Part of a series on Shia Islam Ismailism Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ... The IsmāʿīlÄ« (Urdu: اسماعیلی IsmāʿīlÄ«, Arabic: الإسماعيليون al-IsmāʿīliyyÅ«n; Persian: اسماعیلیان Esmāʿīliyān) branch of Islam is the second largest part of the ShÄ«a community, after the Twelvers (Ithnāʿashariyya). ...

Branches

Nizari • Druze • Mustaali Image File history File links Size of this preview: 150 × 120 pixelsFull resolution (150 × 120 pixel, file size: 9 KB, MIME type: image/gif) It was found here http://www. ... Main article: Ismaili The NizārÄ«yya (Arabic النزاريون Al-Nizarin) are the largest branch of the IsmāīlÄ« (in Persian: اسماعیلیه) and make up over two thirds of IsmāīlÄ« Muslims. ... Religions Druze Scriptures Rasail al-hikmah (Epistles of Wisdom) Languages Arabic. ... This group is named Mustaali because they follow Imam Mustalli, after Imam Mustansir Billah, and not Nazaar whom the Aga Khan group consider as their Imam. ...

Pillars

Walayah • Salah Zakah • Sawm • Hajj • Jihad Taharah • Shahada Shia Ismaili Seven Pillars of Islam have three doctrines that are not included in the Sunni Five Pillars of Islam: Walayah, Taharah and Jihad. ... Guardianship is a Ismaili and Druze pillar of Islam. ... Salat redirects here. ... This is a sub-article of Islamic economical jurisprudence. ... Sawm (Arabic: صوم) is an Arabic word for fasting regulated by Islamic jurisprudence. ... A supplicating pilgrim at Masjid Al Haram, the mosque which was built around the Kaaba (the cubical building at center). ... For other uses, see Jihad (disambiguation). ... This article is about Hygiene in Islam. ... , // Shāhāda is a town in the northwest corner of Maharashtra state in India, now in Nandurbār District (formerly in Dhule District). ...

Concepts

The Qur'an • The Ginans Reincarnation • Panentheism Imam • Pir • Da'i al-Mutlaq Aql • Numerology • Taqiyya Zahir • Batin An esoteric interpretation of the Qur’an is an interpretation of the Qur’an which includes attribution of esoteric or mystic meanings to the text by the interpretater and in this aspect its method is different from the conventional exegesis of the Qur’an called tafsir. ... The Ginans are Nizari Ismaili religious texts. ... The belief in reincarnation in Nizari Ismailism is attested to in the Ginans and Ismailis perform chantas yearly, one of which is for sins committed in past lives. ... With the exception of the Mustaali Ismaili, most Ismaili believe in panentheism, meaning God is both reality and transcendent of it. ... This is a sub-article to Imamah (Shia doctrine). ... A Pir (Persian: پیر) meaning Old Man. ... The term Dāˤī al-Mutlaq (Arabic: الداعي المطلق) literally means the absolute or unrestricted missionary. In IsmāīlÄ« Islām, the term dāˤī has been used to refer to important religious leaders other than the hereditary Imāms and the Daˤwa or Mission is a clerical-style organisation. ... Shias believe that the souls of the Prophets and the Imams are derived from the first light in the universe which was created by Allah, the light of Aql, which in Arabic roughly translates as knowledge. ... Ismailis believe that numbers have religious meanings. ... Within Islamic tradition, the concept of Taqiyya (التقية - fear, guard against)[1] refers to a controversial dispensation allowing believers to conceal their faith when under threat, persecution or compulsion. ... The exterior or apparent meaning of the Quran. ... The interior or hidden meaning of the Quran. ...

