Progressive Dawoodi Bohras

Performance of religious marriages in East African countries was denied to a number of reformers. About a dozen persons were involved and inspite of repeated representations and requests, the priestly class did not budge an inch from their position.

Performance of "Akika" ceremony of newly born babies was also denied in many instances. Affidavit of one Kurbanhussain Kirufu with the supporting affidavits of Rasulbhai Mulla Sulemanji and Tayebali Hasanali Isaji have been before us which illustrate difficulties faced by the parents.

Burial rites were denied to the dead. One example is of Mulla Amarbhai Mahomadali who was held in high esteem by the late Dai, on whom honorary title of Mulla and M.K.D. were conferred and who was a leading figure of the community. He had held the position of the president of the jamaat for many years. At the time of his death, Mulla Amarali was one of the trustees of the community and because he had declined to surrender communal properties to the representatives of the Dai without the prior consent of the community, the burial rites were denied to him. This is only an illustration because this happened in a large number of cases. These are instances of persecution in Kamplala, Uganda.

Accommodation in the community guest houses was also denied practically in all parts of the world. We have before us photocopy of a letter dated 16-6-1967 from Anvarali T. Darbar who was the Hon. Secretary of the Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat corporation of Mombasa. This letter is addressed to Abdulali Hussain Hamdani of Kampala.

The letter says: "Your signature in the letter dated 16-5-1967 which was circulated to the members of the Dawoodi Bohra community in East Africa connotes that you have directly challenged the authority and derogated the august and exalted personality of his Holiness Dr. Suedna Mahommed Burhanuddin Saheb, 52nd Dai-ul-Mutlaq. Unless under your signature you send within one week from the date of this letter a written unconditional apology to Shahzada Dr. Yusufbhai Najmuddin Saheb with a copy to us, you will be deprived of all facilities including the right at Musafirkanas rendered by our jamaat corporation in Mombasa." (Sahzada Yusufbhai Najmuddin is a brother of the present Sayedna). A copy of the above letter was sent to Dr. Yusufbhai Najmuddin and to all Honorary Presidents and Secretaries of all jamaats in East Africa.

We have before us a letter of H.F.S. Musaji who says that the late Sayedna had conferred on him the title of N.K.D. which means "He is a warrior who defends Sayedna and his Dawat". The present Sayedna also conferred upon him the highest order a Bohra can attain, "Sheikh" for which he was grateful. He has been a loyal and leading member of the community and always defended the Sayedna, as his forefathers, both from his father's and mother's sides, were devoted to religion and the community and had rendered valuable services to the Sayedna, which, as he says, are too numerous to mention. He is the President of the Dawoodi Bohra Trust in Sri Lanka which possessed properties worth over Rs. 2 1/2 million.

During the Syedna's visit in 1971 his brother Yusuf Najiumddin asked Musaji whether he would transfer the trust properties, including mosques, to the Sayedna's name. He said that he personally would not object if other trustees agreed. When it was put to the other trustees they inquired whether they had a right to do so and it was therefore agreed that the matter should be referred to lawyers for their opinion. Two prominent Queen's counsels of Sri Lanka gave their opinion that the trustees had no right to transfer the public properties and mosques in the name of any individual. The opinion was forwarded to the Sayedna and his brother but no reply was received.

In 1972, Yusuf Najmuddin pretended that he was going to Japan and breaking journey at Colombo and stayed there. He called a meeting and publicly insulted Musaji for obtaining legal opinion stating that the transfer could have been effected quietly. He explained that counsels have stated that such a transfer would not be worth the paper on which it was written. Musaji complained to police about this and Yusuf Najmuddin was asked to leave Sri Lanka within 24 hours. Thereafter he condemned wrongful actions of Yusuf Najmuddin and quarrel started.

Later when Musaji visited Bombay, he wanted to pay his respects to the Sayedna but Yusuf Najmuddin persuaded the Sayedna to declare Baraat against him. Yusuf Najmuddin asked Musaji's nephew Faizul Adamali to leave Musaji's services and not to have anything to do with Musaji. The priestly class is still trying to separate Musaji's son and son's wife from him. Musaji is honorary life member of Youngmen's Muslim Association, Youngmen's Christian Association and Mahabodhi Society of U.K. He is a member of the British Overseas Legion and Agricultural Society, U.K., and has been in the past a member of the Colombo Port Commission and Indian Mercantile Chamber.

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