Da'i al-Mutlaq (Arabic:داعي المطلق,romanized: Dā'ī al-Mutlaq,lit. 'absolute, unrestricted, ormissionary'; pl.دعاة مطلقون,Du'āt Mutlaqin) is the most senior spiritual rank and office inTayyibi Isma'ilism. TheDa'i al-Mutlaq has headed the Tayyibi community since theseclusion of the 21st TayyibiImam,at-Tayyib Abu'l-Qasim, traditionally placed in 528AH/1134 AD.
According to Tayyibi Isma'ili tradition, in the Imam's absence, the Da'i al-Mutlaq is the faith's highest authority; i.e., the Da'i al-Mutlaq holds the same authority as the Imam. Before the seclusion of al-Tayyib, the Da'i al-Mutlaq operated under the direct orders of the Imam and his trusted associates in regions where Isma'ili faithful were present, either living openly propounding their faith, or secretly due to fear of persecution.
InYemen, after the 21st Tayyibi Imam went into seclusion, the Da'i was given the authority of Itlaaq (إطلاق),[1] or free conduct, and absolute religious and social authority, under the governing principles of the Tayyibi Isma'ili faith. His command is regarded as a final decree and his conduct infallible due to the divine support (Ta’yeed) he receives from the Imam. Unlike the Imam, who appoints a successor only from his lineal biological sons, the Da'i can appoint any believer as his successor when he is commanded to do so by Ta’yeed of the Imam.
According toIsmā'īlī [Musta'ali Tayyabī] tradition, before the 21st Fatimid [Musta'ali]Imam,Taiyab abi al-Qasim went into state ofoccultation from Cairo in 528 AH/1134 AD, his father, the 20th Imāmal-Amīr had instructed QueenArwa al-Sulayhi/Al-Hurra Al-Malika inYemen to anoint a vicegerent after the occultation of his sonal-Tayyib Abu'l-Qasim. Queen Arwa trained and appointed SyednaZoeb bin Moosa[2] as the first Da'i al-Mutlaq.
| Dawat-e-Hadiyah Act 1993 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to incorporate the Dai al-Mutlaq as a corporation sole; and for related purposes. |
| Citation | 1993 c. x |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 1 July 1993 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| Text of the Dawat-e-Hadiyah Act 1993 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, fromlegislation.gov.uk. | |
Nass-نص is the basis of Shia beliefs, it ensures the succession (Silsila). It is a declaration and designation through divine indication and Allah’s spiritual intervention-تأئید إلھي for the appointment of a successor-منصوص, be it an Imam or (during the Imam’s concealment) a Dai-داعي by his incumbent appointer-ناص among the faithful, publicly-نص جلي or privately نص خفي and at times supported by written documentary orders-سجل شریف. The one who appoints is called Naas and the one appointed is called Mansoos.
The tradition stems from the events ofGhadir Khum where Mohammad appointed his son-in-law, cousin and his heir 'Ali bin Abi Taalib as his Vicegerent, legatee and Wali[3] of the Faithful. This tradition continued through all the Tayyibi-Ismaili Imams and Du'aat; according to Tayyibi-Ismaili belief, neither Imam nor Da'i al-Mutlaq can pass away without appointing his successor.
The Da'i al-Mutlaq has the authority (but not obligation) to appoint an individual to each of two ranks: Mazoon al-Da'wat and Mukasir al-Da'wat.
Since the establishment of the office of Da'i al-Mutlaq following the death of the Fatimid Caliph-ImamMansur al-Amir Bi-Ahkamillah, there have been several disputes over the succession to the office, leading to a number of extant sects, each with their own incumbent to the office.
TheDawoodi Bohras are the largest community ofTayyibi Ismailis, who followedDawood Bin Qutubshah Burhan al-Din II as the successor toDa'ud Burhan al-Din I, thus deriving their name from him.
Within the Dawoodi Bohras, the current Da'i al-Mutlaq isSyedna Mufaddal Saifuddin. The previous Da'i was SyednaMohammed Burhanuddin, who died in January 2014. The vast majority of Dawoodi Bohras recognize Saifuddin as the 53rd incumbent.
The current seat of the Dawoodi Bohra Da'i is at Saify Mahal onMalabar Hill in Mumbai, India.
TheAlavi Bohras are a smaller group ofTayyibi Ismailis, who followed Ali Shams al-Din V as the successor toSheikh Adam Safiuddin, thus deriving their name from him.
The Alavi Bohras use the title of Dai al-Mutlaq in its Persian form "Da'i-e-Mutlaq". The current incumbent isHaatim Zakiyuddin, who succeeded his fatherAbu Hatim Tayyib Ziyauddin in 2015.
The current seat of the Alavi Bohra Da'i is in Vadodara, India.
TheSulaymanis are a smaller group ofTayyibi Ismailis, who followedSulayman bin Hassan as the successor toDa'ud Burhan al-Din, thus deriving their name from him.
Starting from 1677, Sulayman's successors almost always came from the Makrami family. The Sulaymani Du'at madeNajran their headquarters and ruled the area, supported by theBanu Yam, until their power waned under the successive rules of the Ottomans and Saudis.
The current seat of the Sulaymani Da'i is in Najran, Saudi Arabia, the current incumbent is Sayyidna Ali bin Hāsin al-Makrami.
The Atba-i-Malak community are a branch of Musta'ali Isma'ili Shi'a Islam that broke off from the mainstream Dawoodi Bohra after the death of the 46th Da'i al-Mutlaq, under the leadership of Abdul Hussain Jivaji in 1840. They have further split into two more branches. TheAtba-e-Malak Badar is a branch ofAtba-e-Malak Mustaali Ismaili Shi'a Islam. They follow the preachings of bothAbdul Hussein Jivaji andBadruddin Ghulam Hussain Miya Khan Saheb who was appointed as Hijab (Veil) of Moulana Malak (Abdul Hussein Jivaji) Saheb. The current leader or Dai al Mutlaq isMaulana Muhammad Amiruddin Malak Saheb. The Atba-i-Malak Badar community was founded in 1899AD and is based in Mahdibagh,Nagpur in India.
TheAtba-e-Malak Vakil continues the tradition of Nass after the untimely demise of the 46th Da'i al-Mutlaq Syedna Mohammad Badruddin saheb. The Amar passes on to four Mumalikin saheb (hidden successors - the seclusion was necessary to guard the Amar in then difficult times), last one being Moulana Adamji Tayyebji saheb in Mumbai followed by Moulana Malak (Abdul Hussein Jivaji) saheb who appointedMoulana Abdul Qadir Ebrahimji saheb as his Mansoos (successor) orVakil (the one who advocates his succession or roots / acts for his principal) that identifies his followers asAtba-e-Malak Vakil. Their current spiritual lord / Imam isMoulana Tayyeb saheb bin Moulana Razzak saheb. This is a very small and peaceful community with high moral and ethical values, the majority of its population is in Nagpur in India with the second largest population is in Mumbai. Qur'an and Nasihat (Scriptures written by Syedi Sadiqali during the period of 42nd Da'i al-Mutlaq Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin saheb and 44th Da'i al-Mutlaq Syedna Mohammed Ezzuddin saheb) are main religious scriptures of Atba-e-Malak Vakil sect.
Taher Fakhruddin is the 54th Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Qutbi Bohras, a sect withinShia Islam. The current seat of the Dawoodi Qutbi Bohras is in Thane, Maharashtra.