History

All Imams • Fatimid Empire Hamza ibn Ali • ad-Darazi Hassan-i-Sabbah • Hashashin Dawoodi • Sulaimani • Alavi Hafizi • Taiyabi • Ainsarii Seveners • Qarmatians Sadardin • Satpanth Baghdad Manifesto This is a list of the Imams recognized by the Ismaili Shiites and their sub-branches. ... The Fatimid Empire or Fatimid Caliphate ruled North Africa from A.D. 909 to 1171. ... Hamza ibn-Ali ibn-Ahmad was an 11th century Muslim preacher, and is counted among the founders of the Druze. ... Muhammad bin Ismail Nashtakin ad-Darazi (Arabic: ) was a 11th century Ismaili preacher and early leader of Druze. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Hashashin (also Hashishin, Hashashiyyin or Assassins) were a religious sect of Ismaili Shiites from the Nizari sub-sect originating from post-Islamic Persia. ... Sulaimani Bohra are a subsect of Ismaili Mustaali. ... Alavi Bohra (Arabic: علوی بوہرہ) are a subsect of Ismaili Mustaali. ... The MustaˤlÄ« (Arabic: مستعلي) group of IsmāīlÄ« Muslims are so named because they accepted al-MustaˤlÄ« as the ninth Fatimid caliph and the legitimate successor to his father, al-Mustansir. ... A branch of Mustaali Ismailism that split with the Fatimid supporting Hafizi branch by believing Tayyab AbÄ« l-Qāsim was the rightful Imam. ... The Ainsarii were a sect of the Ismaili Assassins who survived the destruction of the stronghold of Alamut. ... Seveners are a branch of Ismaili Shiism. ... The Qarmatians (from Arabic qaramita قرامطة, also spelled Carmathians, Qarmathians, Karmathians etc. ... Pir Sadardin or Pir Sadruddin was a fourteenth century spiritual leader and is regarded as the founder of Khoja Ismaili sect otherwise known as Satpanth. ... // The people of the Satpanth are originally from the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan. ... The manifesto of Baghdad is the testimony given by number of Muslim Sunni and Twelvers Shiite Genealogists and law scholars known all across the Islamic world in 402/1011, doubting the Sacred Mohammedan-‘Alid lineage of the Fatimids, they were declared to be descended from a Jew by the Name...

Early Imams

Ali • Hasan • Husayn al-Sajjad • al-Baqir • al-Sadiq Ismail • Muhammad Ahmad • at-Taqi • az-Zaki al-Mahdi • al-Qa'im • al-Mansur al-Muizz • al-Aziz • al-Hakim az-Zahir • al-Mustansir • Nizar al-Musta'li • al-Amir • al-Qasim This is a sub-article to Imamah (Shia doctrine). ... For other uses, see Ali (disambiguation). ... Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib ()‎ (Fifteenth of Ramadan, 3 AH – Twenty-eighth of Safar, 50 AH) [6] was the grandson of Muhammad, and was the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib (fourth Sunni Caliph and first Shia Imam) and Fatima Zahra (a daughter of Muhammad). ... This article is about Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (626 – 680). ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Muhammad al-Baqir Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (676 - January 31, 743) was the fifth Shia Imam. ... ... Ismail bin Jafar (Arabic: إسماعيل بن جعفر) was the eldest son of the sixth Shia Imam, Jafar as-Sadiq. ... Muhammad ibn Ismail was the son of Ismail bin Jafar and an Ismaili Imam. ... The eighth Ismaili Imam, surnamed al-Wafi. ... The ninth Ismaili Imam. ... The tenth Ismaili Imam, surnamed az-Zaki. ... Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah a. ... Muhammad al-Qaim Bi-Amrillah (893 - 17 May 946) (Arabic: محمد القائم بأمر الله) was the second Caliph of the Fatimids in Ifriqiya and ruled from 934 to 946. ... Isma`îl al-Mansûr (913 - 953) was the third Caliph of the Fatimids in Ifriqiya and ruled from 946 to 953. ... Was the fourth Fatamid caliph. ... Al-Aziz (* 955; † 996) was the fifth Caliph of the Fatimids (975-996). ... Tāriqu l-ḤakÄ«m, called bi Amr al-Lāh (Arabic الحاكم بأمر الله Ruler by Gods Command), was the sixth Fatimid Caliph in Egypt, ruling from 996 to 1021. ... ˤAlÄ« az-Zāhir (20 June 1005 – 13 June 1036) (Arabic: الظاهر بالله) was the Seventh Caliph of the Fātimids (1021 - 1036). ... Al-Mustansir (July 2, 1029 - January 10, 1094), was born in Cairo on 16th Jamada II, 420/ and eight months afterwards was declared to succeed his father. ... Abu Mansur al-Nizar, (who was surnamed al-Mustapha al-dinillah, meaning the chosen for Gods religion) is a Nizari Ismaili Imam. ... Ahmad al-Mustali (d 1101) was the ninth Fatimid Caliph. ... Al-Amir (b. ... The 21st Fatimid Imam and son of the 20th Fatimid Imam Mansur al-Amir Bi-Ahkamillah. ...

