Dawoodi Bohra

Dawoodi Bohras are the main branch of the Bohras (a Musta'li subsect of Ismaili Shi'a Muslims) based in India. Their spiritual leader is Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin. He is known as the Da'i al-Mutlaq and is the 52nd Da'i in an unbroken chain of Da'is. The Bohras believe that the 21st Imam, Imam Taiyab abi al-Qasim (a direct descendant of Muhammad via his daughter Fatima_Zahra) went into seclusion and established the offices of the Da'i al-Mutlaq, Madhun (common usage: Mazoon) and Mukasir. The Da'i al-Mutlaq is the Imam's vicegerent, with full authority to govern the Dawoodi Bohra community in all matters both spiritual and temporal. During the Imam's seclusion, the Da'i al-Mutlaq is appointed by his predecessor in office. The Madhun and Mukasir are in turn appointed by the Da'i al-Mutlaq. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin has appointed Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin as his Madhun, and Syedi Husain Husamuddin as his Mukasir. A fundamental belief of the Dawoodi Bohras is that the presence of the secluded Imam is guaranteed by the presence of the Dai-al-Mutlaq.

Fatimid Origins

After the seclusion of the 21st Fatimid Imam in Egypt, Queen al-Hurra al-Maleka, by the instructions of the secluded Imam, annointed the first Da'i in Yemen in the mid-twelfth century A.D. The Fatimid Dawat (state) was to remain headquartered in Yemen, India and Pakistan (Sindh) under the leadership of the Da'i al Mutlaq.

After acute persecution from the Sunni majority in Yemen, the Dawat was shifted to India and some followers also relocated. However, a large population of Dawoodi Bohras remained in Yemen and do so today.

Some Bohras' ancestors were converts from Hinduism in Gujarat, India. Their conversion was the result of the work of some Fatimid missionaries from Egypt and Yemen which took place before the seclusion of the 21st Fatimid Imam. The converted were largely from the Hindu middle and upper castes such as Vaishya, many of whom were engaged in trade and commerce. Later, indigenous converts undertook the missionary activities in other contiguous regions such as the areas that today constitute Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Contemporary Dawoodi Bohras

The Dawoodi Bohras are a very closely-knit community who seek advice from the da'i in both spiritual and temporal matters.

While the majority of Dawoodi Bohras have traditionally been traders, it is becoming increasingly common for them to become professionals. Within the Indian Subcontinent many choose to become Doctors, and in the Far East and the West, a large number now work as consultants or analysts as well as a large contingent of medical professionals. Dawoodi Bohras are encouraged to educate themselves in both religious and secular knowledge, and as a result, the number of professionals in the community is rapidly increasing. Unlike many other sects of Islam, Dawoodi Bohras believe that the education of women is equally important to that of men, and many Dawoodi Bohra women choose to enter the workforce.

Today there are approximately one million Dawoodi Bohras. The majority of these reside in India and Pakistan, but there is also a significant diaspora resident in the Middle East, East Africa, Europe, North America and the Far East.

The ordinary Bohra is highly conscious of his identity and this is especially demonstrated at religious and traditional occasions by the appearance and attire of the participants. Dawoodi Bohra men wear a traditional white three piece outfit, plus a white and gold cap (called a topi), and women wear the rida, a distinctive form of the commonly known burka which is distinguished from other forms of the veil due to it often being in colour and decorated with patterns and lace.

Besides speaking the local languages, the Bohras have their own language called Lisan al-Dawat. This is written in Arabic script but is derived from Urdu, Gujarati and Arabic.

Remembrance of Imam Husain AS (Grandson of Prophet Mohammed)'s martyrdom is an essential part of every Bohra community activity. Every year the head of the community Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin delivers religious discourses for 9 days during the days of Aashurah and these are attended by a large number of community members.

Contributions to the Community At-Large

The Bohras originated from Fatimid Egypt and thus their cultural mores are based on the practices of the Fatimid Imams. This is further found in the myriad constructions that the Bohras have carried out around the world all of which feature Fatimid influences from the mosques and buildings of Cairo. Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin undertook the complete renovation and restoration of the Mosque of the Imam Al-Hakim in Cairo, a project UNESCO had considered but did not undertake.

In June 2005, the Dawoodi Bohra community built Saifee Hospital in Mumbai, India. The hospital is one of the most technologically advanced hospitals in the entire country, and was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh on June 4, 2005. At the inauguration, the Dawoodi Bohra community was commended by the Prime Minister during a speech delivered by him.

Current Notable Official Events

In August 2005, His Holiness inaugurated another new mosque in the United States - in Fremont, California (metropolitan San Francisco) and was congratulated by various officials and dignitaries from local, state and the United States governments. President George W. Bush also congratulated His Holiness in a letter from the White House [1].

See also

• Ismaili
• Shi'a
• Islam
• Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin

External links and references

• Mumineen.org - The most comprehensive online source of information related to Dawoodi Bohras
• Malumaat.com - A Dawoodi Bohra news website most frequented by Bohras on the Indian Subcontinent.
• Progressive Bohras - Challenging the cult of Sayedna and his corrupt regime.