 Dawoodi Bohra family in their religious attire. | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 1,000,000[1]–2,000,000[2] 2021 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 India | |
| 500,000–1,000,000[3][4] | |
| Religions | |
| Shi'a Islam | |
| Scriptures | |
| Quran | |
| Languages | |
| |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Website | |
| thedawoodibohras |
TheDawoodi Bohras are a religious denomination within theIsmā'īlī branch ofShia Islam. They number approximately one million worldwide and have settled in over 40 countries around the world. The majority of the Dawoodi Bohra community resides in India, with sizable congregations in Pakistan, Yemen, East Africa, and the Middle East. They also have a growing presence in Europe, North America, and Australia.
The Dawoodi Bohra community follows Islam and is specifically identified as Shia Fatimid Ismaili Tayyibi Dawoodi Bohra. Their faith is founded on the conviction that there is only oneGod, that theQuran is the message of God, that theIslamic prophetMuhammad is thelast of the prophets, and that Ali is his legatee and successor. They follow the tenets of Islam, such as reciting the Quran, performing the five daily prayers (Salah), annualtithesof 2.5% (or 1⁄40) of total income and savings (Zakat), fasting during the month of Ramadan (Sawm), the mandatoryHajj pilgrimage to Makkah and the Prophet's shrine in Madinah[5] and religious struggle (Jihad).
At the core of their faith is the belief that theAhl al-Bayt, members of the Muhammad's family, are the rightful imams and like all Shia Muslims, they hold that Ali bin Abi Talib, Muhammad's legatee, succeeded him and provided guidance, interpretation and explanation of the Quran. A fundamental tenet of the Dawoodi Bohra faith is that there will always be an imam present on earth, who is descended from Muhammad's grandsonImam Husain, to carry on the task of leading the faithful.
When the imam chooses to withdraw from public view (as is the case today), he is represented by theDa'i al-Mutlaq (an unrestricted missionary) who, like the imam, preserves and protects the faith until the imam's return. After the 21st imam chose seclusion in 1132AH, the Dais operated from Yemen and subsequently from India, for the last 300 years.[6] The present leader is the 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq,Mufaddal Saifuddin who assumed office in January 2014.[6]
The Bohras are well-educated and wealthy, typically affluent traders, businesspersons, entrepreneurs and professionals (doctors, lawyers or accountants). The word "Bohra" comes from theGujarati wordvohrvu orvyavahar, meaning "to trade".[7] Their heritage is derived from the traditions of the Fatimidimams; direct descendants of theIslamic Prophet Muhammad through his daughterFatima, who ruled over North Africa between the 10th and 11th centuryCE.[8] Whilst adherence to traditional values is important for the community, they are also known for their business-oriented and forward outlook.[9] Nonetheless, they are the onlymuslim community of South Asia to practiceFemale Genital Mutilation, a widely criticised practice but defended by the community.[10]
Lisan al-Da'wat is the language of the Bohras. The language is based on a Neo-Indo-Aryan language,Gujarati, but incorporates a heavy amount ofArabic,Urdu, andPersian vocabulary and is written in theArabic scriptnaskh style. The Bohras' cultural attire is known as Libas al-Anwar. Prominent religious festivals includeEid-e-Milad an-Nabi,Eid al-Fitr,Eid al-Adha andMuharram. Themajlis is an age-old practice of the community, who congregate on major dates in the Islamic calendar. The Bohra community during their gatherings, eat in groups of eight, seated around a large steel platter called a thaal.[6]
Dawoodi Bohras are a subset of theTaiyebi sect of theMusta'li branch ofIsma'ilism, a part ofShia Islam.[11]: 1–4 Central to their beliefs is reverence for the Fatimid imams, who trace their lineage to Muhammad's daughter, Fatima.
