Mr Nāsīf Qāsim ABĪ-AL-MUNÀ

Who was Nāsīf Qāsim ABĪ-AL-MUNÀ?

Nāsīf Qāsim ABĪ-AL-MUNÀ was a 27 (twenty-seven) year-old Syrian/Lebanese passenger who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on September 29, 1884, in Shānā, Lebanon, he was a third-class passenger on the ill-fated ship’s maiden voyage. His remarkable story of survival and subsequent life in America offers a unique perspective on the Titanic disaster and early 20th-century immigration.

Early Life and Background

Lebanese Roots and American Dreams

• Born to Qāsim Abī-Al-Munà and Najībah
• Two older brothers: Bryan (b. 1875) and Richard (b. 1879)
• Emigrated to the USA in 1903 with brother Richard
• By 1910, both brothers were naturalized US citizens

Nāsīf settled in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where he established himself as a successful merchant under the Americanized name Nassef Cassem Balman. His entrepreneurial spirit and hard work allowed him to thrive in his adopted country.

A Return to Lebanon and New Beginnings

In late 1910, Nāsīf returned to Lebanon where he married a woman named Hisn. By early 1912, the couple was expecting their first child. However, Nāsīf’s plans to return to America meant he would miss the birth of his son, Mahmūd Nāsīf, who was born on April 12, 1912.

The Titanic Journey

Why was Nāsīf returning to America?

Nāsīf was returning to America to continue his business pursuits. He boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg, France, as a third-class passenger. His ticket (number 2699) cost £18 15s 9d.

Interestingly, Nāsīf was not traveling alone. He was accompanied by two relatives:

• 11-year-old Husayn Mahmūd Husayn Ibrāhīm, who was rejoining his parents in the USA
• Farīd Husayn Qāsim Al-Munà, another relative

Fate During the Disaster

A Controversial Account of Survival

In 1938, Nāsīf shared his Titanic survival story with a North Carolina newspaper. His account, however, is considered questionable by historians:

1. He claimed to have placed young Husayn on his shoulders and pushed through crowds to the boat deck.
2. He said he put the boy in a lifeboat but later learned the child had drowned.
3. Nāsīf stated that after all boats were gone, he helped a woman and her children lower themselves into the water via a rope.
4. He then reportedly jumped into the water himself and was picked up by a passing lifeboat.

However, historical evidence suggests that Nāsīf most likely boarded lifeboat 15 before it was lowered from the deck. The fate of young Husayn remains unknown.

Life After the Titanic

A New Chapter in North Carolina

After recuperating with his uncle George Hassan in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Nāsīf settled in Roxboro, North Carolina. His life after the Titanic was marked by:

• Frequent travel between the USA and Lebanon
• The birth of a daughter with his first wife
• A second marriage to Najmie Abī-Al-Munà, with whom he had five daughters
• Working as a clerk in a café in Reidsville, Rockingham, North Carolina in the 1940s

Return to Lebanon and Legacy

Following his retirement in the late 1940s, Nāsīf returned permanently to Lebanon. He passed away in 1962 at the age of 77 (seventy-seven).

His son Mohammed (later known as Michael Balman) joined him in the USA in 1929 and married Nellie Frances Jenkins in 1937. Michael died on July 20, 1997, in Virginia, leaving behind numerous descendants who continue to live in the area.

What impact did the Titanic have on Nāsīf’s life?

The Titanic disaster undoubtedly shaped Nāsīf’s life in profound ways. As a survivor, he carried the weight of that experience throughout his years. His story, with its mix of tragedy and resilience, exemplifies the complex narratives of many third-class passengers who embarked on the Titanic in search of a better life in America.

Nāsīf Qāsim ABĪ-AL-MUNÀ’s journey from Lebanon to America, his survival of the Titanic disaster, and his subsequent life spanning two continents, offers a unique glimpse into the immigrant experience of the early 20th century. His legacy lives on through his descendants, a testament to the enduring spirit of those who sought new beginnings aboard the ill-fated Titanic.