06 June,2011 07:09 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
Undergoing treatment in London after stroke, Syedna announces his son will be leader of community after him
The leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community worldwide, Syedna Dr Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS), yesterday announced his successor to community members in London. According to sources, the Syedna named one of his sons, Syedi Mufaddal Bhaisaheb Saifuddin, as his successor. The news spread like wildfire among community members yesterday and was also uploaded on a few websites related to the community.
Get well soon: Syedna Dr Mohammed Burhanuddin at a function to
celebrate his birthday in Mumbai a few months ago. The leader of the
Dawoodi Bohra community is said to be undergoing treatment in a
hospital in London. File pic
Later in the evening, an official spokesperson, Shaikh Abdeli Bhanpurawala, secretary of the Burhani Foundation of India (BFI), confirmed the news. According to sources, the Bohra community leader has been admitted to a hospital in London after suffering a stroke recently. Further updates on his health were unavailable. Recently, the community celebrated the 100th birthday of the religious leader as per the Islamic calendar.
Syedna Dr Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS), the 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq succeeded his father, the late Syedna Taher Saifuddin, in 1965 as the head of his community. He has been awarded with 'he Order of the Star of Jordan and Vishah Al-Neel of Egypt and also been conferred with honorary citizenship of the US and Canada.
Guiding light
Born in Surat in Gujarat on March 6, 1915, as per the Egyptian Muslim Calendar, His Holiness Syedna Dr Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS) is the 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq of the community. His public and private discourses convey the prayer for world peace. His illustrious father, the late Syedna Taher Saifuddin, personally supervised his early education, upbringing and tutelage. When he turned 53 in 1965, His Holiness succeeded his father to head the community. As a Hafiz-al-Quran (person who has memorised the Holy Quran in full), he became the driving force of the community in academics. Under his guidance and financial support to academic pursuits at all levels, the Dawoodi Bohra community achieved 100 per cent literacy through 400 educational institutions all over the world.
