Mohammed Burhanuddin
Mohammed Burhanuddin was the 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq of Dawoodi Bohras from 1965 to 2014. He led the community for 49 years in a period of social, economic, and educational prosperity; strengthened and re-institutionalized the fundamental core of the community's faith; revived its culture, tradition, and heritage. In successfully achieving coexistence of traditional Islamic values and modern Western practices within the community, Burhanuddin completed the work his predecessor Taher Saifuddin had started.
Burhanuddin was presented the highest national civilian honors of the states of Egypt and Jordan recognising his revivalism and restoration efforts. He was known in Arab countries as Azamat us-Sultan. Owing to extensive travels for community reach-out, he was the first Dā'ī al-Mutlaq to visit Europe, Australia, and America.
Life
Early life
Burhanuddin was born to Taher Saifuddin and Husaina Aaisaheba in Surat in the Indian state of Gujarat.Burhanuddin, taught by his father, completed his religious education at the age of 13. Following Burhanuddin's mīthāq in Surat, aged 15, he was appointed Amir al-Hajj, was conferred the title of Shaykh, and bestowed the laqab of Burhan al-Din by his father, Taher Saifuddin.
On his 17th birthday, Burhanuddin was promoted to the rank of Haddiyah and made in charge of Alvazaratus Saifiyah, the central administrative body of the community. At age 19, Taher Saifuddin designated him as his successor to the office of the Dai al-Mutlaq, and subsequently elevated him to the station of Mazoon al-Da'wat, making him his second-in-command. By age 20, Burhanuddin had committed the entire Quran to memory.
Marriage and family
Burhanuddin married Amatullah Aaisaheba in 1937 in Surat. She was the daughter of Abdul Husain, a descendant of the 46th Da'i al-Mutlaq Abdul Qadir Najmuddin. The city and the Iwan of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah, the main venue of the celebrations, were decorated heavily. Taher Saifuddin extended an open invitation to all community members to attend the ceremonies, and had also invited distinguished dignitaries and government officials.Burhanuddin and Amatullah had 10 children, seven sons and three daughters.
Al-Dai al-Mutlaq
After the demise of his father, Taher Saifuddin on 12 November 1965, Mohammed Burhanuddin presided over a 40-day mourning period and assumed the office of his predecessor. He chose the burial place of his father to be Qasre Husaini, the site where the shrines of Imam Ali and Imam Husain were fabricated.Centenary
In 2011, Burhanuddin, celebrated his centenary in accordance with the Islamic calendar. A mega procession was organised in Mumbai that started from MG Road to Azam Campus Grounds involving 8000 participants. Followers were dressed in golden robes traversing on horses or upon chariots. Various floats were a part of the parade displaying a variety of accomplishments during Burhanuddin's tenure. Similar processions took place at community centers across the world. During the ceremonies held over the period of a week, Burhanuddin laid the foundation stone for the SBUT project in Bhendi Bazar and announced the opening of a branch of the Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah university in Nairobi, Kenya.Succession
Burhanuddin spent a few days every year in London, where he had a home. During one such visit in 2011, he suffered a stroke and was admitted to Cromwell Hospital. Some days after being admitted to the hospital, he appointed his 2nd son, Mufaddal Saifuddin, as his successor holding a few members of his immediate family to bear witness, as per the religious traditions. He asked for the news to be communicated to all community members.Upon his return to Mumbai, Burhanuddin visited the mausoleum of his father. There, he reiterated his proclamation upon Mufaddal Saifuddin as his successor-designate amongst thousands of onlookers, the event also being broadcast to a number of other locations in Mumbai.