TheFatimids, descendants of Muhammad, ruled over North Africa and Egypt, Hejaz, and the Levant between the 10th and 11th centuries.[8] They flourished during what Maurice Lombard called theGolden Age of Islam,[12] and were patrons of arts, learning, and scientific discovery.[11] The 14th Imam,al-Mui’zz, founded the city of Cairo and establishedAl-Azhar University, one of the oldest universities in the world.[13]
Before the empire's decline,Al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah, the 20th Fatimid imam, directed his grand emissary,Arwa bint Ahmad, theSulayhid queen of Yemen, to establish the office of theDa'i al-Mutlaq (lit. 'unrestricted missionary') to act as vicegerent for his son, the 21st ImamAl-Tayyib Abu'l-Qasim and to lead the faithful.[11] Arwa bint Ahmad appointedZoeb bin Musa as the firstDa'i al-Mutlaq.[14][15]
Succession to the office ofal-Da'i al-Mutlaq happens throughnass, whereby each Da'i appoints a successor in his own lifetime.[16]
The roots of the community's establishment in India go back to the Fatimid era, whenAl Mustansir Billah, the 18th Imam, sent a Dai named Abdullah from Yemen to initiate the Da’wah on his behalf. Abdullah arrived in Cambay (modern dayKhambhat, Gujarat) in AD 1067/H 460 and soon won many converts, including local rulers. Abdullah was the first Wali (representative) in India.[17][18]
The seclusion of al-Tayyib led to the establishment of the office of al-Dai al-Mutlaq in Yemen. The Indian community which had pledged allegiance to the Fatimids continued to remain loyal to the Dais in Yemen. This resulted in a secession with the Hafizis, led by Al-Tayyib's uncle, Abd al-Majid. Twenty-three Dais operated from their mountain bases in Yemen for nearly four centuries, preserving the faith and authoring seminal works. The 19th Dai,Idris Imaduddin, wrote numerous works, including a comprehensive and detailed history of the Fatimid faith.[11]
Meanwhile, the community in Gujarat had maintained ties with their Dais in Yemen, who closely supervised their affairs and regularly welcomed Bohra delegations from Gujarat. During this time, the community grew in size, especially in Cambay, Patan, Sidhpur, and Ahmedabad.[17][19]
Yusuf bin Sulayman Najmuddin, originally fromSidhpur, a town in Gujarat, was one of the Bohras who travelled to Yemen to seek knowledge from the Dai. Najmuddin arrived in Yemen while still in his youth and first studied under Hasan bin Nuh al-Bharuchi. He was eventually appointed the 23rd Dai as his successor and became the first from the Indian community to lead the Tayyibi Da’wa as the 24th al-Mutlaq. When Najmuddin died in CE 1567/H 974, the central headquarters of the Da’wah were transferred from Yemen to Gujarat by his Indian successor,Jalal bin Hasan.[17]
When the 26th al-Dai al-Mutlaq died in CE 1589/H 997, he was succeeded byDawood Bin Qutubshah. However, three years later, Sulayman bin Hasan, a high-ranking dignitary in Yemen, claimed the succession to the leadership of the community for himself. This succession dispute was brought before the Mughal emperorAkbar in 1597. A special tribunal decided in favour of Dawood Bin Qutubshah. However, this did not dissolve tensions, leading to a schism in the community. A majority of Bohras acknowledged Dawood Bin Qutubshah as the rightful successor and henceforth came to be known as Dawoodis (or Da’udis.)[20]
Over the next few centuries, the Bohra headquarters moved within India with the changing location of the Dai. The centre of the Da’wah has been in six places:Ahmedabad (eight Dais, from 1567/974 to 1655/1065);Jamnagar in theKathiawar region of Gujarat (five Dais, from 1655/1065 to 1737/1150);Ujjan in the present-day state of Madhya Pradesh (two Dais, from 1737/1150 to 1779/1193);Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh (one Dai, from 1779/1193 to 1785/1200);Surat in the present-day state of Gujarat (eight Dais, from 1785/1200 to 1933/1351) andMumbai in the state of Maharashtra, where the current Dai resides.[21]
Starting in the early 19th century, some community members emigrated in search of better livelihoods. The first wave of Bohra traders to migrate toEast Africa did so in the aftermath of a severe drought in Kathiawar. The 43rd Dai, Abdeali Saifuddin, invited 12,000 of his followers to Surat, and provided food, work and lodgings for all of them. His only conditions were that they learn and practice vocational skills, and he gave them their earnings when it was time for them to leave Surat. Many from this group decided to use this capital to venture forth to trade in East Africa.[22]
A century on from Abdeali Saifuddin,Taher Saifuddin acceded to the office of al-Dai al-Mutlaq as the 51st Dai, He is credited with revitalising the community by restructuring its organisation on modern lines.[23]
He shifted the community headquarters from Surat to Mumbai, which had become a major centre of trade and commerce in India.[17] Over time, Dawoodi Bohra communities have expanded globally through migration, contributing to the establishment of thriving communities in various regions.
