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List of Dai of the Dawoodi Bohra

Purity from within
Qur'anic verse 33:33 inscribed at Al-Aqmar Mosque signifying the purity of Ahl al-Bayt [and their Du'at].

This is a list of Dai of the Dawoodi Bohra. The Dawoodi Bohra are a sect of Shia Islam, whose leader is the Dai.

According to Fatimid (Taiyabi, Mustali, Ismaili) tradition, after the death of Imām Al-Amir, al-Malika al-Sayyida (Hurratul-Malika) instituted the Da'i al-Mutlaq to run the da'wah from Yemen in the name of Imām Taiyab abi al-Qasim. This article gives short history and the list of the Dawoodi Bohra Dā'īs, their Mawazeen/Mukasir (associates) and The Walī-ul-Hind (Indian Walīs) ("representatives" or "caretakers" when the Dais were seated at Yemen).[1]

Short History

The Dā'īs

Al-Malika al-Sayyida (Hurratul-Malika) was instructed and prepared by Imām Mustansir and following Imāms for the second period of satr. It was going to be on her hands that Imām Taiyab abi al-Qasim would go into seclusion, and she would institute the office of Dā'ĩ al-Mutlaq.

Syedna Zoeb bin Moosa was first to be instituted to this office, and the line of Taiyabi Dā'ĩs that began in 1132. The second da'i mutlaq, Ibrahim Al-Hamidi (1151–1162), became the real founder of the tayyibi esoteric doctrine, which he elaborated especially in his Kitab kanz Al-walad (Book of the child's treasure). The position remained in his family until 1209, when it passed to Ali ibn Muhammad of the Banu Al-Walid Al-Anf family, which held it for more than three centuries with only two interruptions. The political power of the Yemenite da'is reached a peak during the long incumbency of Idris Imad Al-Din ibn Al-Hasan, the nineteenth da'i mutlaq (1428–1468). He is also the author of a seven-volume history of the Ismaili imams, Kitab uyun Al-akhbar (Book of choice stories) and of a two-volume history of the Yemenite da'is, Kitab nuzhat Al-akhbar (Book of story and entertainment), as well as works of esoteric doctrine and religious controversy.

While the Yemenite da'is had been able to act relatively freely with the backing or protection of various rulers during the early centuries, they usually faced hostility from the Zaydi imams and in the sixteenth century suffered relentless persecution. Until the 23rd Dā'ī, the center of the dawat was in Yemen. In 1539 the twenty-third da'i mutlaq appointed an Indian, Yusuf ibn Sulayman, as his successor, evidently in recognition of the growing importance of the Indian tayyibi community. Yusuf came to reside in the Yemen, he died and was buried there.

Because of the intense persecutions against the dawat by the Zaydi rulers of Yemen, the 24th Dā'ī Yusuf designated Jalal Shamshuddin in India as his successor, and the center of the dawat then moved permanently to India. The 25th Dā'ī also died in 1567 CE, and is buried in Ahmedabad, India, the first Dā'ī to have his mausoleum in India.

After the death of Da'ud b. 'Adjabshah, the 26th da'imutlaq, in 999/1591, the succession was disputed. While in India Da'ud Burhan al-Din was established, his followers were called Dawoodi Bohra there after. The Dawoodi da'is continued to reside in India, where the great majority of their followers live. The da'wa generally was able to develop freely. Their present Dai is 53rd and his residence is now in Bombay. The largest concentration of Bohras is found in Gujarat. Outside Gujarat, Daudi Bohoras live in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya pradesh state and, in many of the big cities of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Burma, and the East Africa. In the Yemen the Daudi community is concentrated in the Haraz mountains

The Walī-ul-Hind

Up to the 23rd Dā'ī, the da'wah center was at Yemen; for India, a "Walī al-Hind" (representative/caretaker for India) was designated by the Dā'ī to run the dawat in India.[2]

The Wali- ul -Hind were champions of the Fatimid dawat in India, who were instrumental in maintaining & propagating it on instructions of the Dā'ī at Yemen, and it is because of them that the Fatimid dawat was able to survive the persecutions in Cairo and Yemen.

