  4. ^ "First Telawat e Quraan Broadcast by Radio Pakistan | Qari Zahir ul Qasmi | Radio Pakistan - YouTube". YouTube.
  5. ^ a b "Persons Behind Formulation of IQRA – International Quran Recitation Association (IQRA)".
  6. ^ "Tareekh e Pakistan - Death of Qari Zahir Qasmi (قاری زاہر قاسمی کی وفات) on the Online History Of Pakistan website (in Urdu language)". www.tareekhepakistan.com. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  7. ^ Qari Zahir Qasmi Road on placesmap.net website Retrieved 23 April 2019
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