Progressive Dawoodi Bohra
Encyclopedia
Progressive Dawoodi Bohra is a movement within the Dawoodi Bohra
subsect of Mustaali
Ismai'li Shi'a Islam. Their split with the mainstream Dawoodi Bohra is based not on religious beliefs, but on economic and social issues. Progressives or Reformists, as they call themselves, assert that they do not differ from mainstream Bohras, they rather claim to challenge the absolute authority and hegemony of the Dai
, or spiritual leader of the movement.
The Progressive Dawoodi Bohras, led by sghar Ali Engineer] ], allege that the 51st Da'i Sayedna Taher Saifuddin
claimed infallibility and issued new doctrines pronouncing that all properties owned by the Bohras (including mosques) belonged to the Syedna, and that they are mere munims (account keepers) on his behalf. Further, the Da'i Syedna professed to be instituted a doctrine of Raza, which required that his followers could do nothing (secular or religious, including namaz) without first attaining his permission. The policy of requiring a Raza began in 1902, when the 50th Da'i Syedna demanded that it be sought before construction of a secular school in Burhanpur could begin. Several Bohras challenged the authority of Taher Saifuddin through litigation in Mumbai courts and the Sayedna's claims were rejected by the judge.
The Progressive Dawoodi Bohra community also claims that the 52nd Da'i Sayedna Mohammad Burhanuddin asserted the same rights as Taher Saifuddin, but, the District Court of Udaipur upheld his claims. The ruling was appealed before the Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur, with Progressive Bohras claimed that the Waqf Act of 1954 provided exclusive control of property such as mosques to the Waqf Board, and that the Sayedna have no rights over them.
Dawoodi Bohra
Dawoodi Bohra is a subsect of Ismāʿīlī Shīʿa Islām. While the Dawoodi Bohra is based in India, their belief system originates in Yemen, where it evolved from the Fatimid Caliphate and where they were persecuted due to their differences from mainstream Sunni Islam...
subsect of Mustaali
Mustaali
The Musta‘lī Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept Al-Musta'li as the nineteenth Fatimid caliph and legitimate successor to his father, al-Mustansir...
Ismai'li Shi'a Islam. Their split with the mainstream Dawoodi Bohra is based not on religious beliefs, but on economic and social issues. Progressives or Reformists, as they call themselves, assert that they do not differ from mainstream Bohras, they rather claim to challenge the absolute authority and hegemony of the Dai
Dai
Dai can mean:* Dai people, one of the 56 recognized ethnic minorities of China* Dai , ethnic tribe of Chin, Myanmar* Dai County, in Shanxi, China* Dai , a state during the Spring and Autumn Period...
, or spiritual leader of the movement.
The Progressive Dawoodi Bohras, led by sghar Ali Engineer] ], allege that the 51st Da'i Sayedna Taher Saifuddin
Taher Saifuddin
Syedna Taher Saifuddin was the 51st Dā‘ī l-Muṭlaq and led the Dawoodi Bohras community from 1915 to 1965...
claimed infallibility and issued new doctrines pronouncing that all properties owned by the Bohras (including mosques) belonged to the Syedna, and that they are mere munims (account keepers) on his behalf. Further, the Da'i Syedna professed to be instituted a doctrine of Raza, which required that his followers could do nothing (secular or religious, including namaz) without first attaining his permission. The policy of requiring a Raza began in 1902, when the 50th Da'i Syedna demanded that it be sought before construction of a secular school in Burhanpur could begin. Several Bohras challenged the authority of Taher Saifuddin through litigation in Mumbai courts and the Sayedna's claims were rejected by the judge.
The Progressive Dawoodi Bohra community also claims that the 52nd Da'i Sayedna Mohammad Burhanuddin asserted the same rights as Taher Saifuddin, but, the District Court of Udaipur upheld his claims. The ruling was appealed before the Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur, with Progressive Bohras claimed that the Waqf Act of 1954 provided exclusive control of property such as mosques to the Waqf Board, and that the Sayedna have no rights over them.