Contemporary Leaders

Aga Khan IV Mohammed Burhanuddin al-Fakhri Abdullah Taiyeb Ziyauddin Saheb Mowafak Tarif Asghar Ali Engineer KarÄ«m al-HussaynÄ«, Ä€gā Khān IV KBE CC GCC (Arabic: سمو الأمیر شاہ کریم الحسیني آغا خان الرابع) -- (born December 13, 1936) is the current (49th) Imām of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. ... Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin // The 52nd Vicegerent Of The Fatimid Imam His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin is the 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq of the largest group of Mustali Ismailis, the Dawoodi Bohras. ... The 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq of the Ismaili Sulaimani Bohra religious community. ... Saiyedna Abu Haatim Taiyeb Ziyauddin Saheb (born August 6, 1932) is the forty fourth and current Dai-e-Mutlaq (Spiritual & Temporal Head) of the Taiyebi Alavi Dawat community, in succession from the first Dai-e-Mutlaq, Saiyedna Zoeb bin Moosa. ... Shaykh Muwaffak TarÄ«f (موفق طريف) is the current spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel. ... Asghar Ali Engineer, The Laaentie was born in Bohra priestly family (amils family) on 10th March, 1939 in Salumbar, Rajasthan (near Udaipur) where Qurban Husain, his father, was an amil at that time. ... This box: view • talk • edit

Dawoodi Bohras (Arabic: داؤدی بوہرہ, Hindi: दवूदि बोह्रा) are the main branch of the Bohras, a Mustaˤlī subsect of Ismā'īlī Shīˤa Islām, and are based in India. Their spiritual leader is Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin. He is known as the Dāˤī l-Mutlaq and is the 52nd Dāˤī in an unbroken chain of Dāˤiyyūn. Arabic redirects here. ... Hindi (DevanāgarÄ«: or , IAST: , IPA:  ), an Indo-European language spoken all over India in varying degrees and extensively in northern and central India, is one of the 22 official languages of India and is used, along with English, for central government administrative purposes. ... This group is named Mustaali because they follow Imam Mustalli, after Imam Mustansir Billah, and not Nazaar whom the Aga Khan group consider as their Imam. ... The IsmāʿīlÄ« (Urdu: اسماعیلی IsmāʿīlÄ«, Arabic: الإسماعيليون al-IsmāʿīliyyÅ«n; Persian: اسماعیلیان Esmāʿīliyān) branch of Islam is the second largest part of the ShÄ«a community, after the Twelvers (Ithnāʿashariyya). ... Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin // The 52nd Vicegerent Of The Fatimid Imam His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin is the 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq of the largest group of Mustali Ismailis, the Dawoodi Bohras. ... The term Dāˤī al-Mutlaq (Arabic: الداعي المطلق) literally means the absolute or unrestricted missionary. In IsmāīlÄ« Islām, the term dāˤī has been used to refer to important religious leaders other than the hereditary Imāms and the Daˤwa or Mission is a clerical-style organisation. ...

Bohras believe that the 21st Imām, Tayyab Abī l-Qāsim, a direct descendant of Muħammad via his daughter Fātimatu z-Zahra ("Fatema"), went into seclusion and established the offices of the Dāˤī l-Mutlaq (داعي المطلفق), Ma'ðūn (مأذون) and Mukasir (مكاسر). The Dāˤī l-Mutlaq is the Imām's vicegerent, with full authority to govern the Dawoodi Bohra community in all matters both spiritual and temporal. The Shia Imam is considered by the Shia sect of Islam to be the rightful successor to Muhammad, and is similar to the Caliph in Sunni Islam. ... The 21st Fatimid Imam and son of the 20th Fatimid Imam Mansur al-Amir Bi-Ahkamillah. ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ... This article is about Muhammads daughter. ... The official administrative deputy of a ruler or head of state. ...

During the Imam's seclusion, the Dāˤī l-Mutlaq is appointed by his predecessor in office. The Madhun and Mukasir are in turn appointed by the Dāˤī l-Mutlaq. A fundamental belief of the Dawoodi Bohras is that the presence of the secluded Imām is guaranteed by the presence of the Dāˤī l-Mutlaq.

Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin has appointed Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin as his Ma'ðūn and Syedi Husain Husamuddin as his Mukasir. Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin is the son of Syedna Taher Saifuddin and was appointed to the office of Mazoon by the 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ...

Fatimid origins

Al-Hurra Al-Malika of Yemen appointed the first Dāˤī in Yemen in the mid-twelfth century A.D. The Fatimid Dāˤwat (state) was to remain headquartered in Yemen, India and Pakistan (Sindh) under the leadership of the Dāˤī l-Mutlaq. al-Sayyida al-Hurra Malika Asma Bint Shibab al-Sulayhiyya (died 1087) was Muslim Malika (Queen) of Yemen. ... Sindh (SindhÄ«: سنڌ, UrdÅ«: سندھ) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhis. ...

