Bohra community’s spiritual leader turns 100
I came to back to my apartment from work on Tuesday to find that the Bohra community’s houses had been draped in twinkling fairy lights. I didn’t make the connection at first but then my seven-year old niece explained, The lights are for Syedna’s (TUS) birthday because he is special.”
The Dawoodi Bohra community will celebrate their 52nd spiritual leader or Dai’s 100th birthday today (Friday).
“The tapestry of an ideal life unfolds when one sees in a Dawoodi Bohra home, a framed portrait of his holiness Dr Syedna Muhammad Burhanuddin (TUS),” said Sheikh Mustafa Tawawalla.
Celebrations and preparations started 40 days ago and will culminate today.
For the women, the celebrations are a lot about making new riddas (the traditional Bohra dress) — one for each event.
“Whole new wardrobes are being made. Some of my friends have had almost a dozen new riddas stitched ... I have just made two,” said Rashida, a young housewife.
Syedna Burhanuddin (TUS) will deliver a speech and impart moral and spiritual teachings on his birthday. He will convey a message of love and advice to the community to abide by Islamic social values, to be loyal and faithful citizens and to pray for international peace and harmony.
“Our joy on this occasion knows no bounds. For this and the love his holiness has given us and for the years he has devoted to the welfare of humanity, I sincerely offer gratitude and prayers for his long healthy and blissful life,” said the head of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Clifton, Janab Mustansir Mohyuddin Bhai Saheb.
He added that the Bohra community today stands as one of the most dynamic, educated and progressive communities in Karachi.
Syedna (TUS) is not only a spiritual leader but is also the engine of their entrepreneurial growth and development, for which the community is famous. “The man who has lived a hundred years … I consider it a miracle of his piety,” Tahir Zain said, adding that he was inspired towards entrepreneurship because of the Syedna’s (TUS) injunctions.
One of the events held to celebrate the upcoming birthday was a mass wedding ceremony at Benazir Bhutto Park in Clifton. An elderly housewife who attended the function said her eyes filled with tears when she heard the shouts of Pakistan Zindabad followed by ‘Muhammad Burhanuddin Zindabad’ and the chants of ‘Mubarik Mubarik Saalgira Mubarak’.
Today, all Bohra mosques will be jam packed with community members and their hearts will beat as one with prayers for the Syedna.
Bohra mosques twinkled and glittered brighter than any wedding hall on Thursday night and hundreds of people went to listen to the Syedna’s (TUS) sermon, which was being broadcast on TV screens in the mosques. After the main sermon on Friday, the community members will have lunch together.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2011.
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