Mohammed Burhanuddin
| Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
6 March 1915 Surat, British India (present-day Gujarat, India) |
| Died |
17 January 2014 (aged 98) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Occupation | 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras |
| Spouse(s) | Amatullah Aaisaheba |
| Children | Seven sons (Qaidjohar Ezzuddin, Mufaddal Saifuddin, Malekul Ashtar Shujauddin, Huzefa Mohiyuddin, Idris Badruddin, Qusai Vajihuddin, Ammar Jamaluddin) and three daughters |
| Parents | Taher Saifuddin, Husaina Aaisaheba |
Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (Arabic: محمد برھان الدین) (Abul-Qaid Johar Mohammed Burhanuddin) (6 March 1915 – 17 January 2014) was the 52nd Dā‘ī l-Muṭlaq (Dai, or Unrestricted Missionary) of the Dawoodi Bohras. The Dawoodi Bohras are a sub group within the Mustaali, Ismaili Shia branch of Islam. Syedna Burhanuddin is succeeded by his son Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin as 53rd Dai’.[1]
Biography
Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin was born in Surat, Gujarat, India in 1915.[2][3] He completed recitation of the Quran in 1921.[4] In 1929,[5] he escaped an accident when a bridge railing collapsed while on travel in Colombo, where his vehicle got hung on one wheel. At the early age of 15 he performed his first Hajj. He got the laqab of Burhanuddin at age of 15 on his occasion of misaq. He received the designation of Haddiyyat (Sheikh) from 51st Dai in 1931[6] and later designated as mazoon in 1934.[7] He was appointed to be the future Dā‘ī at the age of 19 by his father, his predecessor Dā‘ī l-Muṭlaq, Taher Saifuddin. He became hafiz in 1935[8] and married Amatullah Aai two years later.[9]
In 1961,[10] he made a trip to Yemen to visit the earlier Dais of Yemen and consequently received the designation of "Mansurul-Yemen"[9] In 1965,[11] he became 52nd Dai on death of his father Taher Saifuddin.[9] He has seven sons and three daughters and all members of his family reside at Saifee Mahal, Mumbai.[9]
Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin's 100th birthday according to the Islamic calendar (western age of 97), was celebrated on 25 March 2011.[12] The event was attended by large numbers of his followers at celebrations in Mumbai.[13] Mohammed Burhanuddin appointed his second son, Syedi wa maulaya Aaliqadr Mufaddal Saifuddin, as his successor in June 2011 during his London stay.[14][15]
Death
Mohammed Burhanuddin died on 17 January 2014 at the age of 98 of a heart attack in Mumbai.[16] He was 98 years old as per the Gregorian Calendar but as per the Islamic Calendar he was 102 years old and was to celebrate his 103rd birthday a mere 35 days away on 20th February 2014.[17] While paying their last respects at his home, 18 people were killed and 40 injured in a stampede.[18][19] He was laid to rest with full state honours beside his father at Raudat Tahera Mausoleum in Bhendi Bazar, Mumbai.[20]
Activities
Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin TUS supervises the curriculum of the Arabic academy Al Jamea tus Saifiyah and has emphasized education, both religious and secular, and modernization for both men and women of the community. The Jamea is an Islamic Arabic Academy situated in the heart of Surat, India, and is a leading theological university for Dawoodi Bohras. It was founded in 1814 by the 43rd Dai Abdeali Saifuddin.[citation needed] In 1920, Taher Saifuddin transformed this institution into a university that also promoted education for Bohra girls. The university has seen tremendous expansion and now has state-of-the-art facilities and a competent International Baccalaureate Office (IBO) with acceptance worldwide.[21]
His era has also been marked by a widespread programme of construction of mosques, mausoleums and community buildings in Bohra centres around the world. These include the Raudat Tahera, the mausoleum of his father Taher Saifuddin in Mumbai. The mausoleum has the entire Qur'an engraved on its four walls. This has been done in gold leaf on marble with precious gems encrusted in all the 'Bismillahs' (the opening verses of each individual chapter of the Qur'an). He has also made a contribution to the shrine of the Shiah Imam Ali[citation needed].