After acute persecution from the Sunnī majority in Yemen, the Dāˤwat shifted to India and some followers also relocated. However, a large population of Dawoodi Bohras remained in Yemen and do so today. Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ...

Some Bohras' ancestors were converts from Hinduism to Islam in Gujarat, India. Their conversion was the result of the work of some Fatimid missionaries from Egypt and Yemen, which took place before the seclusion of the 21st Fatimid Imām, some time during the caliphate of Imām al-Mustansir. The converted were largely from the Hindu higher castes, many of whom were engaged in trade and commerce. Later, indigenous converts undertook the missionary activities in other regions such as the areas that today constitute Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages)[1] is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... This article is for the Indian state. ... Al-Mustansir (July 2, 1029 – January 10, 1094), was born in Cairo on 16th Jamada II, 420/ and eight months afterwards was declared to succeed his father. ... Caste systems are traditional, hereditary systems of social classification, that evolved due to the enormous diversity in India (where all three primary races met, not by forced slavery but by immigration). ... For other uses, see Missionary (disambiguation). ... , Rājasthān (DevanāgarÄ«: राजस्थान, IPA: )   is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. ... , Madhya Pradesh (abbreviated as MP)   (HindÄ«: मध्य प्रदेश, English: , IPA: ), often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. ... , Maharashtra (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र , IPA  , translation: Great Nation) is Indias third largest state in area and second largest in population after Uttar Pradesh. ...

The word Bohra itself is derived from the Gujarati word Vehwahar, which is interpreted as "trading". Even today, the community indulges mostly in business and trade.

Contemporary Dawoodi Bohras

The Dawoodi Bohras are a very closely-knit community who seek advice from the Dāˤī on spiritual and temporal matters.

While the majority of Dawoodi Bohras have traditionally been traders, it is becoming increasingly common for them to become professionals. Within South Asia many choose to become Doctors, and in the Far East and the West, a large number now work as consultants or analysts as well as a large contingent of medical professionals. Dawoodi Bohras are encouraged to educate themselves in both religious and secular knowledge, and as a result, the number of professionals in the community is rapidly increasing. Dawoodi Bohras believe that the education of women is equally important to that of men, and many Dawoodi Bohra women choose to enter the workforce. Al Jamea tus Saifiyah (The Arabic Academy) in Surat and Karachi is a sign to the educational importance in the Bohra community. The Academy has an advanced curriculum which encompasses religious and secular education for both men and women. Map of South Asia (see note on Kashmir). ... The far east as a cultural block includes East Asia, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and South Asia. ... Occident redirects here. ... A consultant is a professional that provides expert advice in a particular domain or area of expertise such as accountancy, information technology, the law, human resources, marketing, medicine, finance or more esoteric areas of knowledge, for example engineering and scientific specialties such as materials science, instrumentation, avionics, and stress analysis. ... Religious is a term with both a technical definition and folk use. ... This article concerns secularity, that is, being secular, in various senses. ... Al Jamea Tus Saifiyah is a Madrasah (Islamic religious school) situated in the heart of Surat city, India which is a leading theological school for Dawoodi Bohras. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ...   (Sindhi: , Urdu: ) is the largest city in Pakistan and is the provincial capital of Sindh province. ...

Today there are approximately one million Dawoodi Bohras. The majority of these reside in India and Pakistan, but there is also a significant diaspora resident in the Middle East, East Africa, Europe, North America and the Far East. For other uses, see Diaspora (disambiguation). ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ...  Eastern Africa (UN subregion)  East African Community  Central African Federation (defunct)  geographic, including above East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easternmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... North America North America is a continent [1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... The far east as a cultural block includes East Asia, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and South Asia. ...

The ordinary Bohra is highly conscious of his identity and this is especially demonstrated at religious and traditional occasions by the appearance and attire of the participants. Dawoodi Bohra men wear a traditional white three piece outfit, plus a white and gold cap (called a topi), and women wear the rida, a distinctive form of the commonly known burqa which is distinguished from other forms of the veil due to it often being in colour and decorated with patterns and lace. Young girls wear a simple 2 piece suit with a collar and shalwaar called a Jabloo Izaar. They wear this with a girl's topi, decorated with sequins and sometimes lace. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Veils as articles of clothing, worn almost exclusively by women, are intended to cover some part of the head or face. ...

