Sayed Yaqoob-ul-Hasan Waqif was born at Sambhal on 26 October 1904. After completing his education, he worked, first as a school teacher, and then as a song and dialogue writer for the Indian films. He was quite hard-pressed for money during the post-partition days. But his appointment as a lecturer in Urdu at Punjab University Camp College. Delhi, and at Dyal Singh College, eased his financial situation considerably. On retirement he was granted a scholarship of five thousand rupees per annum by the U.G.C. But he wasn't destined to live long, and died on 15 December, 1966, probably from cancer. He was buried at Kotla Ferozeshah graveyard on 16 December, 1966.

Waqif Muradabadi was a humorist by instinct and temperament. and had an attractive mode of presentation, which won him loud applause at mushairas and literary gatherings. He has also made a translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyaam.