Taher Saifuddin
Encyclopedia
Syedna Taher Saifuddin(4 August 1885 - 12 November 1965) was the 51st Dā‘ī l-Muṭlaq
and led the Dawoodi Bohras community from 1915 to 1965. He was succeeded by his son, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin
.
), and at the age of 28, he succeeded to the leadership of the Dawoodi da‘wah
and the associated Bohra community. Under his leadership, the Arabic learning academy Jamia Saifiyah in Surat
, India
, saw growth and development. The community also saw renewed adherence to Islamic tenets, general development and progress. He contributed to the development of many monuments, chief of them being the internal curtains of the Ka‘bah
and the zarih of Imam ‘Alī
and Imam Husain
. Several schools, the Saifee Hospital
and Saifee Masjid in Mumbai were erected in his era. The Zarih
of Imam Husain at Karbala was made in 1939 AD/1358AH and 500 gold coins (6 kg)(each coin consisted 12 grams weight) & 200 thousand coins (2.4 Tons) of silver were used, and beautified with precious gems.
Syedna was the chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University
in India for four consecutive terms. He was an accomplished writer who compiled more than 40 books, or rasaail, and hundreds of odes, qasaaid, pertaining to Islamic theology and the Fatimid
Imams. Syedna was known to have taught 28 religious lessons (also known as sabaq) in a day. He extended the then existing practice of giving religious sermons on Husayn ibn ‘Alī as during the days of Muharram
to nine days, culminating on ‘Āshūrā
. Several of his elegies on Imam Husain are recited by community members to this day. Much of his work is studied at the Jamia Saifiyah academies in India, Pakistan, and Kenya.
Syedna died at the age of 80 in Matheran
, India, on 12 November 1965, (19th Rajab 1385 Hijri). The Mausoleum Raudat Tahera
in Mumbai
is erected in his memory.
Name of the Syedna Taher Saifuddin is recorded at third holy mosque of Islam, Masjid-al-Aqsa,Jerusalem.
Da'i al-Mutlaq
The term Dāʻī al-Mutlaq literally means "the absolute or unrestricted missionary". In Ismā'īlī Islām, the term dāʻī has been used to refer to important religious leaders other than the hereditary Imāms, and the Daʻwa or "Mission" is a clerical-style organisation. "The Daʻwa" was a term for the...
and led the Dawoodi Bohras community from 1915 to 1965. He was succeeded by his son, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin
Mohammed Burhanuddin
Doctor Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin is the 52nd Dā‘ī l-Muṭlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras. The Dawoodi Bohras are a sub group within the Mustaali, Ismaili Shia branch of Islam.- Biography :Burhanuddin was born in Surat, Gujarat, India...
.
Background and life
Syedna Taher Saifuddin was born on 4 August 1888 (27th Zilqad 1305 HijriIslamic calendar
The Hijri calendar , also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries , and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic...
), and at the age of 28, he succeeded to the leadership of the Dawoodi da‘wah
Dawah
Da‘wah or Dawah usually denotes the preaching of Islam. Da‘wah literally means "issuing a summons" or "making an invitation", being the active participle of a verb meaning variously "to summon" or "to invite"...
and the associated Bohra community. Under his leadership, the Arabic learning academy Jamia Saifiyah in Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, saw growth and development. The community also saw renewed adherence to Islamic tenets, general development and progress. He contributed to the development of many monuments, chief of them being the internal curtains of the Ka‘bah
Kaaba
The Kaaba is a cuboid-shaped building in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and is the most sacred site in Islam. The Qur'an states that the Kaaba was constructed by Abraham, or Ibraheem, in Arabic, and his son Ishmael, or Ismaeel, as said in Arabic, after he had settled in Arabia. The building has a mosque...
and the zarih of Imam ‘Alī
Ali
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...
and Imam Husain
Husain
Husain is a common Arabic name especially among Muslims, because of the popularity of Hussein bin AliGrand son of Muhammadhe said .....al husain o mini wa ana minal hussain* Adrian A...
. Several schools, the Saifee Hospital
Saifee Hospital
The Saifee Hospital is a State of the art, modern hospital built in Charni Road region of Mumbai, India. It has 33 specialised departments, more than 400 doctors and 295 beds....
and Saifee Masjid in Mumbai were erected in his era. The Zarih
Imam Husayn Shrine
The Shrine of Husayn ibn ‘Alī is one of the oldest mosques on Earth and a holy site of Shīah Islām in the city of Karbalā, Iraq. It stands on the site of the grave of Husayn ibn ‘Alī, the second grandson of Muhammad, near the place where he was killed during the Battle of Karbalā in 680 C.E....
of Imam Husain at Karbala was made in 1939 AD/1358AH and 500 gold coins (6 kg)(each coin consisted 12 grams weight) & 200 thousand coins (2.4 Tons) of silver were used, and beautified with precious gems.
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University ,is a residential academic university, established in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Mohammedan Angelo-Oriental College and later granted the status of Central University by an Act of the Indian Parliament in 1920...
in India for four consecutive terms. He was an accomplished writer who compiled more than 40 books, or rasaail, and hundreds of odes, qasaaid, pertaining to Islamic theology and the Fatimid
Fatimid
The Fatimid Islamic Caliphate or al-Fāṭimiyyūn was a Berber Shia Muslim caliphate first centered in Tunisia and later in Egypt that ruled over varying areas of the Maghreb, Sudan, Sicily, the Levant, and Hijaz from 5 January 909 to 1171.The caliphate was ruled by the Fatimids, who established the...
Imams. Syedna was known to have taught 28 religious lessons (also known as sabaq) in a day. He extended the then existing practice of giving religious sermons on Husayn ibn ‘Alī as during the days of Muharram
Muharram
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited...
to nine days, culminating on ‘Āshūrā
Day of Ashura
The Day of Ashura is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram.It is commemorated by Shia Muslims as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala on 10...
. Several of his elegies on Imam Husain are recited by community members to this day. Much of his work is studied at the Jamia Saifiyah academies in India, Pakistan, and Kenya.
Syedna died at the age of 80 in Matheran
Matheran
- Getting to Matheran :Matheran is located about 100 km from Mumbai, 120 km from Pune. and 320 km from Surat. It lies on the busy Mumbai-Pune rail link and the nearest train station is at Neral, approximately 11 km from Matheran. From Neral, one can either rent a taxi to the...
, India, on 12 November 1965, (19th Rajab 1385 Hijri). The Mausoleum Raudat Tahera
Raudat Tahera
Raudat Tahera is the mausoleum of the celebrated Dr. Syedna Taher Saifuddin, 51st Dai al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras community whom he guided from January 1915 to his death in November 1965. He was succeeded by his son, the 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq Dr...
in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
is erected in his memory.
Name of the Syedna Taher Saifuddin is recorded at third holy mosque of Islam, Masjid-al-Aqsa,Jerusalem.
Also see
- Minto CircleMinto CircleMinto Circle, officially Syedna Tahir Saifuddin High School , is a semi-residential high school under Aligarh Muslim University at Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. The school was established as "Mohammedan Anglo Oriental Collegiate School" by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in 1875, which later evolved as...