Prominent Urdu Poet Hashmat Sohail Passes away in Chicago
By Dr A. S. Khan
Chicago, IL
Hashmat Sohail, a renowned Urdu humorous poet and writer, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, on Monday, November 10, 2025. His funeral prayer ( Namaz-e-Janaza) was held at Masjid Al Huda, Schaumburg, Illinois, after Zuhr prayers.
Hashmat Sohail was widely admired for his participation in Mushairas across Chicago and other North American cities. His distinctive style of reciting humorous poetry made him an iconic figure in the Urdu literary community.
He authored two notable books:
- “Kiran Kiran Tabassum” (2010) – a collection of humorous poetry
- “Yadon Ki Kahkashan” (2017) – an autobiography/memoir
His works are available online at: https://www.rekhta.org/authors/syed-hashmat-sohail/ebooks?lang=ur
Hashmat Sohail was born in Shahpur, UP, British India. His father, Syed Shakir Ali, served in the British Army and lived to the age of 102. Hashmat lost his mother when he was just two years old.
He attended the University of Lucknow, earning master’s degrees in both English and Urdu. After completing his law degree (LLB), he practiced law in Lucknow.
Following the passing of his first wife, Hashmat moved to Dubai in 1985, where he practiced law for 14 years. In 1998, he married Yasmin in Karachi, and the family relocated to the United States in 1999.
Hashmat Sohail played a pivotal role in promoting Urdu in North America. He co-founded the Urdu Cultural Society, Chicago (UCSC) with his wife, Mrs Yasmin Hashmat Sohail, and colleagues including Anjum and Kishwar Gohar, Dr Ahmed Shahzad Khan and Tasneem Nuzhat, Najmul and Shahida Hasan, Amin and Nasim Haider, Aslam and Farheen Kabir, and Mazhar and Mumtaz Alam.
Under his leadership, UCSC organized monthly literary and cultural events at Schaumburg Library, Illinois, and published several books, including a collection of Naats ( Natia Majallah) written by poets in Urdu, Persian, Arabic, and regional languages of Pakistan and India. UCSC also supported peace initiatives between Pakistan and India through events celebrating the Aman Ki Asha campaign.
Hashmat Sohail is survived by his wife, Yasmin Sohail; daughters Iffat, Sarwat, Sumiyya Rehman; and son-in-law Salman Rahman.
May Allah (SWT) bless Hashmat Sohail and grant him the highest station in Jannat-ul-Firdous. Ameen.
