Mufaddal Saifuddin

Sultan His Holiness Syedna
Aali Qadr Mufaddal Saifuddin
53rd Dā'ī al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohra
عـالي قـدر مُـفـضّـل سـيـفُ ٱلـدّين
Da'i al-Mutlaq
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 January 2014
Preceded byMohammed Burhanuddin
Title
  • Syedna
  • Da'i al-Fatemi
  • Da'i al-Mutlaq
  • Aqeeq al-Yemen[1]
Personal
Born
Aali Qadr Mufaddal

(1946-08-20) 20 August 1946 (age 78)[1]
Surat, Bombay Presidency, British India[1]
ReligionIslam
Spouse
Jawharatusharaf (née Najmuddin)
​
​
(m. 1970)​
[2]
Children
Parents
SectIsmailism
Dawoodi Bohra
Jurisprudence
Other names
CitizenshipIndian
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Spiritual Leader
  • Philanthropist
  • Chancellor
StyleHis Holiness
AwardsFull list
Honours
Signature
Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University
Incumbent
Assumed office
11 April 2015
Preceded byAziz Mushabber Ahmadi
Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia
Incumbent
Assumed office
14 March 2023
Preceded byNajma Heptulla

Syedna Dr. Mufaddal Saifuddin (Arabic: عـالي قـدر مُـفـضّـل سـيـفُ ٱلـدّين, romanized: ʿĀlī Qadr Mufaḍḍal Sayf al-Dīn) is the spiritual leader, the 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq[8][9] of one million Dawoodi Bohras,[10] a subgroup of the Tayyibi, Mustaali, Ismaili Shia branch of Islam.[8][11] He is the second son of the 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq, Mohammed Burhanuddin,[1] whom he succeeded in 2014.[12][13] He is the Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia situated in India. He has led a number of cultural, social, and economic initiatives. In Islamic Cairo, he rebuilt shrines of the Ahl al-Bayt and led the restoration of medieval Fatimid architecture, notably Al-Anwar Mosque,[14] Al-Aqmar Mosque, Al-Juyushi Mosque, and Lulua Mosque.[15][16] In Yemen, he has spearheaded several campaigns to improve socio-economic conditions of the inhabitants of the Haraaz region, introducing sustainable agricultural systems, improving local infrastructure and providing equal access to education for children.[17]

Saifuddin oversees community programs throughout the world, such as the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Project in Mumbai’s Bhendi Bazaar, Project Rise (a Dawoodi Bohra global philanthropic initiative), and the Faiz al Mawaid Buhaniyah community kitchen,[18] which work towards socio-economic development, environmental conservation,[19] food security and reducing food waste.

  1. ^ a b c d "Know more about Dawoodi Bohra chief Mufaddal Saifuddin". indiatvnews.com. India TV. 11 August 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Know more about Dawoodi Bohra chief Mufaddal Saifuddin". indiatvnews.com. India TV. 11 August 2014. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Abdel-Rahim, Mohamed Sabry (17 August 2014). "سلطان البهرة في الهند.. منع الربا في تعاملات البنوك ويطعم مليون شخص يوميا حول العالم" [Sultan of Bohra in India .. prohibiting usury in banking transactions and feeding two million people daily around the world]. elabalad.news (in Arabic). Cairo: El Balad. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "وزيراعظم سان سيدنا عالي قدر مفضل سيف الدين جي ملاقات" [Prime Minister Meeting with Syedna High Honorable Mufaddal Saifuddin] (in Sindhi). Islamabad: Associated Press of Pakistan. 9 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020 – via pakistanpoint.com.
  5. ^ a b c "His Holiness Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS". jameasaifiyah.edu. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020. His Holiness TUS appeared for the examinations of the historic Dawoodi Bohra educational institute Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah in Surat where he graduated with the highest honours. He completed his undergraduate education in India and Egypt where he was privately tutored by distinguished professors from Cairo's leading universities including Cairo University and al-Azhar.
  6. ^ Kamaal, Saiyed (7 June 2011). "Spiritual head of Dawoodi Bohras names second eldest son as heir". archive.indianexpress.com. Surat. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020. Muffadal Saifuddin is the second eldest among seven children of Dr Burhanuddin. Born in Surat, he moved to Mumbai for his school education and graduated from Mumbai University. He is presently a rector in Arabic University in Surat.
  7. ^ Al Shula, Abdulnabi (18 November 2018). "جهود متواصلة لدعم قيم السلم والتعايش" [Continuous efforts to support the values of peace and coexistence]. albiladpress (in Arabic). Bahrain: Al Bilad. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020.
  8. ^ a b "البهرة "شيعة الحاكم بأمر الله".. النشأة والتاريخ" [Bohra: "Shi'a of al-Hakim bi Amr Allah": Origin and history]. beruitme.com (in Arabic). Lebanon: Beirut News. 6 July 2014. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020.
  9. ^ Kappal, Bhanuj (28 July 2019). "The battle for the leadership of the Dawoodi Bohras". Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  10. ^ Schleifer, S Abdallah, ed. (2019). The Muslim 500: The World's 500 Most Influential Muslims (PDF). Jordan: The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre. ISBN 9789957635459. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  11. ^ "What is Shia Islam? A Visual Chart of Different Shia Communities". IsmailiGnosis.com. 5 July 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  12. ^ "End of an era: Syedna Burhanuddin is no more". The Express Tribune. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  13. ^ "Syedna suffers stroke, names son successor - Times of India". The Times of India. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  14. ^ King, James Roy (1984). "THE RESTORATION OF THE AL-ḤĀKIM MOSQUE IN CAIRO". Islamic Studies. 23 (4): 325–335. ISSN 0578-8072. JSTOR 20847278.
  15. ^ "President El-Sisi Meets with the Head of the Dawoodi Bohra Community". The Arab Republic of Egypt Presidency. 20 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Dawoodi Bohra leader visits Uganda: His Holiness cherishes peace and social equality". newvision.co.ug. Kampala. 3 July 2018. ISSN 1564-037X. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Chancellor | AMU". Aligarh Muslim University. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Mumbai: A kitchen that ensures no Bohra goes to bed hungry | Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India. 19 September 2021.
  19. ^ "Beat Plastic Pollution Campaign Benefits from Global Bohra Commitment" (Press release). 29 January 2020.