Besides speaking the local languages, the Bohras have their own language called Lisānu l-Dāˤwat "The language of the Dāˤwat". This is written in Arabic script but is derived from Urdu, Gujarati and Arabic. The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Arabic redirects here. ... Urdu ( , , trans. ... Gujarati (ગુજરાતી GujÇŽrātÄ«; also known as Gujerati, Gujarathi, Guzratee, and Guujaratee[3]) is an Indo-Aryan language descending from Sanskrit, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. ...

Remembrance of the martyrdom of Haðrat Imām Husayn, grandson of Muħammed, is an essential part of every Bohra community activity. Every year, the head of the community, Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin delivers religious discourses for ten days during the days of Āshūrā and these are attended by a large number of community members. Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abu Talib (c. ... The Day of Aashurah, sometimes spelled ‘Ashurah or Aashoorah, falls on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar. ...

Contributions to the Community at Large

The Bohras originated from Fatimid Egypt and thus their cultural mores are based on the practices of the Fatimid Imāms. This is further found in the myriad constructions that the Bohras have carried out around the world, all of which feature Fatimid influences from the mosques and buildings of Cairo. The Fatimids, Fatimid Caliphate or al-FātimiyyÅ«n (Arabic الفاطميون) is the Shia dynasty that ruled over varying areas of the Maghreb, Egypt, and the Levant from 5 January 910 to 1171. ... The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... For other uses, see Cairo (disambiguation). ...

Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin undertook the complete renovation and restoration of the Mosque of Imām al-Hakīm in Cairo, a project UNESCO had considered but did not undertake. Some of the most important Fatimid-era mosques were also renovated by Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin in Cairo as a tribute to the vast and beautiful legacy of the Fatimid Imams. Al Aqmar: A Living Testomony to the Fatemiyeen (ISBN 0-9539270-0-8) and Al Juyushi: A vision of the Fatemiyeen (ISBN 0-9539270-1-6) are a few to name. Al-Hakim Mosque is one of the largest Fatimid mosques in Cairo. ... UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ...

Currently, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin has taken up the task of renovation of the Masjid al-ˤAzam in Kūfa, Iraq. This place is of historical significance to both the Islamic and the Pre-Islamic era. The mosque is also primarily significant to the Shiates as it is the place of Martyrdom of Amīru l-Muminīn ˤAlī ibn Abī Tālib. Another significant contribution in Iraq at the moment is the renovation of the shrines of Imām Husayn in Karbala and the shrine of Haðrat ˤAlī in Najaf. Kufa (الكوفة al-Kufa in Arabic) is a city in Iraq, about 170 km south of Baghdad, and 10 km northeast of Najaf. ... For other uses, see Ali (disambiguation). ... // Karbala (Arabic: ; BGN: Al-Karbalā’; also spelled Karbala al-Muqaddasah) is a city in Iraq, located about 100 km southwest of Baghdad at 32. ... Najaf (Arabic: ‎; BGN: An Najaf) is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. ...

In June 2005, the Dawoodi Bohra community built Saifee Hospital in Mumbai, India. The hospital is one of the most technologically advanced hospitals in the entire country, and was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh on June 4, 2005. At the inauguration, the Dawoodi Bohra community was commended by the Prime Minister during a speech delivered by him. The Saifee Hospital is a State of the art, modern hospital built in Charni Road region of Mumbai, India. ... , Bombay redirects here. ... The Prime Minister of India is, in practice, the most powerful person in the Government of India. ... This article is about the Prime Minister of India. ... is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Current notable official events

The first Dawoodi Bohra masjid in the West, was built in Farmington Hills, Michigan in 1988. Farmington Hills is the most populous city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ...

In August 2005, the Dāī l-Mutlaq inaugurated another new mosque in the United States in Fremont, California (metropolitan San Francisco) and was congratulated by various officials and dignitaries from local, state and the United States governments. President George W. Bush also congratulated His Holiness in a letter from the White House [1].

On July 8th 2007, Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin inaugurated a new mosque in Paris France. [2]

Bohra Zakat

Zakat, a repayment to God of what you have been blessed with, is one of the seven pillars the religion is based on. Dawoodi Bohras pay many different Zakats as part of the religion. The Dawoodi Bohra religious establishment has seven taxes, for lack of a better English word, some of which are encouraged and others required of its members during their life-span, before birth and after death. They are as follows: This is a sub-article of Islamic economical jurisprudence. ...

Sīlat-ul-Imām

Sīla literally means "keeping contact". This is supposed to be collected as an offering for a hidden Imām who will appear one day & the amount will be passed on to him.

