The world-wide Dawoodi Bohra community is grieved on the sad demise of their beloved spiritual leader His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA last week in Mumbai.
A special condolence-meet was today held at Saifee Mahal the residence of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq of the community.
Of the attendees were His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Union Ministers from New Delhi, Members of Parliament, Consulates of numerous nations, delegations of religious communities, prominent citizens, professionals and intellectuals who came to offer their condolences to the late Syedna’s son and successor Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS.
A large number of condolence messages from Heads of State, prominent international Muslim and non-Muslim personalities and well wishers have been received including of Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh of India, President Sheikh Khalifa Al-Nahyan and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al-Makoum of UAE and President Mamoon Husain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan, President M. Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka and President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya amongst others.
Earlier, in recognition to his endeavours in promoting patriotism and secular values, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA- one of India’s highest respected spiritual leaders – was honoured with a State Funeral with a 21 gun-salute on Saturday 18th January at his residence Saifee Mahal in Mumbai.
Since the sad demise of the 52ndDai al-Mutlaq, Dr. Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA last week, the Dawoodi Bohras are holding prayer-gatherings at their local community centers across the world in some 700 cities, towns and villages across the world.
The forty days prayer-meets are everyday led by Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS in Mumbai that is being relayed via internet across the globe. As per Islamic tradition, the community members recite Quran-e-Majeed known as Khatmul Quran, and pray for their beloved late leader and recount the innumerable beneficences he bestowed upon them. The revered leader led the Dawoodi Bohras for 50 remarkable years that saw a phenomenal religious enlightenment and material growth within the close-knit Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community.
Some 200,000 Dawoodi Bohras from across cities in India and from Europe, North America, Australia, Middle East, Far East, South Asia and East Africa had reached Mumbai to participate in the prayer gathering held at Raudat Tahera where the late Syedna was laid to rest.
