Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin (TUS) - 53rd Dai-al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohra Community

Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin (TUS) is the second son of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA) and now, after the sad demise of Syedna Burhanuddin, is the leader of the world wide Dawoodi Bohra Community. He is the 53rd Dai-al Mutlaq in the line of Doat Mutlaqeen of the Dawoodi Bohras.

A brief profile of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin is available here. You can also read more about the Dawoodi Bohra community in my blog here.

Lesser known facts about Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin are:

1. Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin is a descendent of:
• Imam Ja'afar us Sadiq (AS)
• Syedi Fakhruddin Shaheed (RA)\
• Syedna Qutubkhan Qutbuddin Shaheed (RA)
• and Syedi Abdulqadir Hakimuddin (RA)
2. He had performed the historic journey of Yemen in 1391 H/ 1971 AD to lay the foundation of Syedna Hatim (RA)'s mausoleum. The enemies in Yemen had turned up with guns to prevent the construction of the mausoleum but it was Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin who had fearlessly confronted them. It was after this journey that Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin had bestowed upon him the title of Aqeeq-ul Yemen.
3. During the historic restoration of Al-Jame-al-Anwar Mosque in Cairo it was Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin who had been entrusted with the cleaning of the Jame by Syedna Burhanuddin, a task which UNESCO was not willing to take up due to the excessive amount of trash dumped there.
4. After the restoration of Al-Jame-al-Anwar, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin was concerned about the type of lighting that could be used to adorn the Jame, at that time Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin had suggested lighting it with the designs used during the period of Imam Hakim (AS) called the Mishkat-al Anwar. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin had replicated that design in almost every Dawoodi Bohra Masjid since, such was the value of His suggestion for Syedna Burhanuddin. Below is an image of the Mishkat: 

Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has also been instrumental in implementing many initiatives within the community such as:

1. Contributing to Qardan Hasana (Interest-Free Loans) scheme on every Friday
2. Nazafat - Keeping our masjids, houses, localities, community centres, kabrastan etc. clean. Taking care of overall cleanliness.
3. Faiz-ul-Mawaid-al-Burhaniya - Which imparts same quality of food to all community members throughout the world.

Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has helped the community redefine its own identity in this modern era by making sure that we do not compromise our values but still accepting the new age. Unlike other claimants who want their community to forget values and just follow the world.

The Greatest Miracle of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin - Dawoodi Bohra One Nation

I had been planning to write this article for a long time but now, in the wake of the demise of our Moula - Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin - it seems more appropriate and relevant.

This is my humble tribute to Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA) -

The most basic observations to judge a person's ethnicity (country/region of origin) are:-
1. Appearance - Outfit, features etc.
2. Name - usually surname and occasionally the first name
3. Behavior - likes and dislikes, eating habits, etc.
4. Language/Accent.

For example, in India, you can guess if a person belongs to South, North, East or West India by their Appearance, Name, Language spoken or Accent or their Behavioral patterns.

If we take a more global example we can judge a person's place of origin - whether they are African, Latin, Asian etc. based on the same observations.

The Dawoodi Bohra community, though much smaller in number has created an identity of it's own, that is to say, that our appearance, our names, our language/accent, our likes and dislikes and especially eating habits give us a unique place in the world.

You can easily identify an 'apnawala' as we call each other in a crowd of hundreds or sometimes even when we are given a list of names.

And not just amongst ourselves people around the globe who have some knowledge of Dawoodi Bohras or our Dai can identify another Dawoodi Bohra.

Our dress - beard and 'topi' for men and 'rida' for women - have become our symbol. We can proudly say that Dawoodi Bohra has become a nationality of it's own and we are Dawoodi Bohra citizens.

But this great change, this great miracle is the result of the continuous hard work and perseverance of one Man, one Angel - Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin!!

But why is this the Greatest Miracle? Why is this so important?

The answer to this is simple. Usually, we find it difficult, almost impossible, to change the heart of one individual to accept something they are not accustomed to, but Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin has changed the hearts of millions to accept this new way of life.

