BY. FIROZ.T.TOTANAWALA
THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER
THE LEGEND OF HIS HOLINESS
MESSIAH OF PEACE TURNS 100. LEGEND WORTH KNOWING.
His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin is a spiritual and temporal head of about million plus Dawoodi Bohras settled throughout the world. His Holiness functions as the vicegerent to the Imam who ruled over a large part of Islamic empire in the 10th to 12th Centuries and executes much of the Imam’s reverential position and authority as Dai al Mutlaq. While Imam is from the progeny of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) and the supreme head of the Shia Fatimi Ismaili Tayyibi Dawoodi Bohras, Dai al Mutlaq is the authority instituted by the Imams to lead the followers of Imam during their seclusion which is in occurrence since 12th Century. His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin is the 52nd incumbent to this august office of al-Dai al-Mutlaq.
As the occupant of this office for about 47 years, His holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin has revived his community by giving vibrant expression to the community’s devotion to the family of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) thus bringing it closer to its Fatimi roots through a varied educational and architectural endeavors. Besides, he has also restructured the community’s identity and promoted a movement to draw its business ethics closer to Islamic tenets. He has thus affected a significant spiritual and cultural upliftment of the community and its practice of the faith.
HIS HOLINESS DR. SYEDNA MOHAMMED BURHANUDDIN SAHEB-
His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin is an accomplished scholar, an illustrious philanthropist and an untiring traveler and veritable ambassador of goodwill.
His Holiness was born in Surat (India) on March 6th 1915. His revered father and predecessor Dr. Syedna Taher Saifuddin the 51st Dial-ul-Mutlaq predicted that his son would be a harbinger of honor and glory for the community and a messenger of peace and harmony for the entire world.
To fulfill the objective he was best trained in all the various fields. Consequently under the disciplined tutelage and personal supervision of his learned father, His Holiness mastered the entire Quran-Ul-Majeed at a tender age of 13. His excellent and exceptional intellectual ability made him a master of various religious scriptures at a young age and at the age of 19 he was designated successor to the office of Al-Dia-ul-Mutlaq by Syedna Taher Saifuddin. He ascended the seat of Al-Dai-ul-Mutlaq as its 52nd incumbent in the year 1965 on the sad demise of Dr.Syedna Taher Saifuddin. As predicted he reached the height of glory with incredible achievements falling at his feet. His era undoubtedly came to be known as the Golden era in the history of Dai-ul-Mutlaq.
Educational Contributions
We are living in turbulent times. Internationally there are wars and upheavals. But there is a war that each one of us must fight closer home, a war between good and evil. If this is difficult for us as adults, it is even more so for our children. Modernity is a two edged weapon. While it provides luxuries it also exposes us and our children to demoralized behavior. It is the task of educational institutions to provide cultural values along with worldly education to bring out a disciplined character and beneficial noble citizens. This will make life stable, purposeful and honorable.
Education being a backbone of prosperity is thus given a great emphasis by His Holiness. He has therefore established a number of educational institutions worldwide, the first being, ‘Burhani College of Commerce and Arts’ at Mumbai, in the year 1970. At present there are over 400 educational institutions all over the world which are functioning under the administration of His Holiness.
As the teachings in the institutions lay stress on mental and material well being, spiritual training, organizational ability and internal discipline, there is obviously ample of social activities and myriad of contributions to the society by the community.
Contributions to Environment
Environment being the most crucial topic of concern globally, His Holiness with his foresight and divine guidance has been successfully able to educate the community about the preciousness of environment and motivate them to preserve this treasure.
On the occasion of his 80th birthday in 1991 he established “Burhani Foundation (India)” to promote research and awareness in environment.
This institution has made excellent contributions in the field of environment and struggles throughout the year to promote awareness about the same. The environmental contributions reach the peak during the celebration time of birthday of His Holiness, when the entire community teams up and works for the betterment of environment. The latest environmental program during the current ongoing centenary celebration is the Save Our Sparrow project. Under this, the Burhani Foundation (India) distributed 52000 Bird Feeders free of cost worldwide to interested people in order to provide a year round source of food to the humble sparrow and other tiny birds that are facing extinction.
