Dawoodi Bohra

The Fatimids first inhabited Medina and later ruled over large parts of the Islamic world during the 10th and 11th centuries, including North Africa and Egypt. They ruled with the aim of fostering and strengthening the religious traditions established by the Prophet. The Fatimids Imams oversaw an unparalleled period of Islamic history in terms of its political, economic, literary, artistic and scientific achievements.  They founded educational establishments, such as Al-Azhar University, the world’s oldest surviving university, as well as many architectural masterpieces in the city of Cairo, Egypt, which remain an enduring legacy of that era.[13]

Prior to the assassination of the 20th Imam, Al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah, he directed his grand emissary in Yemen, Sayyida Arwa al-Sulayhi, the queen of Yemen, to establish the office of the Da'i al-Mutlaq (or, “unrestricted missionary”) to act as vicegerent of the 21st Imam At-Tayyib Abu'l-Qasim while in seclusion. The Da'i al-Mutlaq was instructed to continue the mission of the Imam, known as al-Da’wah al-Hadiyah (also Dawat-e-Hadiyah), which means providing believers with guidance.

Succession to the office of al-Dai al-Mutlaq is determined by a process called Nass, whereby each Da’i - inspired and guided by the hidden imam - appoints his own successor.  Each al-Dai al-Mutlaq has appointed a successor in his own lifetime to carry on the mission in the name of the imams with all the authority and power inherent in that high office. The chain of Da’is has continued without interruption to this day. .[14] The Current Da'i-al-Mutlaq is Dr Mufaddal Saifuddin.[15]

Devotion to the Prophet Mohammed, his family and his descendants is a hallmark of the Dawoodi Bohra faith, and is called walaayat.  The other fundamental practices are tahaarat (purity in body and thought), salaat (daily ritual prayers), zakaat ( (offering a portion of one’s income to Allah), sawm (fasting, particularly in the month of Ramadan), and hajj (a ritual pilgrimage to Makkah and its surrounds) and jihad (striving in the way of Allah).  Dawoodi Bohras establish mosques wherever they live and congregate for prayers and for majalis (lit. gatherings) for the remembrance of Allah and His chosen ones.

Dawoodi Bohra 52nd Dai Sayyedna Mohd. Burhanuddin,1965 CE onward

Islam prohibits Riba (Usury) and interest; Dawoodi Bohras follow the principle of Qardan Hasana.[16] Qardan Hasana (lit. good loan) is a connotation towards the borrowing or lending of loans at zero rates of interest also commonly known as interest-free loans.[10] The term Qardan Hasana is a unique terminology specific to Islam, which has been mentioned six times in the Quran.[17] The Dawoodi Bohras follow this tenet with strict adherence to the principle of interest-free transactions. As it is based on the ideal of uplifting the borrower, this model has played a pivotal role in the economic growth within the community.[18]

Dawoodi Bohras voluntarily contribute to the corpus on a regular basis from an institutional level to individual and personal levels. The funds thus collected are managed by respective city-wise committees appointed by the central administration for this purpose. These loans are used by community members to buy houses, fund their education and businesses.[19]

The central rite of passage for Bohras is mithaq.This ceremony is a covenant between the believer and God, effected through his representative on earth. In addition to spelling out the duties a believer owes to Allah, it includes an oath of allegiance: a vow to accept the spiritual guidance of Syedna wholeheartedly and without reservation. The mithaq ceremony is mandatory to enter the fold of the faith.

The mithaq oath is first taken at whatever age a child is deemed to have reached maturity: most commonly, thirteen years for girls, fourteen or fifteen for boys. During early puberty, a child will be brought by his or her parents for an interview with the local amil (local head of the community). The amil asks the youth a series of questions about the Bohra faith, and only after providing adequate answers will the child be accepted for mithaq.

