Ghurrat ul Masajid, also known as Saifee Masjid, is a Dawoodi Bohra mosque in South Mumbai, Bhendi Bazaar. It was constructed in the early 20th century by Taher Saifuddin. [1]
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Ghurrat ul Masajid, also known as Saifee Masjid, is a Dawoodi Bohra mosque in South Mumbai, Bhendi Bazaar. It was constructed in the early 20th century by Taher Saifuddin. [1]
The 51st leader of the Dawoodi Bohras, Syedna Taher Saifuddin built Saifee Masjid, the largest community mosque of the time in 1926. The mosque measured 34.5 metres in length, 26.7 metres in width, and 15.1 metres in height. It accommodated approximately 5,000 worshippers. Syedna Taher Saifuddin laid the foundation stone of this Masjid on May 6, 1923 (21 Ramadan, 1341 Hijri) and inaugurated the completed masjid in a period of three years on March 9, 1926 (25 Shaban 1344H). [2] [3]
The 51st leader, Taher Saifuddin held 16 Ashara Mubaraka sermons in this masjid and his son 52nd leader, Mohammed Burhanuddin conducted 13 Ashara Mubaraka sermons
In 2011, Burhanuddin delivered his 100th Birthday discourses in this masjid
In 2018, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin laid the foundation stone for reconstructing Saifee Masjid as part of Bhendi Bazaar redevelopment project undertaken by Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust. He inaugurated the reconstructed Saifee Masjid on September 25, 2023. [4]
Saifee Masjid consists of a mixture of various architectural styles; indigenous Indian, Islamic, and classical architecture. The two minarets at each corner of the mosque are adorned with ornamentation. [5] This design has been taken from, Taj Masjid in Morbi, Gujarat, built by the 43rd Dai Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin.
Burmese teakwood from the original mosque, has been reinstalled in the doors, windows, columns and beams. The walls are adorned with Quranic verses, ornate floral motifs and decorative patterns. Chandeliers are designed and hand-crafted in the former Republic of Czechoslovakia. Marble, have been quarried from Makrana in Rajasthan, and intricate mosaics have been used to embellish various parts of the masjid.
The main entrance is inspired by the design of Bab ul-Futuh.
The mosque has a rainwater harvesting system along with a sewage treatment plant. The lights in the utility building are powered entirely by solar panels. Date palm trees provide natural shade in the courtyard
The Dawoodi Bohras are a religious denomination within the Ismā'īlī branch of Shia Islam. They number approximately one million worldwide and have settled in over 40 countries around the world. The majority of the Dawoodi Bohra community resides in India, with sizable congregations in Pakistan, Yemen, East Africa, and the Middle East. They also have a growing presence in Europe, North America, and Australia. The present leader is the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq, Mufaddal Saifuddin who assumed office in January 2014.
Mohammed Burhanuddin was the 52nd Dā'ī al-Mutlaq of Dawoodi Bohras. He led the community for 49 years in a period of social, economic, and educational prosperity; strengthened and re-institutionalized the fundamental core of the community's faith; revived its culture, tradition, and heritage. In successfully achieving coexistence of traditional Islamic values and modern Western practices within the community, Burhanuddin completed the work his predecessor Taher Saifuddin had started. Burhanuddin was presented the highest national civilian honors of the states of Egypt and Jordan recognising his revivalism and restoration efforts. He was known in Arab countries as Azamat us-Sultan. Owing to extensive travels for community reach-out, he was the first Dā'ī al-Mutlaq to visit Europe, Australia, and America.
Taher Saifuddin, also known as Tahir Sayf al-Din, was the 51st and longest serving Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras. Saifuddin adapted the modernisation in Western and European ideas, and established its benefits for the Bohras, whilst still steeped in the traditions and the culture of the community's Fatimid heritage. Saifuddin laid substantial groundwork in terms of philanthropy, education, entrepreneurship, social outreach, political outreach, and community upliftment upon which his successors, Mohammed Burhanuddin and Mufaddal Saifuddin, continued to build, resulting in an unprecedented era of prosperity among the Dawoodi Bohras.
The term Da'i al-Mutlaq literally meaning 'the absolute, or unrestricted, missionary', is the most senior spiritual rank and office in Tayyibi Isma'ilism. The Da'i al-Mutlaq has headed the Tayyibi community since the seclusion of the 21st Tayyibi Imam, at-Tayyib Abu'l-Qasim, traditionally placed in 528 AH/1134 AD.
Progressive Dawoodi Bohra also known as Bohra Youth is a reform movement within the Dawoodi Bohra subsect of Mustaali Ismai'li Shi'a Islam. They disagree with mainstream Dawoodi Bohra, as led by the incumbent Da'i al-Mutlaq, on doctrinal, economic, and social issues and broke off c. 1977.