Today we do see professionals going to office with beard and 'topi' or 'rida'. While the rest of the world is trying to gel together, to be indistinguishable, to hide their beliefs behind a modern outlook and moving away from their roots in doing so. We are trying to stand out in the crowd. We accept modernity but with our roots firmly in place. We are projecting ourselves through our beliefs. The world is accepting us now and this change has not taken place over a short period of time, it has taken 50 years of undeterred effort to bring about this change and the reason for this change is Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin! 

Moula has toiled and struggled so that we can go around the world with our identity in place, so that wherever we are our roots are firm.The world identifies Dawoodi Bohras as a peaceful group of people, they identify us through our Moula.

We saw a 'Sea of White' engulf South Mumbai to bid farewell to our Beloved Moula. These are the fruits being borne by the seeds that were planted by Him.

Let us then pledge that we will carry on these customs, we will announce ourselves to the world, we will walk on the path that our Moula has paved for us and not just paved, paved and adorned with flowers for us.

But we being mere mortals always require a guiding light, a helping hand to make us walk this path. And therefore, we request our 53rd Dai - Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin to always hold our hand and keep us firm in the path of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin.

May Allah ta'ala grant a long, healthy and prosperous life till the day of judgement to our Moula Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin (TUS).

- Huzefa Mala.

Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin!!!

Date: 16th Rabi-ul-Awwal 1435.

Day: Jumoa.

The day started normally, as usual hundreds of things had been planned - related to work, related to Jumoa prayers, related to ta'abudat amals. But everything turned out to be useless. Every plan was a waste. Every moment was going to turn unbearable!

The most common prayer in the heart of every mumin - "Khuda Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Moula ni umre-sharif ne qayamat na din lag daraaz ane daraaz karjo!" This dua had to stop! This dua had to be altered! Because our Aqa, our Moula, our Father, our Hope, our Guiding Light, our Dai, our Sultan, our Qibla, our Savior, our Caregiver, our Shade in the Sun, our Teacher, our Protector, our Huzurala had left us to reach the Hazrat of Panjetan Pak (AS), to reach the Hazrat of Imam-uz-Zamaan, to reach the Hazrat of Syedna Taher Safiuddin, to reach Jannat-ul-Firdaus.

It seemed impossible, it seemed like a nightmare but we had to believe it. For as long as most of us mumin have been alive today we have had only one Moula, one Face to look up to, one Hand to ask for Help. How could this be possible!!

It is difficult to find words to express my grief! Grief is a very insignificant word in itself!

The next day our eyes had to witness the painful sight of Janaza of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin. Still it was difficult to believe that it was Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin in that Janaza. These eyes would no longer witness the Noorani Chehra Mubarak of Burhanuddin Moula .

But NO!!

These eyes will witness the Noorani Chehra Mubarak of Burhanuddin Moula! These lips will pray for the long life of Our Moula. These hands will be folded in front of Our Moula, Our Moula Mufaddal Saifuddin (TUS). We do sajadat of shukr to Burhanuddin Moula for the azeem neamat of Moula Mufaddal (TUS), who is giving us the barakat of deedar of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin through his Noorani Chehra, who is giving us the neamat of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin's bayaan through his Voice, who is NOW - our Aqa.. our Moula.. our Qibla.. our Father.. our Hope.. our Guiding Light.. our Savior.. our Caregiver.. our Shade in the Sun.. our Teacher.. our Protector.. our Sultan.. our Huzurala.. our DAI!!

May Allah ta'ala grant afzalul jaza to our Moula Mohammed Burhanuddin in Jannat-ul-Firdaus, may Allah ta'ala grant a long, healthy and prosperous life till qayamat to his Mansoos and the 53rd Dai-al-Mutlaq Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin (TUS) and may Allah ta'ala grant each and every mumin present today and born till the day of qayamat the sharaf of Ziyarat of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA) and Syedna Taher Saifuddin (RA)!!

Khuda sagla ne ane hamne Sabr ni taakat ata kare.

- Huzefa Mala.