About Us

General History

The Dawoodi Bohras are a Muslim community living in over 40 countries across the world. They trace their heritage to the Fatimi Imams, direct descendants of the Prophet Mohammed through her daughter Fatima. Dawoodi Bohras throughout the world are guided by their leader known as the al-Dai al-Mutlaq. The current leader of the worldwide community is the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq, His Holiness Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin. He emphasises on a complete commitment to the timeless values and tenets of Islam, teaches respect for nature and a judicious use of natural resources, advocates for global peace and harmony between all religions and inspires Bohras to always remain faithful and law abiding citizens of the countries they inhabit while striving to the best of their abilities to uplift their fellow man.

Since early Islamic presence in the Indian Subcontinent, followers of the Fatimi imams have been living in different parts of the mainland, most notably in cities and towns beyond the Indus river in what is modern day Pakistan. His Holiness Syedna Taher Saifuddin, the 51st al-Dai al-Mutlaq, visited Pakistan many times. He guided community members in all aspects of their lives and laid the foundations for a close-knit, enterprising and devoted community by conducting the Ashara Mubaraka (Moharram) sermons in Karachi multiple times. He also delivered numerous other sermons and educational discourses on occasions of significance throughout the years.

Over the years, the community has continued to grow and prosper and as a result, community members have settled in numerous cities across Pakistan besides Karachi. These include: Hyderabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Abbottabad, Lahore and Quetta. Today, Pakistan is home to more than 35,000 Bohras, one of the largest regional communities of Dawoodi Bohras across the worl dOver the years, the community has continued to grow and prosper and as a result, community members have settled in numerous cities across Pakistan besides Karachi. These include: Hyderabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Abbottabad, Lahore and Quetta. Today, Pakistan is home to more than 35,000 Bohras, one of the largest regional communities of Dawoodi Bohras across the world

The Holy Quran

The Holy Quran forms the foundation for numerous fields of knowledge, from Arabic grammar, semantics and rhetoric to Islamic jurisprudence and historiography. The Quran has been the inspiration for a number of arts, most notably calligraphy and architecture.

For the Dawoodi Bohra community, the Holy Quran not only holds great significance as an article of faith, but is an integral part of everyday life. Reciting, memorising and taking inspiration and guidance from the Quran are a gateway for spiritual and material well-being and prosperity.

His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has expressed his desire that every Dawoodi Bohra household should have at least one hafiz, someone who has memorised the entire Quran. From six-year-olds to undergraduates to septuagenarians, Dawoodi Bohras around the world have overcome great challenges to memorise the Holy Quran and strive to live their lives in accordance with its knowledge and teachings.

Food & Cuisine

The impetus to feed others stems from an age-old tradition that was enshrined by the forefathers of the Prophet Mohammed and has continued to flourish throughout the history of Islam. The Prophet Mohammed states, ‘There is no deed greater than feeding the hungry.’

The 52nd al-Dai al-Mutlaq Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin initiated the ‘Faiz al-Mawaid al-Burhaniyah’ (FMB) programme in 2011. This initiative established community kitchens in the towns and cities where Dawoodi Bohras reside, with the primary aim of providing at least one wholesome and nutritious meal a day to every community household.

The Dawoodi Bohras are also proud of their culinary reputation. Joining each other for meals is a particularly well known Bohra custom and therefore they have a unique system of communal eating in groups of eight or nine people seated around a thāl or a particularly large metal plate.
Each course of the meal is served for the people around the thal to share. The custom strengthens the family unit and the sense of solidarity between the people eating together. Traditional Bohra meals are often shared with local friends and neighbours while imparting a multi faith message of unity and peace

Trade & Business

Business mindedness and entrepreneurialism are defining traits of the Dawoodi Bohra community. The name Bohra itself, derived from the Gujarati term denoting ‘trader’ or ‘businessman,’ is a testament to this spirit. Through centuries of adherence to the Islamic business code of conduct, diligence and hard work, the Bohra community’s men and women have cultivated a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness among the societies in which they live and work.

Education

The Prophet Mohammed states: ‘The pursuit of knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim man and woman.’ The Fatimi imams from the Prophet’s progeny and their representatives, the duat mutlaqin, leaders of the Dawoodi Bohra community, have expended great effort to ensure that this Islamic legacy of learning and education continues to flourish throughout the ages. The educational institutes established by the Fatimi imams and their enduring philosophy of safeguarding the time tested old and embracing the beneficial new, are embodied in the numerous educational institutes of the Dawoodi Bohra community today. These institutes aspire not just to transfer knowledge but to transform students into intelligent, cultured, faithful, responsible and upstanding members of society.

As a result, Dawoodi Bohras are generally well educated and accomplished in a wide variety of fields. They understand that the pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong journey and make the most of every opportunity to keep learning as a means of individual and collective growth, betterment and progress while inspiring and facilitating those who lack the means to do the same.

The Masjid and its significance

For the Dawoodi Bohras, as for Muslims throughout the world, the masjid is the beating heart of their community. Primarily a place for community members to gather for prayer and spiritual guidance, it also serves as the nucleus of the Dawoodi Bohras’ educational and social activities. Just as the heart is essential to sustain the body, so the masjid is of paramount importance for the Bohra community’s sustenance.