[1] Karami descended from one of the most prominent Sunni Muslim families in Lebanon.

[2] Members of his family traditionally held the position of mufti of Tripoli.

Abdul Hamid Karami became mufti of Tripoli,[3] but was removed by the French authorities.

He was a leader of the movement demanding Lebanon's independence, a goal which was achieved by 1943.

[4] In 1944, Karami survived an assassination attempt, which was due to a local rivalry in Tripoli.