As Muslims, the Dawoodi Bohras believe inTawhid, Islam's central monotheistic concept of a single, indivisible God (Allah).
Walayah – devotion to God,Muhammad,his family, andhis descendants – is the most important of theseven pillars of Islam according to the Dawoodi Bohra faith.
The other six pillars aretahaarat (purity in body and thought),salah (daily ritual prayers),zakaat (offering a portion of one's incomein the cause of God),sawm (fasting in the month ofRamadan),hajj (a ritual pilgrimage toMecca), andjihad (striving in the way of God).[14] The Bohras build mosques wherever they live[24] to congregate for prayers andmajalis (religious congregation) for thezikr of God and his prophets, imams, and da'is.[25]
During the seclusion of the Imam, his vicegerent, al-Dai al-Mutlaq[17] was appointed to lead the community and administer, with complete authority, its secular and religious affairs.[26]
The Dai teaches Quranic precepts, which form the foundation of the faith, and guides the community. Over the nine centuries that this office has existed, each Dai is considered to have played an important role in shaping the community's social and economic progress. Community members seek and abide by his counsel in different aspects of life.[11]
The 1st Dai, Dhu'ayb bin Musa, was appointed in 1138 (532H) in Yemen by Queen Arwa bint Ahmed when the 21st Imam went into seclusion.[17] Over the next 400 years, 23 Dais established the Dawat in Yemen. The seat of the Dawat then transferred from Yemen to India, where the 24th Dai,Yusuf bin Sulayman Najmuddin, became the first Dai to assume office from this region.[17] Despite territorial and political upheavals through different periods, the Dais persevered and continued to lead the faithful and preserve the faith.[11]
The current leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community is the 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq,Aali Qadr Mufaddal Saifuddin, who lives in India.[27][28] Syedna Saifuddin is a descendant ofMuhammad,[29] who was himself a descendant ofAbraham, through an unbroken chain of noble and august ancestry. His heritage to Muhammad traces back through Muhammad's daughter,Fatima al-Zahra, and her husbandAli ibn Abi Talib. From Fatima and Ali, the line continues through their son,Hussein, and the subsequent imams in theIsmaili tradition up to the fifth imam,Ja'far al-Sadiq.
As of 2021, there are an estimated 1 million Dawoodi Bohras around the world.[2] The majority reside inIndia andPakistan. A sizeablediaspora is spread across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia and East Africa.[30]
The Bohras are prosperous traders, industrialists, businesspersons[31] or skilled professionals.[32]
The wordBohra takes root in theGujarati wordvohrvu, in reference to their traditional occupation as traders.[33][34] The name 'Dawoodi' is an eponym derived from Dawood Bin Qutubshah, the 27th Da'i al-Mutlaq, who emerged as the leader of the majority following a schism in 1588.[15][1]
Dawoodi Bohra culture is a blend of Yemeni, Egyptian and Indian cultures.[35] Their languageLisan al-Dawat, written inPerso-Arabic script, derives fromArabic,Urdu,Persian,Sanskrit, andGujarati.[36][37][38]
Lisan al-Dawat, which takes its basic structure from Gujarati developed as a medium to articulate Islamic values and heritage. ThoughArabic remains community's dominant liturgical language, Lisan al-Dawat is its language of sermons and its medium of official and day-to-day communication.[39]
The Dawoodi Bohras wear distinct attire. The men traditionally dress in a predominantly white, three-piece outfit:kurta, a form of tunic;saaya, an overcoat of equal length; andizaar, loose-fit trousers; withtopi, a crocheted white cap with a gold design.[40] Men, adhering to thecustoms of Muhammad, are expected to grow a full beard.[41]
The women wear a two-piece dress calledrida, distinct fromhijab,purdah, andchador. Its distinguishing features are bright colors, decorative patterns and lace.[42]
Joining each other for meals is a well-known Dawoodi Bohra custom. Families and friends gather around sharing the meal from a large circular platter called athaal.[11] Thethaal is raised upon akundali ortarakti made of wood or metal, on top of asafra, a large cloth that covers the floor.[43][44]
The meal begins and ends with a taste of salt, traditionally said to cleanse the palate and prevent diseases.[43][44] A common etiquette is to wash both hands using achilamchi lota (basin and jug).[45] At community feasts, the Bohras first eatmithaas (sweet dish), followed bykharaas (savoury dish), and then the main course.[44][46] Food wastage is frowned upon. Those seated at thethaal are encouraged to take smaller portions and expected to finish whatever is taken.[47]
The Bohra cuisine, influenced byGujarati,[48]Persian,Yemeni, Arabic andEgyptian cuisines,[49][50] is known for its unique taste and dishes such as bohra-stylebiryani,[51]dal chaawal palidu (rice, lentils, and curry),kheema samosa (minced muttonsamosa),dabba gosht, andmasala bateta (spicy potatoes).[45][50][52]
Islam prohibitsriba (lit. 'usury') andinterest; the Dawoodi Bohras follow the practice ofQardan Hasana[a] (lit. 'good loan'),[54][55] which means interest-free loans.[54] Based on the ideal of benefittingthe borrower (as opposed to the lender), this model has played an important role in the economic growth of the community.[56]
Syedna Saifuddin has throughout his life been a strong advocate for Islamic finance principles.[57] Saifuddin has actively promoted and expanded the Burhani Qardan Hasana Trust,[58] which freely offers generous interest-free loans to community members.