Bhendi Bazaar is a market (bazaar) in South Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Bhendi Bazaar occupies an area between Mohammed Ali Road and Khetwadi. The closest Central and Harbour lines station for the Mumbai Suburban Railway is Sandhurst Road, and the closest Western railway stations are Charni Road and Grant Road. The bazaar is popular for shopping viz antique and hardware items. It is also home to the popular Bhendibazaar gharana of Hindustani classical music.
Raudat Tahera is the mausoleum of Syedna Taher Saifuddin and his son and successor Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, the 51st and 52nd Dāʿī al-Mutlaqs of the Dawoodi Bohra Ismaili Muslims. It is located in the Bhendi Bazaar, Mumbai.
Saifee Villa is a mansion at 102, Thurstan Road in Colombo 03, Sri Lanka, located between Thunmulla Junction and College House, Colombo.
Mufaddal Saifuddin is the spiritual leader, the 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq of one million Dawoodi Bohras, a subgroup of the Tayyibi, Mustaali, Ismaili Shia branch of Islam. He is the second son of the 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq, Mohammed Burhanuddin, whom he succeeded in 2014. He is the Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Miliya Islamia University 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, Al-Aqmar Mosque, Al-Juyushi Mosque, and Lulua Mosque. 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.
Mohammed Burhanuddin born 18 November 1840 in Surat, India – died 21 February 1906, was 49th Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohra sect. He was the son of the 47th Da'i al-Mutlaq Abdul Qadir Najmuddin, who belongs to the family lineage of Fakhruddin Shaheed. After the death of the 48th Da'i al-Mutlaq Abdul Husain Husamuddin the helm of the Dawoodi Bohra sect came into his hands. He led the community out of a period of indebtedness, disorganization and lack of development within the sect.
Abu Taher Khuzaima Qutbuddin was the son of the 51st Da'i al-Mutlaq, half brother of the 52nd Da'i and a Mazoon of the Dawoodi Bohras, a subgroup within the Mustaali, Ismaili Shia branch of Islam. Qutbuddin was appointed as Mazoon by the Da'i al-Mutlaq, Syedna Muhammad Burhanuddin in 1965.
The 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras, Mohammed Burhanuddin died in January 2014. As per the tenets of the sect each predecessor is required to nominate his successor prior to his death. Following his death, a question on succession arose where two rival claimants emerged for the title of 53rd Dā'ī al-Mutlaq: his son, Mufaddal Saifuddin, and his half-brother, Khuzaima Qutbuddin, who was previously Mazoon of the Dawoodi Bohra.
Taher Fakhruddin is the 54th Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Qutbi Bohras, a sect within Shia Islam. He is the son of Khuzaima Qutbuddin, the 53rd Syedna succession controversy. After the death of the 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq, syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, due to the succession controversy, one claimant emerged, Khuzaima Qutbuddin. Followers of Khuzaima Qutbuddin regard Taher Fakhruddin as a rightly appointed Da'i al-Mutlaq whereas followers of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin do not recognise him as the Da'i al-Mutlaq.
Mazoon al-Da'wat Shahzada Qaidjoher Ezzuddin is the eldest son of Mohammed Burhanuddin, the grandson of Taher Saifuddin, and elder brother of the incumbent 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq Mufaddal Saifuddin. He is one of the four rectors of Al Jamea tus Saifiyah.
Abdeali Saifuddin was the 43rd Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohra. He was the son of 41st Da'i al-Mutlaq Abduttayyeb Zakiuddin III and the brother of the 42nd Da'i al-Mutlaq Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin. He was a Dai, scholar and poet and one of the most venerated Dawoodi Bohra Dai's.
Taha Najmuddin is the second son of Mufaddal Saifuddin, the 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras and the grandson of Mohammed Burhanuddin. He is an Arabic scholar at Al Jamea tus Saifiyah and heads a number of socio-economic institutions of the Dawoodi Bohra community.
Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah is an Arabic academy dedicated to Islamic learning based in India, Pakistan, and Kenya. Established in Surat as Dars-e Saifeec. 1810 by Abde'Ali Saifuddin, it was after extensive renovation and expansion carried out by Taher Saifuddin and Mohammed Burhanuddin, the university gained prominence. Today, as holder of the office of Dāʿī al-Mutlaq, Mufaddal Saifuddin is the sole benefactor of the institute.
Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT) is a non-profit organization established in 2009 to undertake one of urban India's largest makeover projects of sheer magnitude and impacting around 20,000 people.
Shahzada Husain Burhanuddin, also known as Husain Mufaddal Saifuddin, is the third and youngest son of Mufaddal Saifuddin, the current incumbent of the office of the 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq. He is a Qāriʾ and an honorary member of Naqabāt Qurrāʾ al-Quran in Cairo. He is currently the Chairman of Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust.
Mukasir al-Da'wat Shahzada Malekulashter Shujauddin is the third son of Mohammed Burhanuddin II, the 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq of Dawoodi Bohras, a branch of Tayyabi Mustaali Ismaili Shi'a Islam.
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