On the eighteenth day of the Islamic month of Zil Hijjah, every Bohra congregation renews its mithaq vows together.[20]

The Dawoodi Bohra follow the Fatimid-era Tabular Islamic calendar[21] which matches perfectly with the lunar cycle and does not require any correction. In this calendar, the lunar year has 354 days. The odd-numbered months have 30 days and the even-numbered months have 29 days, except in a leap year when the 12th and final month has 30 days.[22] This contrasts with other Muslim communities, which base the beginnings of specific Islamic months on sightings of the moon crescent.[22]

The word Bohra comes from the Gujarati word 'vohrvu' (to trade), in reference to their traditional occupation.[26][27] The term Dawoodi comes from the support given to Dawood Bin Qutubshah during a schism that the community faced in 1592.

Dawoodi Bohras have a blend of ethnic cultures, including: Yemeni, Egyptian, African, Pakistani and Indian. In addition to the local languages, the Dawoodi Bohras have their own language called Lisan al-Dawat.[28] which is written in Perso-Arabic script and is derived from Arabic, Persian, Urdu and Gujarati.

Dawoodi Bohras have a distinct form of attire. Men of the faith traditionally wear a predominantly white three-piece outfit consisting of a form of tunic called a kurta, an overcoat of equal length called a saaya, and pants or trousers called Izaar.  Men also wear a white cap with golden designs called a topi. Bohra men are expected to adhere to the practice of the Prophet of growing a full beard.[3]

Women of the faith wear a two piece dress called a rida that is distinguishable from other forms of Hijab by its bright colors, decorative patterns and lace, and the fact that it does not cover the woman’s face.[29] The rida can be of any colour except black. It has a flap called a pardi that is usually folded to one side to allow the woman’s face to be visible but that can be worn over the face if desired.[3]

Dawoodi Bohras have a unique system of communal eating with groups of 8 or 9 people seated around a thaal (a particularly large metal tray). Each course of the meal is served for the people around the thaal to share.[30]

All heads should be covered during the meal. Once everyone is seated, one serving member walks with water in a chelamchi lota (a kind of basin and jug) for everyone to wash their hands.

At community feasts, they have desserts or meethas first and starters or khaaras next, followed by the main meal.[31]

In 2012, the community leadership under Mohammed Burhanuddin instituted community kitchens in Mumbai that deliver Bohra families one meal per day; the goal of this system is to provide at least one wholesome meal to every family as well as free women from the task of preparing food and providing them with time to pursue education or economic activities.[31][32]

Bohras subscribe to the view that nobody should go to bed hungry, regularly organizing food drives to feed the homeless and hungry in cities throughout the world.[33][34][35]

At every town and city across the world, they have formed a Dana ( grain) Committee, which is tasked to eliminate food wastage. The emphasis is on not allowing even a single grain to go to waste.[36] There are over 6000 dana committee volunteers spread across 40 countries in the world.

As a first step, the dana committee has developed RSVP apps and other web and mobile based platforms where invitees to a communal meal inform in advance if they will be able to attend.[37]

For the Dawoodi Bohras, a masjid in addition to being a primary place of worship is regarded as one of the pivotal centres of nurturing that provides a haven for the socio-cultural development of all community members. Along with serving the purpose of religious congregations, the masjid also plays an important role as a centre for civic affairs. A Dawoodi Bohra masjid complex usually houses several administrative offices of the community along with a banquet hall(s) designated for ceremonial purposes.

Contemporary Dawoodi Bohra Masjids have an aesthetic style that blends the past with the present. The architectural features found in the Fatimi masjids of Cairo serve as a blue-print for these new structures. The reproduction of these features onto contemporary masjids serve testimony to Fatimi architecture and

The eras of Syedna Taher Saifuddin and Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin saw an exponential increase of construction of masjids in different parts of the world. Under the leadership of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the community continues to foster the same spirit of construction to ensure a rich socio-cultural environment that engenders peace and harmony for all.