Community members are discouraged from bank saving, time deposits or borrowing, EMI finance schemes, overdrafts, contributing to or accepting money from insurance schemes, investments in commodities and stock markets, cryptocurrency, pension, mutual or retirement fund investments deeming them haram (forbidden) in Islam. Instead, he encourages strict adherence to traditional Islamic financial principles, urging followers to rely on community-based support systems rather than conventional financial instruments which are speculative in nature (gharar, maisir) or interest-based (riba). This approach has led to the development of numerous financial structures within the community, giving community members financial flexibility and integration with modern economic systems.[57][56][59]
The rite of initiation for the Bohras is themithaq. This ceremony is a covenant betweenthe believer andGod, effected through God's representative on earth. Themithaq binds a believer to the duties owed to God, including anoath of allegiance: a vow to accept the spiritual guidance of theDa'i al-Mutlaq wholeheartedly and without reservation. This ceremony, akin tobaptism in Christianity, is mandatory to enter the fold of the faith.
Themithaq 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. These vows are renewed throughout a Bohra's adult life.[60]
The Dawoodi Bohra follow a Fatimid-eratabular calendar which matches the lunar cycle of 354 days (and hence requires no adjustments).[14]: 318 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,Zil Hajj, has 30 days. This contrasts with other Muslim communities, which base the beginnings of specific Islamic months on sightings of the moon crescent.[61]
Dawoodi Bohras observe all significant occasions on the Muslim calendar, such as Muharram, Ramadan, Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha and Mawlid al Nabi. They also observe some occasions particular to their sect, such as the death anniversaries of previous dais and the birthday of the current dai. These occasions typically bring together members of the community for educational sermons and communal meals.
DuringRamadan, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, the Dawoodi Bohras like rest of Islamic world, observe amandatory fast from dawn to dusk. The Bohras congregate in their local mosques for daily prayers (particularly for the evening prayers), and break the day-long fast with theiftaar (lit. 'fast breaking') meal together. Ramadan is a month of heightened spiritual activity for the Bohras that ends withEid al-Fitr.
In the month ofZil Hajj the Bohras undertakehajj and all celebrateEid al-Adha at its conclusion. In line withShia traditions, on the 18th of Zil Hajj, the day Muhammad publicly anointedAli ibn Abi Talib his successor, the Bohras mark celebrateEid i-Ghadir, by observing, fasting, and offering special prayers. Special prayers and congregations are also held during other major events such as the day Muhammad first began hisDa'wah (lit. 'mission'), the night ofIsra and Mi'raj, thebirthday of Muhammad, theurs mubarak (lit. 'remembrance day') of prominent community leaders, and the birthday of the current Da'i al-Mutlaq.