Zakat-ul-Fitra

Dawoodi Bohra tradition outlines this as a payment for the soul (see Zakat below). Dowoodi Bohras believe that this payment is one means of cleansing the soul. It is required to be paid along with Zakatu l-Maal, both of which Dawoodi Bohras usually pay in the month of Sherullahu l-Moazzam (Ramadan). Dawoodi Bohras are strictly required to pay this Zakat for every family member as it is compulsory for every Dawoodi Bohra. The amount is fixed, and is based by the annual worth of silver.

Zakat-ul-Maal

This obligatory payment enjoined by the Qur'an and Muhammad fixed it at 2.5% of ones wealth and income at the end of a year. Literally, as outlined by the Qu'rān, the amount is 1 for every 40. If a Muslim does not have more than 40 (of any currency), Zakatu l-Maal isn't required. The majority of Muslims (non-Dawoodi Bohra) give this Zakat directly to the needy and poor. Dawoodi Bohra culture and tradition outlines that the Zakat be paid from each family to the Dāˤī, who decides how the money is split and distributed.

Khumus

It literally means "one fifth". As per the Qu'ran the one fifth of the war booty was to be taken by Muhammad for his family's maintenance and also for performing functions of a head of community. However, it remained prevalent among the Shia communities. The Shia used to pay one fifth of sudden gain to their Imam from the progeny of the Fatima the Muhammad's daughter. The Bohras of course now pay to the high priest who is not Imam (but a dai i.e. his vicegerent).

Ħaqqun Nafs

It literally means "right of the soul". This is a payment given by Dawoodi Bohras to the Dāˤī at will at many times in a Bohra's life. The payment is based on multiples of 119 (of whatever currency your area uses) At death, a Bohra's family members usually pay a Ħaqqun Nafs for the deceased as an offering of gratefulness for the life the person had lived.

Nazar-ul-Maqam

The Nazar Muqam for a Dawoodi Bohra is a symbol for the sight and help of Imām and his Dāˤī. Bohras believe that putting aside money or things of value as Nazar Muqam can help them in times of hardship and need. This money is then presented to the head of the community, the Dāˤī.

Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning to make sacred, from Old French, from Latin sacrificium : sacer, sacred; sacred + facere, to make) is commonly known as the practice of offering food, or the lives of animals or people to the gods, as an act of propitiation or worship. ... The Qur’ān [1] (Arabic: , literally the recitation; also sometimes transliterated as Quran, Koran, or Al-Quran) is the central religious text of Islam. ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ... Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Fundamentals of the faith

The Isma'ili faith, unlike mainstream Islam, is based on the concept of hierarchy and each authority at the lower rank has to submit to the one at the higher rank. There cannot be any compromise on that. These religious authorities are known as Hudūd in the Isma'ili terminology. The hadd (pl. hudūd) at the upper rank demands total obedience from the hadd at lower rank.[1] Thus the Isma'ili faith is religion of obedience and submission to the authorities. No dissent is permitted. There is no permission given to an unauthoritative person of an open and democratic discussion on religious affairs without the consultation of the religious authority, due to the esoteric nature of the Isma'ili faith which stresses on the hidden meaning of Qur'an and the allegorical interpretation of the pillars of Islam, a peculiar Isma'ili philosophy on unity, creation, cosmology, eschatology, institution of prophethood and Imāma. Therefore an Isma'ili believer should submit to the authority of the Dāˤī al-Mutlaq and Imām unquestionably on the discretionary powers and orders on the religious, social and observance of customary obedience to the higher rank of the religious hierarchy. Only those at the advance stage of learning could aspire to know the hidden meaning and the tawīl and due to this reason the Dāˤī al-Mutlaq take strict oath of allegiance (mithaq) from his followers so as to pledge their absolute loyalty to the Imām or the Dāˤī al-Mutlaq. For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... A hierarchy (in Greek: , derived from — hieros, sacred, and — arkho, rule) is a system of ranking and organizing things or people, where each element of the system (except for the top element) is a subordinate to a single other element. ... The Qur’ān [1] (Arabic: , literally the recitation; also sometimes transliterated as Quran, Koran, or Al-Quran) is the central religious text of Islam. ... Cosmology, from the Greek: κοσμολογία (cosmologia, κόσμος (cosmos) order + λογια (logia) discourse) is the study of the Universe in its totality, and by extension, humanitys place in it. ... For the eschatological beliefs of various religions, see End Times. ...

Thus, at the age of puberty every Bohra, or mu'min "believer", pronounces the traditional oath of allegiance which requires the initiate to adhere to the Shari'a and accept the religious leadership of the Imāms and Dāˤī al-Mutlaq. This oath is renewed each year on the 18th of Dhu 'l-Hājj (Eid-e Ghadeer-e Khumm). Puberty refers to the process of physical changes by which a childs body becomes an adult body capable of reproduction. ...

