IOS, Milli Council mourn Maulana Asrarul Haq Qasmi

December 10, 2018 at Institute Building, 162, Jogabai, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi

A condolence meting to mourn the sudden demise of Maulana Asrarul Haq Qasmi, MP and vice-president, All India Milli Council, was jointly organised by the Institute of Objective Studies and the All India Milli Council at the conference hall of the IOS on December 10, 2018.

Glowing tributes were paid to the memory of the maulana, whose death was described as the end of an era. In his message, which was read out by Maulana Shams Tabrez Qasmi, Media Co-ordinator of the IOS, the Chairman of the Institute, Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam said that the late maulana was a devoted member and soldier of the AIMC. His selfless service to the organisation over the years could not be underestimated. From the time he associated himself with the AIMC till the end, he strove to expand it, and continued to serve in the position of vice-presidentship.

Dr. Alam stated that the maulana’s services to the AIMC would be written in golden letters in the Milli Council’s history. He would always top the list of those who contributed to the development of the organisation which has a presence through breadth and width of the country. He further said that the maulana was deeply immersed Islamic knowledge and his valuable services to Islam and the Indian Muslims would be remembered forever.

Dr. Alam maintained that Maulana Qasmi reached out to Muslims through his speeches and writings on religious and political issues. He epitomised simplicity in life and always called a spade a spade and his words and deeds would continue to guide the posterity for years. Dr. Alam also conveyed that the next issue of the AIMC organ, the monthly Milli Ittehad, would be devoted to the life and works of Maulana Asrarul Haq Qasmi.

The Secretary General of IOS, Prof. ZM Khan, who presided over the meet, observed that he usually did not mingle with people. But in the case of Maulana Qasmi, it was just the reverse. He was deeply influenced by the maulana, who was soft-spoken and a down-to-earth person. He said that since the IOS was primarily working in the field of research on various issues concerning the Muslim community and other deprived sections, it wanted to do something to perpetuate the memory of Maulana Qasmi. He urged those who had gathered to condole the death of the maulana to put forward their suggestions in this connection.

In his speech, Abdul Qaiyum Akhtar, General Secretary, AIMC, Rajasthan, referred to Maulana Qasmi as a multifarious personality and a true leader of the community.

President, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, Naved Hamid, held that the maulana attained an exalted position in the national and Muslim politics which many thought of, but could not achieve. He said that Maulana Qasmi served as the general secretary of the Jamiatul Ulema-i-Hind. He won the Lok Sabha seat from Kishanganj and represented the constituency twice.

Assistant Secretary General, IOS, Prof. Hasina Hashia, said the maulana was the embodiment of purity of soul and a selfless well-wisher of the community.

Maulana Aas Mohammad Gulzar Qasmi, president AIMC, east UP, held that the maulana was the leader of an oppressed community. The chief editor of the Urdu daily, Khabrein, Qasim Syed, said that Maulana Qasmi faced wide criticism for keeping mum during the debate on triple talaq in Parliament.

General Secretary, AIMMU, Maulana Abdul Hameed Nomani, observed that the maulana’s living style was very simple. He used to meet the people in all humility and with a sense of belonging. During his stint as the general secretary of Jamiatul Ulma-e-Hind, he used to dine with common people in the community kitchen.

Vice-Chairman, IOS, Prof. M. Afzal Wani, president, AIMC, Delhi state, Dr. Pervez Miyan and Mr. Badruddin Khan also expressed their views on the occasion.

Earlier, the meeting opened with the recitation of a Quranic verse by Hafiz Athar Husain Nadwi. The proceedings of the meet were conducted by Dr. Nakhat Husain Nadwi. The meeting concluded with a dua by Mufti Nadirul Qasmi of Islamic Fiqh Academy.

It may be recalled that the veteran Muslim leader and parliamentarian, Maulana Asrarul Haq Qasmi left for his heavenly abode on the night of December 6, 2018 at the age of 76 years. He was born on February 15, 1942 at Tarabari in Kishanganj district, Bihar. He was responsible for the establishment of 163 primary schools and an Aligarh Muslim University campus in Kishanganj.

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