The grandson of Prophet Muhammad,Husayn ibn Ali, was martyred along with his family and companions on theplains of Karbala while on a journey fromMecca, through the deserts of modern-day Iraq, toKufa.[62][63] The Bohras believe that Husayn's sacrifice was foretold by Muhammad, and that he was destined to change the course of Islamas a result of his martyrdom.[64] Remembrance of the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, often linked to the hagiography ofJohn the Baptist[65] andJesus Christ,[66] is among the most important events of the year for the Bohras.[32]
Known asʿAshara Mubāraka (lit. 'the Blessed Ten'), the Dawoodi Bohras congregate for a series of tenmajālis (lit. 'congregations') in the beginning of the month of Muharram[67][68] For them, Husayn ibn Ali's martyrdom epitomizes the values of humanity, justice, and truth.[69] They consider his sacrifice and stand against tyranny, to offer lessons in bravery, loyalty, and compassion.[70] These values, they believe, inculcate in them a spirit of self-sacrifice, forbearance, and adherence to their faith.[67][70]
During theʿAshara Mubāraka, the Bohra communities all over the world host a series ofmajālis twice a day, one each in the morning and in the evening, recounting Husayn ibn Ali's sacrifice, which forms the central theme of the discourse.[69] Themajālis led by theDa'i al-Mutlaq on occasion attract hundreds of thousands of followers.[71][72][73]
To facilitate marriages among the Dawoodi Bohra, Taher Saifuddin, the 51st Da'i al-Mutlaq, startedRasm-e Saifee[74] inJamnagarc. 1952 and later institutionalised itc. 1963.[75] DuringRasm-e Saifee multiplenikah are solemnized at the hands of the Da'i al-Mutlaq and his representatives.
Saifuddin's son and successor,Mohammed Burhanuddin, founded the International Taiseer al-Nikah Committee (ITNC),[75] which now organizesRasm-e Saifee throughout the year at variousreligious events.[76] Burhanuddin's successor,Mufaddal Saifuddin, continues to uphold the tradition.[77][78]
It is customary among the Bohras to visit mausoleums, mosques, and other places of religious importance in Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, and India. In most places, a community-administered complex (mazaar) provides accommodation, business centers, dining, and various recreational activities to the traveling Bohras.[citation needed]
A Bohra mausoleum typically has white exteriors with a goldenfinial at the apex of the dome. The interior is usually lit up in incandescent light and Quranic verses are inscribed on its walls. These mausoleums embody several meanings in the form of their structure and build.[citation needed] As an example,Raudat Tahera, an austere structure in Mumbai, has a range of intricacies in its design. The inner height of Raudat Tahera is 80feet above the plinth: the number signifies the age ofTaher Saifuddin, who is buried there. The sanctum of the mausoleum is 51 × 51 feet, which symbolises Saifuddin's position as the 51st Dai al-Mutlaq. The entire Quran is inscribed in gold on its walls, whilstBismillah is engraved 113 times in precious stones, and four doors, one on each side of the wall, are clad with silver.[79] The inner side of the dome proclaims, "Allah holds the sky and earth together which none else can."[80]
The office of the Da'i al-Mutlaq, known asDawat-e-Hadiyah, manages the affairs of the close-knit Dawoodi Bohra community through a distributed network ofJamaat committees.[81][36] TheDawat-e-Hadiyah head office is atBadri Mahal inFort,Mumbai.[82]
Several sub-committees and trusts administer different aspects of a local Bohra community under the purview of the respectiveJamat. Set up anywhere Bohras live and work, ajamat may number from a hundred to tens of thousands of Bohras.[81] A residentAmil, appointed by the dai is the president of a givenjamat.[36] and administers and manages its socio-religious affairs. At the local mosque ormarkaz under his jurisdiction, the Amil leads daily prayers, and presides oversermons and discourses.[81]
Themasjid is the nucleus of Dawoodi Bohra communities around the world. It was often the practice of Bohras who migrated to a new city or country to build a masjid (or a markaz- community center- if it was not possible to build a masjid). While a Dawoodi Bohra masjid is primarily a place of worship and congregation, it forms an important socio-cultural center for the community, the masjids are also a center for education and sessions of learning, in line with Fatimid traditions. A masjid complex usually houses a dining hall for communal meals, called a mawaid or jamaat khana, as well as classrooms and administrative offices.[83] The masjid is predominantly constructed in a distinctNeo-Fatimid style,[83][84][85][86]with the names ofGod and verses from theQuran engraved on its walls.[83][87] Some Dawoodi Bohra masjids in India, such as the newly restored Saifee Masjid in Bhendi Bazaar, Mumbai, feature a fusion of Fatimid, Indian, and classical architecture. The masjids are usually multi-storied structures, the main prayer hall on the ground floor is used by men while women participate in prayers and sermons from large galleries on the floors.[24][25][88][89][90]Building new and restoring old masjids is an important part of Dawoodi Bohra culture. The last half-century has seen a surge in the building of Bohra masjids across the world, especially after the landmark restoration of al-Jami al-Anwar (the mosque of al-Hakim) in Cairo in 1980.