Moulai Abadullah[3][4][5] was the first Walī al-Hind in the era of Imam Mustansir (427–487 AH). Abadullah (originally named Baalam Nath) and Syedi Nuruddin (originally named Roop Nath) went to Cairo, Egypt, to learn, and went to India in 467 AH. Moulai Ahmed was also their companion.

First Dā'ī Zoeb appointed Maulai Yaqoob (after the death of Abadullah), who was the second Walī al-Hind of the Fatimid dawat. Moulai Yaqoob was the first person of Indian origin to receive this honour under the Dā'ī. He was son of Moulai Bharmal, minister of Hindu Solanki King Siddhraja Jaya Singha (Anhalwara,Patan) (487–527 AH/1094–1133 CE). With Minister Moulai Tarmal, they had honoured the Fatimid dawat along with their fellow citizens on the call of Moulai Abdullah. Moulai Fakhruddin, son of Moulai Tarmal, was sent to western Rajasthan, India, and Syedi Nuruddin went to the Deccan (death: Jumadi al-Ula 11 at Don Gaum, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India).

One Dā'ī after another continued until the 23rd Dā'ī in Yemen. Persons were appointed to the position of Walī al-Hind one after another in India. A list of them is also given below along with the relevant Dā'īs.

In the generation of Moulai Yaqoob, Moulai Ishaq, Moulai Ali, Moulai Hasan fir continued one after another as Wali-ul-Hind. Moulai Hasan Fir was fifth Wali in the era of 16th Dai Abadullah (d.809 AH/1406 AD) of Yemen.

Walī -ul-Hind Moulai Jafer, Moulai Abdul Wahab, and Moulai Qasim Khan bin Hasan (11th Walī al-Hind, and who died in 950 AH/1543 CE in Ahmedabad) were last three upto 23 rd Dai. Because of the intense persecutions against the dawat by the Zaydi rulers of Yemen, it was transferred to India from Yemen when the 23rd Dā'ī Syedna Mohammed Ezzuddin designated Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin ibn Sulaiman as his successor (and, thus the 24th Dā'ī) in Sidhpur, Gujarat, India. Yusuf went to reside in the Yemen, he died and was buried there. Before his death 24th Dā'ī Yusuf designated Jalal Shamshuddin as 25th Dai in India as his successor, who was also last Walī -ul-Hind under the 24th Dā'ī Yusuf for 20 years. The center of the dawat then moved permanently to India.

Wali –ul-Hind

List of Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohra

Dua't Yemeniyah (1138 – 1539 CE)

Dua't Mutlaqeen Seated in Yemen
No. Name Dai Period CE (AH) Tenure Resting Place Seat of Administration Mazoon al-Da'wat Mukaasir al-Da'wat Walī-ul-Hind Notable Events & Figures
1 Zoeb bin Moosa al-Waade'ee

ذويب بن موسى الوادي

1138 –1151

(530 – 546)

13 years, 4 months, 17 days Huth

(exact site unknown)

Huth Syedna Khattaab bin Hasan

(d. 1138)


Syedna Ibrahim bin Husain al-Haamedi
1. Moulai Abdullah

(d. 1141)

(Khambat, Gujarat)

2. Moulai Yaqub bin Moulai Bharmal

(Patan, Gujarat.)

2 Ibrahim bin Husain al-Haamedi

ابراهيم بن حسين الحميدي

1151 –1162

(546 – 557)

11 years, 7 months, 6 days Ghayl bani-Haamid Ghayl bani-Haamid

(Outskirts of Sana'a)

Syedna Husain bin Ali al-Waleed

(d.1159)


Syedna Hatim bin Ibrahim al-Haamedi
Syedna Mohammad bin Taher Al Haresi
3 Hatim Mohyi'uddin bin Ibrahim al-Haamedi

حاتم بن ابراهيم الحميدي

1162 –1199

(557 – 596)

38 years, 5 months Al-Hutaib ul-Mubarak Al-Hutaib ul-Mubarak Syedna Mohammad bin Taher Al Haresi

(d.1188)


Syedna Ali bin Maula Mohammad bin il-Waleed
4 Ali Shamsuddin bin Hatim al-Haamedi