Activities
Libas al-Anwar
Burhanuddin issued a dress code, calling for male Bohras to grow a beard and wear a white topi and kurta, and for women to wear a colorful two piece abaya, known formally as a Rida. This Islamization countered a trend toward assimilation into the larger culture of their ancestors that was also prevalent under his predecessor, Taher Saifuddin and the previous Du'at before them. The history of this culture can be traced back to the medieval Fatimid dynasty in Egypt.Al-Jame al-Anwar
In 1980 CE/1401 AH, the Al-Hakim mosque was extensively refurbished in white marble and gold trim by Mohammed Burhanuddin. Remnants of the original decorations, including stucco carvings, timber tie-beams, and Quranic inscriptions were restored as part of the renovations. His intent to restore the ancient Al-Hakim Mosque as a place of worship in contemporary times necessitated a lighting solution that provided this important functionality to the mosque and did so in a manner that paid tribute to the Fatimid tradition of illumination and its aesthetics. The miraculous emergence of the mishkat or small lantern from the niche of the richly decorated façade of Al Jami al Aqmar provided that solution. The niche in which the lantern motif was found has also been compared to the mihrab niche of Al Azhar mosque, the same also now found in Al-Hakim mosque, which has a central motif that resembles a large lamp or lantern.Educational contributions
In October 1999, Burhanuddin was elected Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University, a position that his father also held. He is credited with expanding the two century old Arabic university Al Jamea tus Saifiyah. In 1983, a new campus of "Al Jamea tus Saifiyah" was built by him in Karachi. He built the "Burhaniyah Business Counseling Center" in Mumbai to provide modern business solutions. He also built the Raudat Tahera, a mausoleum of his father Taher Saifuddin in Mumbai, India. It is one of a kind, having the entire Quran inscribed on its inner white walls in letters decorated with of gold leaves and with precious stones. It was inaugurated in 1975 by the erstwhile President of India Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed.In 1976, he established a facility exclusively dedicated to the study of arts and sciences of the Quran.
MSB Schools
MSB was founded by Burhanuddin in 1984, with its first two branches in Mumbai, India and Nairobi, Kenya. It is accredited with the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education and is operated under the purview of the office of the Dai al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras. The institute has branches in 25 cities across India, Pakistan, East Africa, and the Middle East.Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah
On the occasion of his 100th birth anniversary, Mohammed Burhanuddin established a third campus of the institute of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah in Nairobi, Kenya.Two years later, his son Mufaddal Saifuddin, announced the dedication of yet another campus of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah in Marol on his behalf.
The construction of each campus is centered around a masjid, with all buildings oriented towards the Kaaba in Mecca.
All four campuses have integrated green building techniques and observe environmental friendly operations. The buildings have been designed to utilize sunlight and facilitate natural ventilation as much as possible, and avoid dependency on artificial methods that consume great amounts of electricity, for e.g. solar water heating systems have been used in the dormitories of the Surat campus. A layout of coconut trees planted along the perimeter of the Karachi campus’ sports field mitigates waterlogging not only in Jamea but also in the surrounding homes. Recycling, compost facilities, motion sensor lighting and paper reduction policies are also applied in all four campuses.
Al-Multaqa al-Fatemi al-Ilmi
In the year 1978, Burhanuddin held a historic Islamic conference in Surat where he called upon delegates of the community centers to adhere to the time-tested traditions of their faith while also embracing the beneficial ‘new’ with the advent of scientific advancements. Amongst his important messages to the community was to renounce the practice of riba. The congregation initially started in Surat and was thereafter held in Mumbai, Karachi, Nairobi and Dar es salaam between 1978 - 1988.The first gathering at Surat in 1978 was held in Iwaan al-Barakat of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah. Burhanuddin laid down seven principles in this meet to develop social, educational and economic fervor amongst his followers.
In 1984, on the twin occasions of the 100th birth anniversary of his father, Taher Saifuddin and the 1400th birth anniversary of Husayn ibn Ali, Muhammed's grandson; Burhanuddin laid down another set of principles similar in spirit to the ones established before with the added emphasis of Qardan Hasana, which are interest-free loans. The abolition of riba from an institutional level and to certain extents on an individual level is considered to be the highlight of these meetings.
Community kitchens
Burhanuddin established community kitchens to provide meals everyday to the Dawoodi Bohra families, thus providing free time for women to pursue economic, educational or religious activities. The community kitchens don't discriminate between the privileged and the underprivileged sections, both getting the same "good quality and hygienically-prepared" food, while the community members have the provision of paying for their own family, and for sponsoring those who cannot afford it.Medical aid
Saifee Hospital
Burhanuddin conceptualized and established Saifee Hospital in Mumbai, a state-of-the-art, multi-specialty, 250-bed hospital. It was inaugurated in 2005 by Dr. Manmohan Singh, the erstwhile prime minister of India. During the inauguration, Dr Singh said: "The Bohra community has made a noble and significant contribution to society at large in constructing the Saifee Hospital and I too pray and hope that it benefits all sections of our society"The main vision of the hospital is to provide preventive, curative and holistic care to individuals from every strata. The hospital consists of 2574 beds and is a multi-speciality healthcare destination. It has 44 ICU beds, 9 Operational Theatres and conducts approximately 10,000 surgeries in a year. It has been certified by ‘The International Standards Organisation’ and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories.
The hospital specializes in Robotic Surgeries, Bariatric Surgeries, Cardiology, Critical Care Medicine and Dentistry among other services.