A Bohra community (orjamaat) is centered around amarkaz when there is no existing mosque nearby.[citation needed]
Communal meals are served in dining halls called thejamaat khaana, which are generally part of the mosque complex.[83]
In 2012, the 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq establishedFaiz al-Mawaid al-Burhaniyah (FMB) community kitchens to deliver at least one meal per day to all Bohra families and to ensure no one in the community goes to bed hungry. FMB proved beneficial to women in particular as household cooking is reduced, freeing up time to pursue other activities.[51][91] Meals are delivered intiffin containers daily, and have a rotating menu.[92] As of 2021, FMB community kitchens, usually built near mosques, are operational in each and every Bohra community throughout the world.[36][92]
Whilst FMB has substantially increased food security within the Bohra community,[93] in times of crisis (such as natural disaster or the COVID-19 pandemic), it has also supplied meals and provisions to the wider society.[94][95]
In line with Islamic traditions,[96] the Bohras seek both religious and secular education.[97][98] Men are encouraged to pursue careers in fields such asbusiness,medicine,law andaccounting. Guided by Syedna's vision[99] for women's education,Home Science is recognized as a valuable field of study, empowering women with essential life skills and diverse career paths.[99]
Higher education is common in the community.[100]
The community-runMadrasah Saifiyah Burhaniyah (MSB) chain of internationalco-ed schools teach sciences, humanities, and arts. In 1984, Mohammed Burhanuddin established the first MSB schools inNairobi andMumbai.[98] As of 2021, 24 MSB schools operate in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, affiliated toIGCSE andICSE boards.[101]
Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah (Jamea) is the community's primary educational and cultural institute. Selected students pursue rigorous Islamic and Arabic studies for up to 11 years,[102] and are trained to subsequently lead various institutionsDawat-e-Hadiyah.[103][104] Aljamea's predecessor is Dars-e-Saifee, an Islamic theology school established by the 43rd Da'i al-Mutlaq Abdeali Saifuddin, in 1814 in Surat, Gujarat. A century later, the 51st Da'i al-Mutlaq Taher Saifuddin renovated and institutionalized it as a university.[105] His son and successor, Mohammed Burhanuddin, further expanded its reach and scope, opening campuses in three more cities and establishing a dedicated center for Quranic sciences, Mahad al-Zahra.[106] The second campus was founded in 1983 inKarachi, Pakistan. A third campus was established in Nairobi, Kenya in 2011, and a fourth in 2013 in Mumbai, India.[107] The libraries of Jamea preserve rare Arabic manuscripts.[106] Other departments of Jamea specialize in the art ofQuran recitation,Arabic calligraphy, andArabesque design.[108]
A significant volume of literature, from Fatimid-era text to treatises, discourses and poetry of the Dua't Mutlaqeen are part of the Jamea curriculum.[109] Per tradition, the current Da'i al-Mutlaq presides over annual examinations (al-Imtihan al-Sanawi) every year. Senior Jamea students additionally undergo a publicviva voce examination where they are questioned by rectors of the institute and occasionally by the Da'i al-Mutlaq.[110]
Women in the Bohra community have long held a respected status, with greater emphasis on education and professional opportunities. According to Jonah Blank, women of the Bohra faith are among the best-educated women in the Indian subcontinent.[111] Inspired by Syedna Saifuddin's progressive vision for women's education,[99] the study ofHome Science has equipped women with essential life skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.[112]
At an interfaith celebration ofEid al-Fitr hosted by the Bohra community ofDetroit, Michigan, United States on 7 June 2019, U.S. CongresswomanBrenda 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".[113]
Bohra women integrate business and work with their religious practices and cultural ethos, bolstered by time honoured community principles of women's empowerment through entrepreneurship.[114] Traditionally engaged in home-based businesses, such as knitting and sewing (encouraged in the Bohra community as 'mighzal'[115]), women are now increasingly expanding and transitioning to digital entrepreneurship, utilizing online platforms to market these their products.[116] Supported by community institutions, they receive financial aid, training, and access to virtual markets, showcasing how digital ventures empower women while also allowing them to fulfil their commitments to their families.[117]