The Bohras follow Fatimid school of jurisprudence, which recognizes seven pillars of Islam. Walāyat (love and devotion) for God, the prophets, the Imāms and the Dāˤī al-Mutlaq is the first and most important of the seven pillars. The others are tahārat (purity & cleanliness), salāt (prayers), zakat (purifying religious dues), sawm (fasting), hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) and jihad (Struggle). For the jurisprudence of courts, see Case law. ...

Pilgrimages to the shrines of the Mawāli-e Taherīn (saints) is an important role in the devotional life of Bohras, for the facilitation of which musafir-khaanas and assisting charitable organizations and awqāf have been set up in several cities. Every new year, the first ten days of Muharram is marked by the martyrdom of Imām Husayn and is commemorated by setting up sabeel and majālis-e 'azadari. Social gatherings are mainly on the occasions of aqīqa (naming of the new born child), milād (anniversary), mīthāq (religious oath), walīma (marriage), iftitāh (opening ceremony), urs (commemoration of the deceased Dāˤī al-Mutlaq), and majālis (in the month of Muharram and Ramadan).

The traditional dress of Dawoodi Bohras is kurta, pyjama, topi and sayā for male and rida for female. On all religio-social occasions they are dressed in the above fashion. They eat in the form of traditional thal. A kurta (or sometimes kurti, for women) is a traditional piece of clothing worn in Afghanistan, northern India, and Pakistan. ... Categories: Stub | Clothing ... Binomial name Damaliscus lunatus Burchell, 1823 Topi standing in Masai Mara The Topi, or Tsessebe, as it is called in Southern Africa, (Damaliscus lunatus also known as Tiang or Korrigum) is a savannah and floodplain antelope found in Sudan, Chad, Kenya, Tanzania, and Southern Africa. ...

History of criticisms and reforms

The Bohra Zakat has been criticized by Muslim reformers as a feudal concept designed to make the Bohra clerics wealthier while leaving the common Bohra Muslim poor and oppressed at the hands of the clerics. The nature of the Bohra sect mandated that every member take a secret oath of allegiance - called a Misaq - to the head of the community. This oath covered not just religious matters but encroached upon many other aspects of life. Reform movements within the Bohra community have tried to address these issues, but have been met with significant and often violent opposition from the orthodox clerics.^[1]

Oppression by the Syednas

The Bohra chieftain, or the "Da'i Syedna", has significant power over the Muslim community which they would exploit to their advantage. They collect Zakat in excess of millions to do with as they please, often to further lavish lifestyles while the common Muslim remains . Any Muslim who dares to question a Da'i Syedna's lifestyle or the necessity of the Zakat is denounced by the Syedna and subject to excommunication from Muslim society, together with threats of harassment. The combination of this control over the minds of his followers, as well as of their pocketbooks, makes the Da'i Syedna practically invincible. They routinely use their minority status in India to browbeat their way out of demands for social reform from politicians.^[2]

Historically, the Bohras were condemned as heretics and shunned from Islamic society. With the advent of the British Raj, Bohras started to prosper in businesses in India and the Da'i Syedna moved to Mumbai, together with many ordinary Bohras, to live off of their paid Zakat.The high priest, in order to increase his financial share of his affluent followers, began inventing new taxes to impose on them and started to interfere in secular affairs to tighten their grip over the people. With the rise in Da'i Syedna oppression came dissent within the Bohra world and clarion calls for reform and demands to abolish (or at least reduce) the Zakat system.^[3]. By the turn of the 20th century the 50th Da'i Syedna tried to suppress all attempts to reform by imposing rigid reforms and preventing Bohras from education in modern schools so as to keep them in control. Attempts by Bohras to educate the community to this practice resulted in a wave of excommunications. Several Bohras challenged the authority of the Da'i Syedna through litigation in Mumbai courts. Other Da'i Syednas oppressed the community further by marginalising the Bohra Ulema and concentrated power in their hands. The First World War caused many Bohras to engage in war-profiteering, the proceeds from which funnelled into the pocket of the Syednas through the Zakat. They also invented new doctrines that all properties owned by the Bohras belonged to him and that they were mere munims (account keepers) on his behalf.They were shrewd enough to devise some titles which were awarded to the neo-rich Bohras in search of recognition to earn money as well as their much needed support for the Syednas' increasingly authoritarian ways^[3]. The Syednas even adopted rituals that were largely alien to mainstream Islam, such as prostrating (sajda) before them (an act of reverence traditionally reserved only for Allah in Islam). Syednas declared themselves "ilah al-ard" or "Gods of the Earth" and invented oppressive practices that invited condemnation from the ulema. The Syedna's oppression had degenerated into absolute slavery by this time. Several members of the Ulema passed [[fatwas against them in sheer disgust. Look up Heretic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Anthem God Save The King The British Indian Empire, 1909 Capital Calcutta (until 1912), New Delhi (after 1912) Language(s) Hindustani, English and many others Government Monarchy Emperor of India  - 1858-1901 Victoria¹  - 1901-1910 Edward VII  - 1910-1936 George V  - 1936 Edward VIII  - 1936-1947 George VI Viceroy²  - 1858... , Bombay redirects here. ... Ulema (, transliteration: , singular: , transliteration: , scholar) (The people of Islamic Knowledge) refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... Allah is the Arabic language word for God. ... Ulema (, transliteration: , singular: , transliteration: , scholar) (The people of Islamic Knowledge) refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. ...