Masjid e Moazzam, Surat

Dawoodi Bohras communities (or jamaats) are centered around a Masjid (or mosque) or markaz (centre) where there is no masjid.  Jamaat Committees - or Anjumans - operate all around the world where Dawoodi Bohra members live and work. Bohra communities have populations ranging from around one hundred to tens of thousands in major cities.

The Amil is the president of the local Anjuman in his respective city. He is appointed by the Dawat–e-Hadiyah with the permission of the Da'i al-Mutlaq. There are several sub committees and trusts under each Jamaat committee that look after different aspects of the Dawoodi Bohra’s community’s administration.

As its head, the Amil administers and manages the socio-religious affairs of the jamaat. The Amil leads prayers and gives discourses.

Communal meals are served in dining halls called the jamaat khaana, which are generally part of the mosque complex.

The Dawoodi Bohras operate an elaborate administrative system set up by the central organization.  The office of the Da'i al-Mutlaq, known as Dawat–e-Hadiyah, is central to administering the secular and religious affairs of all Dawoodi Bohras. The main office is currently located in Badri Mahal, Mumbai, India.

During the 20th century, the Syednas established colleges, schools and madrasas in villages, towns and cities all around the world. The focus on literacy and education has meant that the community has a high percentage of degree holders and professionals both male and female with a large number of doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers, teachers and IT professionals in the community in addition to the numerous businessmen and industrialists.

Al Jamea tus Saifiyah is the Dawoodi Bohra theological university, which was founded in Surat, India[38] in 1814 AD(1224AH)by the 43rd Dai Moulana Abdeali Saifuddin who named it ‘Dars-e-Saifee".[39] A second campus was founded in 1983 located in the northern foothills of Karachi, Pakistan. A third campus was established in Nairobi, Kenya in 2011, and in 2013 a fourth campus was established in Marol (Mumbai), Maharashtra.

The 51st Dai Syedna Taher Saifuddin introduced modern subjects including sciences and arts to the curriculum in 1961 and renamed the academy Al Jamea tus Saifiyah. This process of modernization continued with his son and successor Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin who introduced 'state-of-the-art' facilities such as the Mahad al-Zahra Quran training Institute. He also made it an International Baccalaureate Office.[38] The academies are administered by a central office located in Badri Mahal, Fort, Mumbai. The 51st Da'i Syedna Taher Saifuddin was a prolific scholar who wrote more than 40 volumes or 'Risalas' and has penned more than 10,000 verses in tribute to the Shia saints. Many of his works are part of the syllabus in the different fields of Arabic study in Al Jamea tus Saifiyah.

The Aligarh Muslim University conferred a Doctorate of Theology on the 51st Da'i, Taher Saifuddin,[40] and offered him its Chancellorship.[41] He remained as Chancellor for three consecutive terms until his death in 1965.[42] In October 1999, the 52nd Dai Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin was also elected Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University.[43] Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin was elected chancellor in 2015.

Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin established MSB Educational Institute in Nairobi and Mumbai, in 1984. Currently, there are 25 branches of the school worldwide.

The Bohra faith places great importance on protecting and enhancing the natural environment and raising awareness of the need for sustainable development. Nazafat (or cleanliness) is an integral component of Islamic faith, and members of the Bohra community are urged to engage in clean-up drives, tree planting and other green initiatives to foster and promote a clean living environment wherever they reside; to avoiding waste and pollution; to recycle; and to nurture all forms of life.[44]

In 1992, the Spiritual Leader of the Bohras, the late Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, established the Burhani Foundation, a charitable trust dedicated to making the preservation of the environment the responsibility of every Bohra, and to spread awareness of the relationship between environmental health and the health of people. The Burhani Foundation seeks to enhance the natural environment through tree planting, water pollution controls, promoting techniques for sustainable development, raising public awareness and funding research. In 2017, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the 53rd and current Da'i al-Mutlaq, initiated a worldwide program to plant 200,000 saplings as a means of conserving the environment and raising awareness of environmental issues.[45]