The Dawoodi Bohra practice what they callkhatna,[118]khafd,[119] orkhafz,[120] a practice critics considerfemale genital mutilation (FGM). The procedure is for the most part performed without anaesthesia by a traditional circumciser when girls reach their seventh year.[121] Non-Bohra women who seek to marry into the community are also required to undergo it.[122] There are no authoritative studies on the extent of the practice among the Bohra.[119][123] A 1911 Bombay census of unknown reliability noted that they were performingclitoridectomy.[124] According to a 1991 article inManushi, the Bohra remove either the clitoral hood or the tip of the clitoris.[125][126] 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.[120]
A qualitative study in 2018 carried out by WeSpeakOut, a group opposed to FGM,[127] concluded that most Bohra girls experienceType I FGM, removal of the clitoral hood or clitoral glans.[128][129] 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.[b] According to the Dawoodi Bohra Women's Association for Religious Freedom, the study's conclusions did not reflect the views of most Bohra women.[129] They argue that female circumcision is a minor religious procedure[131] involving only a small nick or excision on the clitoral hood or prepuce, which does not cause harm. The DBWRF position is that khafz is a centuries-old religious freedom and rite of passage for religious purity,[132] comparable to male circumcision, and is not intended to control female sexuality. However, this position is contested by some members of the Bohra community[133] and activists who oppose the practice.[134][135]
Syedna's Saifuddin's administration has actively supported community members in their legal battles to exercise their religious freedoms, his UK-registered charity spent more than £800,000[136][137] on “costs incurred in defending four members of the Dawoodi Bohra congregation in Sydney[138] in connection with female circumcision”. 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.[139] TheHigh 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.[140]
The community has successfully defended an indictment[141] brought against the practice by the U.S.Department of Justice Criminal Division and theFederal Bureau of Investigation[142][143] by arguing that the US federal statute was unconstitutional.[144][145]Regarding this landmark judgement, Constitutional law scholarAlan Dershowitz, a professor emeritus ofHarvard University and prominent Birmingham defense attorney Mayer Morganroth was hired by Dawat-e-Hadiyah "to protect the people charged and represent the religious organization" as per Morganroth.[146]
[Do] not abhor any science or shun any book, and [do] not be unduly biased against any creed; for our philosophy and creed encompasses all creeds and all knowledge; [for] our creed consists of studying all existing things in their entirety, the physical and the intellectual, from their beginning to their end,their apparent andtheir hidden, theirmanifest and theirconcealed, with the aim to grasp theirTruth, with the understanding that theyemanate fromone source,one cause,one world, [and]one soul, which encompasses their different essences, their diverse species, their various types, and their changing forms.
As a minority community, the Dawoodi Bohras follow a policy of cooperating with the incumbent government wherever they reside. This approach allows them to foster harmony and goodwill with all governments while staying out of political disputes. For instance, they have developed close ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India, particularly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[149][150] Similarly, they maintain cordial relations with the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.[151][152]
The community's stance, in line withsunnah,[153] has been to be loyal to one's country of residence.[154] As a migratory minority community,[155] Dawoodi Bohras participate in culture and society, but to theEpistles of Ikhwan al-Safa.[156] Their belief is that every religion is related to one another, that all of creation shares the same purpose.[157] True fulfillment is achieved through harmonious living and skillfully managing relationships to avoid conflicts.
