By Manzar Imam,
Mufti Abdul Latif Qasmi, city qazi of Bhopal died of cardiac arrest on 4 April 2010. Mufti Sahab complained of chest pain around 4am following which he was rushed to Chirayu Hospital where he was declared brought dead. He was 63 and is survived by wife, three sons and six daughters. For some time he had been suffering from diabetes.
News of his sudden demise spread like wildfire in the entire Madhya Pradesh and other parts of India. Qazi Abdul Latif was known for his piety and he was lauded for his efforts to maintaining peace among different communities in the city. The renowned scholar was elected Shahar Qazi of Bhopal on May 28, 2002 and since then he was performing his duty well. During last eight years of his being on the respectable post of city qazi no communal tension occurred, Mufti Jawed Anwar Mazahiri said. Although none of his sons or daughters has acquired the rich legacy of his piety and strength of communal harmony, there are large number of people who have benefited from his vast knowledge and wide experience.
Qazi Sahab held balanced views on many issues. Women’s leadership is one of them. In one of his statements he said that Islam did not prohibit women from becoming leaders but circumstances needed to be checked.
During 2006, when every tongue was let loose whether Eid should be celebrated the next day, he waited till midnight before giving his opinion.
During a recent programme at Madrasa Tanweerul Quran in Bhopal’s Shaheen Colony, Qazi Abdul Latif Qasmi emphasized the need for part-time arrangement of religious education for school going Muslim children. He said when children are taught basics of Islam at a tender age, it leaves a lasting impression on their mind and there is less chance of their getting away from the right path no matter which school or college they went. Qazi Sahab commended the sincerity of teachers of madrasas who worked hard and helped children pronounce words correctly and at the same time taught them daily life etiquettes.
Maulana Abdul Latif Qasmi held the post of Shahar Mufti from 1990 to 2002 and was appointed Shahar Qazi in 2002 after the death of the then Shahar Qazi Abdul Ali Siddiqui. He held the post with full dignity and responsibility till the wee hours of the fateful day.
People from all walks of life attended his funeral and prayed for the peace of his soul. Famous religious scholar and Member of Parliament Maulana Mohammad Asrarul Haque Qasmi expressed grief over his sudden demise. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was deeply moved by his death and said that he (Qazi Abdul Latif) was a true torch-bearer of peace, goodwill and religious accord. In his death, the city has suffered a great loss, the CM said. He also extended his condolence to the members of Qazi Sahab’s family.
Suresh Pachouri, president of Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee said Qazi Sahab’s presence symbolized communal harmony and religious tolerance. He upheld the tradition of a composite culture in Bhopal, Pachouri added. Zahida Khanam, vice-president of a Bhopal-based girls’ madrasa said that Qazi Sahab was a pious man who was equally respected among all sections of society. His death has grieved us all, she added.
The funeral prayer was led by Shahar Mufti, Qari Syed Mohammad Fazil Qasmi at the Lal Prade Ground and he was laid to rest at Jadha graveyard in Jahangirabad. A large number of people including Islamic scholars, politicians and others filled the streets of Jahangirabad in the old city of Bhopal to get a last glimpse of the eminent scholar.
Meanwhile, Shahar Mufti, Qari Fazil Qasmi has been nominated the seventh city qazi of Bhopal while he has been succeeded by Mufti Abul Kalam Qasmi as the new city mufti.
(The author is Delhi-based freelance journalist, can be contacted at [email protected])