In 1980, he completed the renovation and restoration of the Mosque of al-Ḥākim in Cairo, Egypt, and since then, several other Fatimid era mosques of Cairo have been restored. In the wake of this endeavour, Bohra communities across the world have sought to build their own mosques in their hometowns and Bohra mosques have been constructed as far afield as North America, Europe, Africa and Australia. These community centres and places of worship have fostered both a local and worldwide sense of togetherness and brotherhood which is seen most vividly in the annual gathering to commemorate the martyrdom of Muhammad's grandson, Husayn ibn Ali at Karbala in the seventh century AD. Burhanuddin also contributed towards the renovation of the Saifee Hospital in Mumbai in June 2005.
He delivers nine days of sermons 'Ashura (Imam Husain's) function every year to the gathering of Dawoodi Bohra (invited from all over world), the event taking place in a different city each time. The prominent location [9] amongst them are Surat (1997, 2000, 2005), Mecca (1969), Cairo (1980 and 1981), Karachi (1977, 1983, 1987, and 1996), Nairobi (1984 and 1998), Darussalam (1990), Mombasa (1993, 1995 and 2009), Mumbai (2010 and 2011), Houston (2001), Colombo (1970, 1991, 1999, 2007, and 2008) and Dubai (2004).
He also gives scholarships to students in India. He has developed a Trust in Mumbai for this purpose and many Dawoodi Bohra students have been assisted.
On the occasion of Burhanuddin's 100th birthday, a record-breaking 52,000 specially designed sparrow feeders were systematically distributed across the world by the Foundation that was registered in the Guinness World Record.
Taking into regard the need for the redevelopment of a specific area in Bhendi Bazaar in Greater Mumbai where several communities co-exist peacefully, Burhanuddin envisioned the upliftment of over 20,000 people residing in this highly congested area. A public charitable Trust has been formed by Burhanuddin by the name of Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT), which intends to turn this vision into reality. This purely philanthropic project - the largest renewal project in India, recently launched to commemorate the 100-year celebration of Burhanuddin has started in a phased-out development of the 16.5 acres area. It will provide 3,300 quality, fully furnished homes with green areas, recreational facilities, proper civic facilities, environmentally friendly and efficient sewage treatment, rainwater harvesting and garbage disposal facilities. The ambitious project will also provide quality space for 1,250 businesses in the vicinity, including a 60,000 sq mt. underground public car park to accommodate 1,400 vehicles. As intended by Burhanuddin, the project will be both a renewal of space and spirit.
Burhanuddin has also initiated and involved with several notable Islamic projects including:
- The repair and renovation of the Aqmar Mosque, Lulua Mosque and Juyushi Mosque in Egypt.
- The gold plating/renovation of Zarih of the Shiah Imam Ali, Najaf and Imam Husayn & Maulana Abbas e Alamdaar, Karbala.
- The ‘The Makhallifat-al-Rasool’ (next to Rasul Hussain, Imam Husain Masjid, Cairo), where some of the Fatimid Imams are buried.
- The construction of Rasul Husayn, Maulatena Zaynab bint Ali and Sayyeda Ruqayya's Zarih at Cairo, Egypt and Ja'far at-Tayyar's Zarih, Jordan.
- The construction/renovation of The Grand Mosque of Kufa.
- Zarih of Raous-us-Sohda-e-Karbala,Damuscus, Syria
- Open Mosque at The burial place of Imam Husayn's head in Askelan, Israel.
- Mosque Imam Abadullah, Salamia, Syria.
- Mausoleum of Sayedna Hatim and a mosque in Hutaib, mausoleum of Syedna Ali Shamshuddin Bin Abdullah in Shareka and of Syedna Idris in Shibam, Yemen.
Honours, awards and accomplishments
Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS) has been awarded the following:[22]
Honours and awards
- Grand Cordon of the Order of the Star of Jordan (Wisam al-Kawkab al-Urdani), Jordan
- Grand Cordon of the Order of the Nile (Nishan al-Nil), Egypt
- Star of Texas Award, Texas, United States
- The Grand Cross, Madagascar
Honorary doctorates and certificates
- Doctor of Islamic Sciences (Honoris Causa) from the Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt (13 March 1966)
- Doctor of Theology (Honoris Causa) from the Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India (17 October 1966)
- Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) from the University of Karachi, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
- Certificate of Appreciation (Shahadat-e-Taqdeer) from the Ahlulbait University College, Karbala, Iraq
Honorary citizenships
- Honorary Citizenship and Key to the City from the cities San Jose, Houston, Dallas, Irving and Richmond Hill.
Other
- Elected Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University (3 October 1999)
- On 26 April 2000 he visited Australia and became the first Da'i al-Mutlaq to have traveled to five continents.