.jpg)
In 1991,Mohammed Burhanuddin established the Burhani Foundation, a charitable trust for environmental awareness, conservation of biological diversity, effective utilisation of resources, pollution control, and other related cause.[11] In 2017, Mufaddal Saifuddin, Burhanuddin's successor, initiated a worldwide program to plant 200,000 tree saplings.[158] In 2018, the Bohras, together withChampion of the Earth, launched Turning the Tide, a campaign to remove plastic from oceans, rivers, and beaches.[159][160][161] On 6 November 2023, ahead of the COP28 World leaders summit, ShahzadaHusain Burhanuddin on behalf of his Father Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, attended the COP28 Global Faith leaders summit among 28 Faith leaders in Abu Dhabi and signed a joint appeal to take meaningful action in addressing climate crisis.[162]
Under the aegis of FMB, the Dana Committee (lit. 'food grain committee') aims to eliminate food wastage. As of 2021, the committee has 7000 volunteers across 40 countries. After congregations, these volunteers collect leftovers, consume them or distribute them to the deprived.[163] To prevent wastage of food due to excess cooking or poor turnout, the committee uses AI predictive tools and mobileRSVP apps. Before a meal commences, volunteers remind attendees of their responsibility as Muslims[c] in ensuring no food goes to waste.[166] The Bohras also participate in theUnited Nations' annualWorld Food Day campaigns.[167]
In September 2018, the Golden Book of World Records[168] recognized and awarded the Dawoodi Bohra community for undertaking the largest zero-waste religious event as part of the community's Ashara Mubaraka sermons in Indore. The event was attended by 150,000 Bohras, who had gathered in Indore to commemorate Ashara Mubaraka with Mufaddal Saifuddin, the 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq.[169] This zero-waste policy was also adopted at the 2019 Ashara Mubaraka in Colombo. Dana Committee volunteers helped with portion control and distributed leftover food to the disadvantaged.[170]In line with the UAE's policy to mark 2023 as the Year of Sustainability, the 2023 Ashara Mubaraka in Dubai, attended by more than 75,000, also adopted a zero food wastage policy. The Ashara Mubaraka congregations also aligned with the UAE's waste-to-energy initiative, in which organic waste collected during meals is converted into energy.[171]
Project Rise
In June 2018, the Bohra community launched Project Rise, a philanthropy programme focused on the marginalized and the poor. Their first initiative, undertaken in collaboration withAction Against Hunger, sought to addressmalnutrition among those living inPalghar andGovandi districts ofMaharashtra, India.[172][173] During the2019 floods, volunteers sent aid to the Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat;[174] while during the2020 lockdown in India, volunteers distributed food packets among the poor.[175][176] In 2020,Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India acknowledged the community's social service.[177] In 2019 and 2020, volunteers in North America markedUnited NationsWorld Food Day by donating to local food banks.[178][167] Since then, based on Islamic traditions of philanthropy,[d] Project Rise has expanded to launch programs that focus on healthcare, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, and environmental conservation.[179] As part of these drives, volunteers attempt to raise the standard of living of the disadvantaged through revamped housing, access to food, and improved well-being.[180][181][182]
In 2009, Mohammed Burhanuddin, the 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq, establishedSaifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT) to undertake one of urban India's largest makeover projects believed to impact lives of around 20,000 people. Its mandate was to rebuildBhendi Bazaar—a decrepit, under-developed, and dense muslim-majority locale inSouth Bombay. The redevelopment project spans over an area of 16.5 acres comprising 250 decrepit buildings, 3,200 families, and 1,250 shops.The area is being transformed into a healthy and sustainable development comprising 11 new towers, wider roads, modern infrastructure, open spaces and highly visible commercial areas. Relocated residential and commercial tenants will own their new premises at no cost to them.[183] Due to the scope of the project, the largest "cluster redevelopment" project in India, it has faced logistical and regulatory challenges, resulting in several delays at an estimated cost of $550 million (₹4000 crores).
Starting in 2010, the trust began building transit homes nearMazagaon. In 2012, the trust relocated tenants and demolished buildings it had acquired.[183] More transit homes were built inSion,Ghodapdeo, andSewri.[184] In early 2016,Mufaddal Saifuddin laid foundation for Clusters I and III.[185][186] In 2020, 600 residents and 128 shop owners were relocated to the completed twin towers called Al Saadah,[187][188][189] marking completion of the project's first phase.[190]
After completing the first phase of the project SBUT initiated construction work on the second phase of the project in February 2021.
Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin inaugurated the newly reconstructed Saifee Masjid and its complex on the eve of Milad al Nabi in September 2023.This complex known as Sector 1 was demolished and redeveloped with modern sustainable amenities and a commercial shopping arcade.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: others (link){{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)Nearly 200,000 Dawoodi Bohras from all over the world attended the 10-day Moharram observance which culminated here Wednesday as Ashura, under the guidance of their 102-year-old spiritual head Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin...Elaborate arrangements for lodging, boarding, transportation, medical and other requirements of the visitors were made...For the benefit of the global community members, the discourses were relayed live via internet to over 650 community centres.
Laurence, Emily (11 August 2018)."Genital mutilation convictions overturned after new evidence showing victims remain intact". ABC News (Australia).
"High Court upholds NSW genital mutilation convictions".The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 October 2019.
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Reciting verses from the Quran, the Awqaf official said: '...and eat and drink be not extravagant; surely [Allah] does not love the extravagant.'
In another Hadith, the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) said: The food of one person is sufficient for two, the food of two people suffices for four people and the food of four people suffices for eight.