علي بن حاتم الحميدي

1199 –1209

(596 – 605)

9 years, 10 months, 9 days Sana'a

(exact site unknown)

Sana'a Syedna Ali bin Maula Mohammad bin il-Waleed
5 Ali bin Maula Muhammad bin il-Waleed

علي بن محمد الوليد

1209 –1215

(605 – 612)

6 years, 9 months, 2 days Al-Aghmur (Haraaz)

(exact site unknown)

Syedna Ali bin Hanzala
3. Moulai Ishaq bin Yaqub

(Patan, Gujarat)

6 Ali bin Hanzala al-Waade'ee

علي بن حنظلة الوادي

1215 – 1229

(612 – 626)

13 years, 6 months, 14 days Hamdaan

(exact site unknown)

Syedna Ahmed bin Mubaarak Syedna Husain bin Ali bin Maula Muhammad bin il-Waleed
7 Ahmed bin Mubarak Al Walid

احمد بن مبارك الوليد

1229 –1230

(626–627)

1 year, 3 months, 16 days Sana'a

(exact site unknown)

Syedna Husain bin Ali bin Maula Muhammad bin il-Waleed Syedi Ahmed bin Syedna Ali bin Hanzala
8 Husain bin Ali bin Maula Mohammed bin il-Waleed

حسين بن علي صاحب الوليد

1230 –1268

(627–667)

39 years, 7 months, 24 days Syedi Ahmed bin Syedna Ali bin Hanzala

(d.651 AH)


Ali bin Husain
Syedi Mohammad bin As'ad bin Mubarak
4. Moulai Ali bin Ishaq

(Patan, Gujarat.)

9 Ali bin Husain

علي بن حسين بن علي بن محمد

1268 –1284

(667–682)

15 years, 8 months, and 20 days Syedi Husain bin Ali bin Hanzala

(d.677 AH)


Ali bin Syedi Husain bin Ali bin Hanzala
Sheikh Assad Hatim Sanjaani
10 Ali bin Syedi Husain bin Ali bin Hanzala

علي بن الحسين بن علي بن حنظلة

1284 –1287

(682 – 686)

3 years, 2 months, and 18 days Ibrahim bin Husain
11 Ibrahim bin Husain Al Walid

ابراهيم بن حسين الوليد

1287 –1328

(686 –728)

42 years, 8 months, 9 days Hisne-Af'eda, Hafat Idris,

Sana'a Governorate

Hamdan Syedna Mohammad bin Syedi Hatim
5. Syedi HasanFeer Shaheed bin Ali

(d. 795 AH/1392 CE)

(Denmal, Gujarat.)

12 Mohammed bin Hatim bin Syedna Husain Al Walid

محمد بن حاتم الوليد

1328 –1329

(728 – 729)

1 year, 1 month, and 21 days Syedna Ali bin Syedna Ibrahim
13 Ali Shamsuddin I bin Ibrahim

علي شمس الدين بن ابراهيم

1329 –1345

(729 – 746)

16 years, 7 months, and 17 days Syedna Abdul-Muttalib Najmuddin
14 Abdul-Muttalib Najmuddin bin Mohammed

عبد المطلب نجم الدين

1345 –1354

(746 – 755)

8 years, 11 months, 26 days Zimarmar Fort Zimarmar Syedna Abbas bin Muhammed
15 Abbas bin Muhammad

عباس بن محمد

1354 –1378

(755 – 779)

24 years, 2 months, 24 days Hisne-Af'eda, Hafat Idris,

Sana'a Governorate

Abdullah Fakhruddin bin Ali
16 Abdullah Fakhruddin bin Ali bin Syedna Mohammed 1378 –1407

(779 – 809)

29 years, 11 months, 1 day Zimarmar Fort Syedi Ali bin Abdullah Shaibaani

(d.788 AH)


Syedi Husain

(d.796H)


Syedna Hasan Badruddin I
Syedi Abdul Muttalib bin Abdullah
17 Hasan Badruddin I bin Abdullah Fakhruddin

حسن بدر الدين بن عبد الله

1407 –1418

(809 – 821)

12 years, 27 days Syedi Abdul Muttalib Najmuddin

(d.811/1408)


