Ibtisam Ilahi Zahir

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Ibtisam Ilahi Zahir
ابتسام الٰہی ظہیر
Personal life
Born (1972-01-12) 12 January 1972 (age 53)
Parent
Political party Jamiat Ahle Hadith (2018-present)
Alma mater
Religious life
Religion Islam
Denomination Sunni
Jurisprudence Ahl-i Hadith
Movement Salafism
Residence Lahore

Ibtisam Ilahi Zahir [a] (born 12 January 1972) is a Pakistani Islamic scholar. A member of the Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith and is known for his inter-Islamic activities, promoting unity between the Madhhabs within Islam. [1] [2]

Contents

He is the eldest son of Ehsan Elahi Zaheer. [3]

Early life

Ibtisam Ilahi Zahir was born 12 January 1972 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. [4] His father, Ehsan Elahi, was a renowned Islamic scholar who belonged to the Sethi clan. He has two other well-known brothers, Hisham and Mutasim. [2]

He 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. [5]

He then enrolled at the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore. While there, he also memorized the Quran. [2]

Career

After the assassination of his father Ihsan Ilahi Zahir, He led his own faction of the Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith against the mainstream group led by Sajid Mir. [6] However, in 2018, He merged his faction into Sajid Mir's faction. [7] [8]

In 2003, He was banned from entering the city of Faisalabad during the Muharram procession of Shias. [9] Ibtisam was a part of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). [10]

In 2012, He campaigned against NATO's resumption of strikes in Pakistan under the umbrella of Difa-e-Pakistan Council. [11] and under Hafiz Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawa, He participated in pro-Palestinian rallies amidst the 2014 Gaza war. [12]

In 2020, He was part of the clergy that pushed for Tahaffuz Bunyad-e-Islam bill to be implemented. [4]

He contested the 2024 general election on the NA-132 constituency of Kasur, ultimately losing to Shehbaz Sharif. [13]

In 2024, after He toured the United Kingdom, four mosques were assessed by Charity Foundation for association with an "Islamic extremist" cleric. [14] [2] [15]

Notes

  1. Urdu: ابتسام الہی ظہیر, romanized: Ibtisām Ilāhī Ẓahīr

References

  1. "Scholar urges 'positive attitude'". Gulf Times. 2011-10-31. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "NSS calls for action on charities which hosted extremist cleric". National Secular Society. 2024-07-29. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  3. Irshad Bhatti (2025-04-06). Allama Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer Exclusive Interview | Podcast with Irshad Bhatti via YouTube.
  4. 1 2 Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2020-08-10). "Clerics to get Tahaffuz bill implemented". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  5. "Scholar urges 'positive attitude'". Gulf Times. 2011-10-31.
  6. "امام کعبہ کی برکت، ابتسام الٰہی ظہیر غیر مشروط طور پر علامہ ساجد میر کیساتھ شامل ہوگئے". اسلام ٹائمز (in Urdu). 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  7. "Alliance in the making | Dialogue | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  8. Desk, News (2025-05-03). "Thousands attend funeral of PML-N senator Sajid Mir in Lahore". The Express Tribune.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  9. "74 'troubled spots' in Faisalabad". DAWN.COM. 2003-03-06. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  10. Ghori, Habib Khan (2018-03-21). "Maulana Fazl to head recently revived MMA". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  11. Agencies (2012-07-07). "DPC announces long march schedule against Nato supply resumption". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  12. our.correspondent (2014-08-03). "Gaza under fire: Jamaatud Dawa rallies against Israel". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-06-26.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  13. "NA-132 Election Result 2024 Kasur 2, Cadidates List". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  14. "Mosques which hosted Islamist extremist preacher investigated by charity watchdog". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  15. Penna, Dominic (2024-07-27). "Mosques which hosted Islamist extremist preacher investigated by charity watchdog". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 2025-06-26.