Social Contributions
Man is a social being and thus has certain social obligations to perform. His Holiness being a conscious soul ensures that he and his community members discharge their social duties to the fullest extent. His sincere and dedicated efforts to establish social prosperity are praise worthy. The personal financial contributions of His Holiness for social betterment are unaccountable. He has also established several public charitable trusts, the amount of which runs in crores for the service of mankind.
Financial assistance to Entrepreneurs
Finance is the fuel of an economy. No doubt there are numerous financial institutions throughout the world that lend money on interest, but you will be astonished to know that, His Holiness has established “Burhani Qarzan Hasanah Trust” based on the tenets of Quran, which lends absolutely interest free loans. Peter Drucker in his book “Managing in Turbulent Times” predicted that in this decade many organizations will collapse because of the burden of finance cost. His Holiness predicted the same in the year 1939 and saved mankind from the clutches of interest. The prime purpose of the trust is to provide seat capital for the development of business.
Recognitions
The personality of His Holiness has a magnetism of its own. Where ever he goes he draws huge crowds and dignitaries, who come to receive his blessings and seek his guidance and advice. In the context of his magnificent contribution, it is inevitable that he is recognized throughout the world. Wherever he has been he has been honored by recognition.
Following are a few:
• In the year 1966, His Holiness was conferred the Degree of Dr. of Islamic Studies by Al Azhar University of Cairo (Egypt).
• In the same year he was conferred the honorary degree of Dr. of Theology by the Aligarh Muslim University in recognition of his broad and liberal humanism.
• In 1976, on the occasion of historic World of Islam festival hosted in London, Syedna was invited and delivered a series of memorable lectures at the International Islamic Conference on Aspects of Islamic studies held at Albert Hall.
• In 1978, he was awarded the title of Visha-hun-neel, a rare distinction presented to foreign dignitaries by his Excellency President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.
• 1980, Syedna established the Burhani Qardan Hasanah Trust (interest free loan), to propogate and foster the lofty Quranic concept of Qardan hasanah.
• In 1982, in appreciation for the noble services to the cause of humanity his royal highness, the Lt. King Hussain of Jordon honored him with the highest civilian award of “Order of Star of Jordan(1st rank)”.
• In 1986, the mayor of Houston USA presented His Holiness a proclamation declaring 8th August 1986 as His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Day.
• In 1988, the governor of Punjab (Pakistan) presented him “The Key of Lahore”.
• In 1992, the mayor of Chittagong (Bangladesh) presented him “The Golden key of the City”.
• In the same year the governor of Noysbee (Madagasgar) presented “Emblem of the City to him.
• In 1996, a number of cities in the US and Canada including San Jose, Houston, Dallas, Irving, Richmond Hill proclaimed Syedna as the Honorary Citizen and presented him ‘Key of the City’
• In 1999, he accepted the Chancellorship of Aligarh Muslim University.
• Also in the year 2001, he was presented “Key of the City of Houston” by the mayor during his visit to the city then.
• In 2004, Syedna was conferred a Degree of ‘Doctor of Letters’ by the University of Karachi, Pakistan.
• In 2005, Syedna reconstructed the multi specialty ‘Saifee Hospital’ in Mumbai. Honourable Indian Prime Minister Mr. Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurated the same.
• In 2007, Mayor of Houston, USA presented a proclamation to Syedna declaring Monday, 7th May, 2007 as “His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin day” in Houston.
• Besides he also has numerous religious titles awarded by his predecessor father.
• In spite of his ripe age, His Holiness dedicates his entire working hours to the service of mankind. He leads the prayers, solemnizes marriages, gives his valuable advice, visits the homes of the faithful, personally oversees the affairs of over 400 community run educational institutions, supervises hospital and charitable institutions, looks after to the provisions of free boarding and lodging for thousands of pilgrims, provides scholarships for educations to deserving students, gives special aid to the aged and infirm and it is a wonder to know that no file remains with him for more than 24 hrs.
His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Saheb will complete 99 years of his life and enter on the grand 100th year as per Islamic Calendar which falls on Friday, 25th March 2011.
“THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER” salutes the Messiah and heartily wishes His Holiness on the 100th Birthday and also wishes for his long, healthy and prosperous life for the betterment of mankind.
SERVING THE NEEDY IS HUMANITY.
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