Thousands Attend Funeral of Dehradun City Qazi Maulana Muhammad Ahmad Qasmi

Dehradun witnessed a massive turnout on Sunday as thousands gathered to bid farewell to City Qazi Maulana Muhammad Ahmad Qasmi, who passed away a day earlier after suffering a heart attack. His funeral prayer was offered on 23 November, after which he was laid to rest amid emotional scenes. Members of the Muslim community, his acquaintances, and various social and political groups expressed deep grief over his demise.

According to reports, Maulana Muhammad Ahmad Qasmi had been serving as the City Qazi of Dehradun since 1981. He passed away at the age of 74 while travelling to Najibabad on 22 November to attend a wedding. He reportedly suffered a sudden heart attack. A large crowd accompanied his funeral procession from his residence to the Chandar Nagar graveyard.

Senior Vice President of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee, Surya Kant Dhasmana, also attended the funeral. Paying tribute, he noted that Maulana Qasmi had served as Dehradun’s City Qazi for nearly 45 years and had also been the Imam of the city’s Jama Masjid. Dhasmana described him as a kind, gentle, and peace-loving religious leader who consistently promoted harmony and peaceful coexistence. People of all faiths, he said, held him in high regard.

Dhasmana added that Dehradun has lost a true advocate of peace. He recalled that on 14 March 2025, during Holi, Maulana Qasmi changed the Friday prayer timing to 2:30 pm at the request of the administration and police — a gesture widely appreciated across the city.

Various social and political organisations have expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Qazi Maulana Muhammad Ahmad Qasmi.