- In 1976 Burhanuddin addressed a gathering in the historical Royal Albert hall, London and in 1982 he addressed International Islamic Seminar at Colombo.[22]
- Congratulated by American president George W. Bush in a letter from the White House for when in August 2005, he inaugurated a mosque in the United States in Fremont, California.[23]
Family tree
Burhanuddin is from family of Moulai Tarmal/Bharmal/Hakimuddin. His family tree is shown below.
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Photo gallery
Showing renovated work followed by name plate indicating involvement of Burhanuddin.
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Renovated Lulua Mosque, Cairo
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Name plate inside Lulua Mosque, Cairo, Egypt
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Mosque of Imam Abadullah, Salamia, Syria
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name plate inside Mosque Salamia, Syria
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Zarih of Ja'far at-Tayyar, Jordan
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Name plate of the zarih of Ja'far at-Tayyar, Jordan
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Zarih of Sayyeda Ruqayya, Cairo
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Name plate on the zarih of Sayyeda Ruqayya, Cairo
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Zarih marking the grave of the heads of the martyrs of the Battle of Karbala, Damuscus, Syria
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Name plate, Raus us Sohda, Damascus, Syria
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| Shia Islam titles | ||
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| Preceded by Syedna Taher Saifuddin |
Dā'ī al-Mutlaq 1965-2014 |
Succeeded by Mufaddal Saifuddin[14][15] |
See also
- Venues of Burhanuddin during the past Ashara Mubarakah/Ashura
References
- ↑ http://www.dnaindia.com/ahmedabad/report-bohras-plunge-into-grief-with-dr-syedna-mohamed-burhanuddin-s-passing-away-1953060, Bohras plunge into grief with Dr Syedna Mohamed Burhanuddin's passing away, http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/dawoodi-bohra-communitys-spiritual-head-passes-away/article5588661.ece, http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?289229, The Last Glimpse, http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/syedna-laid-to-rest-with-full-state-honours-114011800591_1.html, http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/uae-leaders-condole-syedna-s-death-114011800300_1.html, http://s1.zetaboards.com/anthroscape/topic/5354418/1/,Leader of Bohra community Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, R.I.P.
- ↑ Islamic calendar date: ربيع الاخر 20, 1333 H
- ↑ Islamic calendar date: Rabi-ul-akhar 20, 1333 AH
- ↑ Islamic calendar year: 1338 AH
- ↑ Islamic calendar year: 1345 AH
- ↑ Islamic calendar year: 1349 AH
- ↑ Islamic calendar year: 1352 AH
- ↑ Islamic calendar year: 1353 AH
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Article :'Tareekh ek sunehary Sadi ni' By Shiekh Joher Bhai Shakir,Aamil(appointed by Dawat-e Hadiyah,central office of Dai) in "Badre Muneer", Vol.15, No.8, March 2010 (Dawoodi Bohra international Magazine)
- ↑ Islamic calendar year: 1381 AH
- ↑ Islamic calendar year: 1358 AH
- ↑ Islamic calendar date: Rabiul Aakhir 20th 1432 AH
- ↑ Badre Muneer, Vol. 16, No. 8, March 2011
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Successor to Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin named
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Ailing leader of Dawoodi Bohras names successor
- ↑ Thomas, Melvyn. "Dr Sayedna Burhanuddin no more, pal of gloom descends on Dawoodi Bohras in Surat".
- ↑ Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Dies - Leader of Bohra Community
- ↑ http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/01/18/india-stampede-kills-18-mumbai India stampede kills 18 in Mumbai
- ↑ http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/syedna-mohammed-burhanuddin-funeral-stampede-kills-18-1.2501737
- ↑ "Syedna laid to rest". Business Standard. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
- ↑ Khurana, Ashlesha (November 6, 2009). "From Gurukul to IBO varsity". The Times Of India.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Badre Muneer, Vol. 16, No. 8, March 2011,page 278 to 284
- ↑
External links
- Abdulhussein, Mustafa. Al-Dai al-Fatimi, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin. ISBN 0-9536256-0-5. (an illustrated biography)
- OUP Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World: Muhammad Burhanuddin at archive.mumineen.org
- List of Syednas at archive.mumineen.org
- Syedna Burhanuddin & Dawoodi Bohras on YouTube at YouTube
- Fununulquran.com
- Facts and Marvels of Sayedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS)'s Life at WonderfulInfo.com
- Ambassador of Peace : His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS)
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