Together with Champions of the Earth , Afroz Shah, the Dawoodi Bohras Turning the Tide campaign is working to eliminate single-use plastic; remove plastic from oceans, rivers and beaches in India; and educate people on the need to protect the natural environment. Bohras regularly lead practical efforts to protect, enhance and clean-up the natural environment where they live, while raising awareness among the wider community of the need for sustainable development.[46][47][48][49]

In June 2018, the Dawoodi Bohra community launched Project Rise, a global initiative established to help improve the lives of people that are marginalized, neglected or living in poverty. In partnership with government bodies and local organizations around the world, Project Rise’s upliftment programs span a range of policy areas, including healthcare, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, environmental responsibility and conservation, and education. Project Rise takes its inspiration from the teachings of Islam and the Prophetic traditions, which instruct Muslims to work for the betterment of others.[50]

Project Rise was launched in Mumbai in partnership with Fight Hunger Foundation – part of the Action Against Hunger global network – to help alleviate hunger in some of the poorest parts of India; significantly raise health and nutrition levels of children and mothers suffering from severe malnutrition; and provide mothers, caregivers and local health workers with disease prevention techniques.[51]

Project Rise began by supporting nutrition among families in Mokhada in the Palghar district of Maharashtra and suburban Govandi[52] but has since expanded its scope and range throughout India and the Bohra’s global community.

In September 2019, Bohra volunteers helped people to recover from the devastating flooding and landslides in Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat by providing meals and essential supplies to affected families.[53]

In October 2019, Bohras in North America marked United Nations World Food Day by undertaking a range of Project Rise initiatives, including donating to local food banks and helping to feed vulnerable members of society.[54]

Many of the values at the core of Project Rise – including eradicating poverty and hunger, improving health and education, empowering women, avoiding waste, and preserving the natural environment – align closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For centuries, Bohras around the world have been living their daily lives according to these principles, regularly taking practical action to support members of society who most need help.[55]

In addition, every year, as part of the Dawoodi Bohra Upliftment Drive, thousands of volunteers from Bohra communities around the world undertake a range of initiatives aimed at raising the living standards of the less fortunate members of society that need additional support in terms of housing, food, health and spiritual well-being.[56][57]

Bohras subscribe to the view that nobody should go to bed hungry, and consider it their duty to help the less fortunate members of society. Bohra communities regularly organize food drives to feed the homeless and hungry in cities throughout the world.

In October 2019, Bohras in North America marked United Nations World Food Day by undertaking a range of Project Rise initiatives, including donating to local food banks and helping to feed vulnerable members of society.

In March and April 2020, Bohra communities throughout the world donated significant volumes of food to local charities that were supporting economically vulnerable people most impacted by COVID-19.[56][57]

Planning on the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT) began in 2009 and was envisioned by late Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin to transform the unhealthy locality into a planned and sustainable neighbourhood. The project comprising 16.5 acres of land has approximately 250 existing buildings, 1250 shops and 3200 families; all of which all of which are incorporated into a state-of-the-art holistic development with 13 new buildings, wide roads, modern infrastructure, more open spaces and highly visible commercial areas. Once completed all residential and commercial tenants will become owners to their premises.[58][59][60][61]

Currently the first two towers of phase I - Al Saadah - are completed and over 600 residents and 128 shop owners have come back to their new premises.[62][63]

 US: 2011: The Burhani Foundation under its campaign "Save Our Sparrows" (SOS), received the Guinness World Records award for the largest distribution of bird feeders.[64][65]

 India: 2018: the Dawoodi Bohra community received an award for organizing the largest zero waste religious event during the Ashara Mubaraka sermons in Indore, by the Golden Book of World Records.[66][67]

 India: 2018: the Dawoodi Bohra community of Indore received the "Swachh City Award" for being the "best citizen led initiative" under the Swachh Bharat Mission on 9 March 2019.[68]

