Ibtisam Ilahi Zahir | |
|---|---|
ابتسام الٰہی ظہیر | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 12 January 1972 |
| Parent |
|
| Political party | JAH (2018-present) |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni |
| Jurisprudence | Ahl-i Hadith |
| Movement | Salafism |
Ibtisam Ilahi Zahir [a] (born 12 January 1972) is a Pakistani Islamic scholar. A member of the Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith, Ibtisam is the eldest son of Ihsan Ilahi Zahir. Ibtisam is known for his inter-Islamic activities, promoting unity between schools of thoughts. [1]
Ibtisam Ilahi Zahir was born 12 January 1972 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. [2] His father, Ihsan Ilahi Zahir, was a renowned Islamic scholar who belonged to the Sethi clan. He has two other well-known brothers, Hisham and Mutasim.
Ibtisam studied from the Crescent Model School and passed his matriculation from there. After that, he joined Government College Lahore and passed the pre-engineering college examination from there. He then enrolled at the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore. While there, he also memorized the Quran.
After the assassination of his father Ihsan Ilahi Zahir, Ibtisam led his own faction of the Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith against the mainstream group led by Sajid Mir. [3] However, in 2018, Ibtisam merged his faction into Sajid Mir's faction. [4]
In 2003, Ibtisam was banned from entering the city of Faisalabad during the Muharram procession of Shias. [5]
In 2012, Ibtisam campaigned against NATO's resumption of strikes in Pakistan under the umbrella of Difa-e-Pakistan Council. [6] Under Hafiz Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Ibtisam participated in pro-Palestinian rallies amidst the 2014 Gaza war. [7] Ibtisam was a part of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) formed in 2018. [8]
In 2020, Ibtisam was part of the clergy that pushed for Tahaffuz Bunyad-e-Islam bill to be implemented. [2]
Ibtisam Ilahi Zahir contested the 2024 general election on the NA-132 constituency of Kasur, ultimately losing to Shehbaz Sharif. [9]
In 2024, after Zahir toured the United Kingdom, four mosques were assessed by Charity Foundation for association with an "Islamic extremist" cleric. [10] [11] [12]
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