Reform attempts

There has been a struggle for reform within the Dawoodi Bohra community for many years by the Progressive Dawoodi Bohras, but efforts are still fought by Bohra clerics. Reformers state that the clerics seek to preserve their wealth accumulated at the expense of ordinary Muslims within the community.^[3]The reformists desire a return of the Bohra community to egalitarian Islam and not base their society on the pretentious claims of the Syedna's. They argue that the Syedna's duty is to provide guidance, not live off of the hard earnings of other people like a social parasite. The reformists have maintained that the Bohra priesthood have been violating the democratic and human rights of Bohras. The reformists are upholders of principles of human rights and civil liberties and respect for human dignity. They also stand for transparency and accountability. The Syedna priesthood, concerned with the resistance from the reforms, frantically reject these principles in a desperate attempt to suppress the people of the Bohra community. They have committed many human-rights violations on the ordinary Bohras in pursuit of their power.^[3] The Mustaali (Arabic مستعلي) group of Ismaili Muslims are so named because they accepted the legitimacy of the Fatimid caliph Al-Mustali, after Mustansir, and not Nizar, whom the Aga Khan group or Nizaris consider as their Imam. ... Egalitarianism (derived from the French word égal, meaning equal or level) is a political doctrine that holds that all people should be treated as equals from birth. ... The Nazi propaganda poster titled New People reads: This person suffering from hereditary defects costs the people 60,000 Reichmarks during his lifetime. ...

A major attempt for reform among Bohras was made by a commission headed by justice N.P. Nathwani in 1978. The commission handled complaints that Syednas were purposely hampering the actions of reformists seeking to abolish this backward practice.The Nathwani Commission had concluded that there was "large-scale infringement of civil liberties and human rights of reformist Bohras at the hands of the priestly class and those who failed to obey the orders of the Syedna and his Amils (priests), even in purely secular matters are subjected to Baraat (social boycott) resulting in complete social boycott, mental torture and frequent physical assaults."^[2] The commission achieved little success, however, and the Bohra Syednas retain their stranglehold over the community.^[1] Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Look up Boycott in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

A prominent contemporary critic of this medieval system of taxation in the Bohra society is Asghar Ali Engineer^[4], who has written about and spoken against this system, arguing that it is severely detrimental to Muslim society and is totally un-Islamic. In retaliation, the Bohra clerics have denounced and attacked him physically numerous times ^[5][3] Asghar Ali Engineer, The Laaentie was born in Bohra priestly family (amils family) on 10th March, 1939 in Salumbar, Rajasthan (near Udaipur) where Qurban Husain, his father, was an amil at that time. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ...

The conditions have worsened in recent years. The Bohra priesthood continues to be on the offensive to maintain its highly authoritarian grip over the community. The Da'i Syednas, in order to maintain his grip over it, uses a section of the community, to perpetuate violence against the reformists. The Syednas have created a culture of violence in the Bohra community by brainwashing the Bohras to engage in violence against the reformists.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Syedna’s slaves
2. ^ ^{a b} The Dawoodi Bohra's by Kalpana Sharma
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} The Reformists and the Bohra Priesthood by Asghar Ali Engineer
4. ^ Progressive Dawoodi Bohras Reform Issues Retrieved on July 26, 2007
5. ^ Attack on Asghar Ali Engineer condemned, People's Union of Civil Liberties

External links

• Official website of the Dawoodi Bohra community
• Another web-portal for the Dawoodi Bohra community
• Dawoodi Bohra Networking Portal