Syedi Mohammed bin Idris Asaduddin

(d.821/1418)

Syedi Ahmed bin Syedna Abdullah 6. Maulaya Adam bin Sulaiman

(Kankariya, Ahmedabad)

18 Ali Shamsuddin II bin Abdullah Fakhruddin

علي شمس الدين بن عبد الله

1418 –1428

(821 – 832)

10 years, 3 months, 27 days Al Shariqa Al Shariqa Idris Imaduddin
7. Maulaya Hasan bin Maulaya Adam

(Ahmedabad)

19 Idris Imaduddin bin Hasan Badruddin

ادريس عماد الدين بن حسن

1429 –1467

(832 – 872)

40 years, 9 months, 16 days Shibaam Shibaam Syedi Ma'ad Ezzuddin

(d.839/840 AH)


Al Maula Masad bin Abdullah
20 Hasan Badruddin II bin Syedna Idris Imaduddin

حسن بدر الدين بن إدريس عماد الدين

1467 –1512

(872 – 918)

45 years, 8 months, 26 days Masaar Syedi Abdullah Fakhruddin
Syedna Husain Husamuddin
Syedna Ali Shamsuddin III bin Syedna Husain Husamuddin
8. Moulai Raj bin Hasan
21 Husain Husamuddin bin Syedna Idris Imaduddin

حسين حسام الدين بن إدريس عمادالدين

1512 –1527

(918 – 933)

15 years, 1 month, 25 days Syedna Ali Shamsuddin III bin Syedna Husain Husamuddin Syedna Mohammed Ezzuddin bin Syedna Hasan Badruddin II
9. Moulai Jafer bin Raj,

(Ahmedabad)

10. Moulai Wahhab bin Firoz
11. Syedi QasimKhan bin Hasan

(d. 950AH)(Ahmedabad)

22 Ali Shamsuddin III bin Syedna Husain Husamuddin

علي شمس الدين بن حسين

1527 –1527

(933 – 933)

1 month, 11 days Zabid Syedna Mohammed Izzuddin I
23 Syedna Mohammed Izzuddin I

محمد عز الدين بن حسن

1527 –1539

(933–946)

12 years, 3 months, 6 days Zabid Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin I
24 Yusuf Najmuddin I bin Sulaiman

يوسف نجم الدين بن سليمان

1539 –1567

(946 – 974)

28 years, 9 months, 19 days Taibah Siddhpur, India Syedna Jalal Shamsuddin bin Hasan Syedi Miyasaheb Musaji Mughal Emperor Humayun grants free trade to Bohras.

Building of stepwell and separate bazaar in Siddhpur

12. Syedna Jalal Shamsuddin bin Hasan

Dua't Hindustaniyah (1539 - Present)

Dua't Mutlaqeen Seated in India
No. Name Dai Period CE (AH) Tenure Resting Place Place of Dai Office Mazoon al-Da'wat Mukaasir al-Da'wat Notable Events & Figures
25 Jalal Shamshuddin bin Hasan

جلال شمش الدين بن حسن

1567 –1568

(974 – 975)

4 months Ahmedabad Ahmedabad Dawood Burhanuddin bin Ajabshah
26 Dawood Burhanuddin bin Ajabshah 1568 – 1589

(975 – 997)

22 years, 11 days Dawood Burhanuddin bin QutubShah bin Khwaja bin Ali Syedi QaziKhan Shujauddin bin AminShah Syedi Musan-ji bin Taj martyred in boiling oil.

Syedi Khoj bin Malak.

27[6] Dawood Burhanuddin bin QutubShah bin Khwaja bin Ali 1589 –1612

(999 –1021)

24 years, 1 month, 17 days Syedi QaziKhan Shujauddin bin AminShah

(d. 999/1591)


ShaikhAdam Safiyuddin
Syedi Ameen-ji bin Jalal
Maulaya Ali Mohammad bin Firoz
ShaikhAdam Safiyuddin
Branching off of the Sulaimani Bohras
28 Sheikh Adam Safiuddin bin TaiyibShah 1612 –1621

(1021 –1030)