Raudat Tahera, Mausoleum of the 51st and 52nd Dai (covered with temporary canopy to protect it from dust of nearby ongoing construction project)

Thousands of Dawoodi Bohra visit every year mausoleums of Ahl al-Bayt especially in Medina, Karbala, Syria and Cairo. The Dai al Mutlaqs and other pious dignitaries of the faith have been laid to rest in mausolea where thousands of community members visit every year, in Yemen and India. Raudat Tahera (Arabic: روضة طاهرة‎ Rawḍatu Ṭāḥiratu), is the mausoleum of 51st Dai Syedna Taher Saifuddin.[69] The 52nd Dai Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin was buried by his son, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin in the same mausoleum.[10]^:56

The 52nd Dai Al Mutlaq, Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, served the dawat for 50 years. His main policy was one of Islamization, countering the modernizing tendencies of his predecessor[70] Under his rule, a system of strict social control was developed using modern means of communication. A succession dispute emerged after Burhanuddin's death as his son (Mufaddal Saifuddin) and his half-brother (Khuzaima Qutbuddin) both claimed he had named them his successor.[71] The majority of the community sided with Saifuddin. Dr. Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, now widely recognized as the community's 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq, has continued his predecessor's social control programs. [25]

The centralized, hierarchical organization of the Dawoodi Bohras is maintained largely using persuasion and (the threat of) excommunication of those who do not conform to the rules laid down by the Syedna and other members of the clergy.[72] Excommunication dissolves marriage and bars burial in Dawoodi burial sites.[73]

The status of women in the Bohra community underwent a major change in the latter half of the 20th century. According to Jonah Blank, women of the Bohra faith are among the best-educated women in the Indian subcontinent.[74] Female Bohra in the U.S. and Europe have become business owners, lawyers, doctors, teachers and leaders in a range of professions.[75] At an interfaith celebration of Eid al-Fitr hosted by the Dawoodi Bohra community of Detroit, Michigan, United States on 7 June 2019, U.S. Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (Democrat, Michigan's 14th congressional district) praised the Bohras for having "used their voices to make progress on countless issues including gender equality and the environment."[76]

The Dawoodi Bohra practice female genital mutilation (FGM), which they call khatna,[77] khafd,[78] and khafz.[79] The procedure is for the most part performed without anaesthesia by a traditional circumciser when girls reach their seventh year.[80] Non-Bohra women who seek to marry into the community are also required to undergo it.[81] There are no authoritative studies on the extent of the practice among the Bohra.[78][82] A 1911 Bombay census of unknown reliability noted that they were performing clitorectomy.[83] According to a 1991 article in Manushi, the Bohra remove either the clitoral hood or the tip of the clitoris.[84][85] Supporters of the practice say that the Bohra remove only the clitoral hood or perform symbolic nicking, and that it should be referred to as "female circumcision", not FGM.[79]

A qualitative study in 2018 carried out by WeSpeakOut, a group opposed to FGM,[86] concluded that most Bohra girls experience Type I FGM, removal of the clitoral hood or clitoral glans.[87][88] A gynaecologist who took part in the study examined 20 Bohra women and found that both the clitoris and clitoral hood had been cut in most cases.[lower-alpha 1] According to the Dawoodi Bohra Women's Association for Religious Freedom, the study's conclusions did not reflect the views of most Bohra women.[88] In Australia in 2018, the convictions of three members of the Bohra community, related to performing FGM on two girls, were overturned when the appeal court accepted that the tip of each girl's clitoris was still visible and had not been "mutilated"; the defence position was that only "symbolic khatna" had been performed.[90] The High Court of Australia overturned that decision in October 2019, ruling that the phrase "otherwise mutilates" in Australian law does encompass cutting or nicking the clitoris. As a result, the convictions were upheld, and the defendants received custodial sentences of at least 11 months.[91]