Muhammad Izz al-Din I

Syedna Mohammad Ezzuddin was the 23rd Da'i of the Dawoodi Bohra, a sub-sect of Isma'ili Shi'i Islam. The Dawoodi Bohra trace their belief system back to Yemen, where it evolved from the Fatimid Caliphate and where they were persecuted due to their differences from mainstream Sunni Islam and Zaydi Islam. Around 1567 CE, the Da'wat was relocated to Gujarat, India.

Life

He succeeded the 22nd Dai, Syedna Ali Shamshuddin, and conferred succession on Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin. Syedna Mohammed was the 17th Da'i from Ale Waleed and the last of Du'āt Mutlaqūn from Yemen. He resided in Masar but had to leave due to the immense atrocities of the Zaidi Imam Al-Mutawakkil Yahya Sharaf ad-Din. He had to submit the fortress of Masar to the Zaidi Imam after the wafāt or demise of Syedi Hasan bin Nuh.

Death

Syedna Ezzuddin arrived in Zabid with the intention of going to Hajj but the Zaidi followers had poisoned the drinking water in the ship and it had affected Syedna. On knowing this he returned to Zabid immediately and died after a few days.

Succession

Syedna Muhammad Ezzuddin conferred nass or succession upon Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin. He prepared three letters, one of which was kept in Yemen and the other two sent to Hind in different ships. When Ezzuddin sent the nass letters to Hind, he was told that he might not be aware of the situation in Hind as well as that of Syedna Najmuddin due to the long distance. Syedna Mohammed Ezzuddin replied that “The letter will reach Yusuf Najmuddin and he shall become Da'i al-Mutlaq”, and it did happen.