9 years, 21 days Abduttayyeb Zakiuddin Syedi Ali Mohammad bin Firoz
29[7] Abduttayyeb Zakiuddin I 1622 –1633 1030 –1041 Ali Shamsuddin Qasim Khan Zainuddin
30 Ali Shamsuddin IV bin Moulai Hasan 1633 –1634 1041 –1042 Hisne Afidah, Sana'a Governorate, Yemen Qasim Khan Zainuddin
31 Qasim Khan Zainuddin bin Feerkhan 1634 –1646 1042–1054 Ahmedabad Qutub Khan Qutbuddin
32 Qutub Khan Qutbuddin Shaheed 1646 –1648 1054–1056 Feer Khan Shujauddin
33 Feer Khan Shujauddin bin Syedi Ahmedji 1648 –1657 1056–1065 Ismail Badruddin
34 Ismail Badruddin I bin Syedi Moulai Raj Saheb 1657 –1676 1065–1085 Jamnagar Syedi Najamkhan
Syedi Abdutaiyyeb Zakiyuddin
Al Maula Abdul Waheed
Al Maula Shams Khan
35 Abduttayyeb Zakiuddin II bin Syedna Ismail Badruddin I 1676 –1692 1085 –1110 Musa Kalimuddin Sheikh Adam Safiyuddin
36 Musa Kalimuddin bin Abduttayyeb Zakiuddin II 1692 –1711 1110 –1122 Sheikh Adam Safiyuddin
Noor Mohammad Nooruddin
Syedi Khanji Pheer
37 Noor Mohammad Nooruddin bin Musa Kalimuddin 1711 –1719 1122 –1130 Mandvi Syedi Qasimkhan bin Syedi Hamzabhai
Ismail Badruddin bin Sheikh Adam
Syedi Hakimuddin bin Bawa Mulla Khan
Syedi Esamkhan

Sheikh Dawoodbhai

38 Ismail Badruddin II bin Syedi Sheikh Aadam 1719 –1738 1130–1150 Syedi Kassim Khan bin Syedi Hamzabhai
Syedi Abdul Qadir Hakimuddin bin Bawa Mulla Khan
Syedi Shams bin Sheikh Hasan Khan
39 Ibrahim Wajiuddin bin Syedi Abdul Qadir 1738 –1756 1150 –1168 Ujjain Syedi Sheikh Adam bin Nooruddin
Syedna Hebatullah al-Moayyed fid-Deen
Syedi Ali bin Phirji
40 Hebatullah-il-Moayed Fiddeen bin Syedna Ibrahim Wajiuddin 1756 –1780 1168 –1193 Syedi Lukmanji bin Sheikh Dawood
Syedi Khan Bahadur
Sheikh Fazal Abdultaiyyeb
Syedi Hamza
Syedi Abde Musa Kalimuddin
41 Abduttayyeb Zakiuddin III bin Syedna Badruddin 1780 –1787 1193 –1200 Burhanpur Syedi Sheikh Adam Safiyuddin
Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin
Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin
42 Yusuf Najmuddin II bin Syedna Abduttayyeb Zakiuddin III 1787 –1799 1200 –1213 Surat Syedi Sheikh Adam Safiyuddin
Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin
Syedi Qamruddin
Sheikh Adam
43 Abde Ali Saifuddin bin Syedna Abduttayyeb Zakiuddin III 1799 –1817 1213 –1232 Syedi Sheikh Adam Safiyuddin
Syedna Mohammad Ezzuddin
Syedi Qamruddin
Syedi Sheikh Adam
44 Mohammed Ezzuddin bin Syedi Jivanjee 1817 –1821 1232 –1236 Syedi Sheikh Adam Bhaisaheb Safiyuddin Syedna Taiyyeb Zainuddin
45 Tayyeb Zainuddin bin Syedi Jivanjee 1821 –1836 1236 –1252 Syedi Sheikh Adam Safiyuddin
Syedi Hebatullah Bhaisaheb Jamaluddin
Syedna Mohammed Badruddin
46 Mohammed Badruddin bin Syedna Abde Ali Saifuddin 1836 –1840 1252 –1256 Syedi Hebtullah Bhaisaheb Jamaluddin Syedna Abdulqadir Najmuddin
47 Abdul Qadir Najmuddin bin Syedna Tayyeb Zainuddin 1840 –1885 1256 –1302 Ujjain Syedi Hebtullah Bhaisaheb Jamaluddin
Syedna Abdulhusain Husamuddin
Syedi Abdeali Imaduddin
Syedi Ismail Bhaisaheb Badruddin
48 Abdul Husain Husamuddin bin Syedna Tayyeb Zainuddin 1885 –1891 1302 –1308 Ahmedabad Syedi Ismail Bhaisaheb Badruddin Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin
49 Mohammed Burhanuddin I bin Syedna Abdul Qadir Najmuddin 1891 –1906 1308 –1323 Surat Syedi Ismail Bhaisaheb Badruddin Syedi Hasan Bhaisaheb Zakiuddin
Syedi Husain Bhaisaheb Ezzuddin
50 Abdullah Badruddin bin Syedna Abdul Husain Husamuddin 1906 –1915 1323 –1333 Syedi Ismail Bhaisaheb Badruddin
Syedi Dawood Bhaisaheb Shehabuddin
Syedi Ibrahim Bhaisaheb Vajihuddin
Syedi Taiyyeb Bhaisaheb Zainuddin
51 Taher Saifuddin bin Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin I 1915 –1965 1333 –1385 Mumbai Syedi Dawood Bhaisaheb Shahabuddin
Syedi Fazal Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin
Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin
Syedi Eshaq Bhaisaheb Jamaluddin
Syedi Saleh Bhaisaheb Safiyuddin
52 Mohammed Burhanuddin II bin Syedna Taher Saifuddin 1965 –2014 1385 –1435 Khuzaima Qutbuddin Syedi Saleh Bhaisaheb Safiyuddin
Syedi Hussain Bhaisaheb Husamuddin
53 Abu Jafar us Sadiq Aali Qadar Mufaddal Saifuddin[8] 2014 – Present 1435 – Present Syedi Hussain Bhaisaheb Husamuddin
Syedi Qasim Bhaisaheb Hakimuddin
Syedi Aliasghar Bhaisaheb Kalimuddin
Syedi Qaidjoher Bhaisaheb Ezzuddin
Syedi Qasim Bhaisaheb Hakimuddin
Syedi Aliasghar Bhaisaheb Kalimuddin
Syedi Qaidjoher Bhaisaheb Ezzuddin
Syedi Malik ul Ashtar Bhaisaheb Shujauddin

Prominent Dai's resting places From Yemen to Mumbai

References

  1. ^ Ismaili their history and doctrine; Farhad Daftary - 1992 -
  2. ^ Mamujee Hassanally, Yusuf (2017). Gems of History: A Brief History of Doat Mutlaqeen. Colombo: Alvazaratus Saifiyah.
  3. ^ Enthoven, R. E. (1922). The Tribes and Castes of Bombay. Vol. 1. Asian Educational Services. p. 199. ISBN 81-206-0630-2.
  4. ^ The Bohras, By: Asgharali Engineer, Vikas Pub. House, p.109,101
  5. ^ [1]; www.geni.com/people/Maulai-Abdullah.
  6. ^ Separation of Sulaymani Bohras, who followed Sulayman bin Hassan as the successor and not Dawood bin Qutubshah.
  7. ^ Separation of Alavi Bohras, who followed Ali bin Ibrahim, (grandson of Syedna Sheikh Adam Safiuddin) as the successor and not Abduttayyeb Zakiuddin I.
  8. ^ "Bombay high court rejects Dawoodi Bohra succession suit, upholds Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin's claim". 23 April 2024.

Further reading

  • Lathan, Young, Religion, Learning and Science
  • Bacharach, Joseph W. Meri, Medieval Islamic Civilisation
  • Bin Hasan, Idris, Uyun al-akhbar (Bin Hasan was the 19th Da'i of the Dawoodi Bohra. This volume is a history of the Ismaili community from its origins up to the 12th century CE, the period of the Fatimid caliphs al-Mustansir (d. 487/1094), the time of Musta‘lian rulers including al-Musta‘li (d. 495/1101) and al-Amir (d. 524/1130), and then the Tayyibi Ismaili community in Yemen.)