Syedna Ismail Badruddin (I) Bin Maulaya Raj (died on 23rd
Jumada al-Akhirah 1085 AH/1676 AD, Jamnagar, India) was the 34th
Da'i al-Mutlaq
The term Da'i al-Mutlaq ( ar, الداعي المطلق, al-Dā'ī al-Mutlaq; pl. , ) 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 heade ...
of the
Dawoodi Bohra
The Dawoodi Bohras are a religious denomination within the Ismā'īlī branch of Shia Islam. Their largest numbers reside in India, Pakistan, Yemen, East Africa, and the Middle East, with a growing presence across Europe, North America, South ...
s. He succeeded the 33rd Da'i
Syedna Feer Khan Shujauddin
Syedna Feer-Khan Shujauddin (died 9 Zil Qa'dah 1065 AH/1657 AD, Ahmedabad, India) was the 33rd ''Da'i al-Mutlaq'' (Absolute Missionary) of the Dawoodi Bohra sect of Musta‘lī Islam. He succeeded the 32nd Da'i Syedna Qutubuddin Shaheed to ...
to the religious post. Syedna Ismail became Da'i al-Mutlaq in 1085AH/1657AD. His period of Dawat was 1065–1085 AH/1657–1676 AD.
Mausoleum Ismail Badruddin He is the first Da'i descendant of Moulaya Bharmal.
Early life
Syedna Ismail Badruddin was born in Jamnagar
Jamnagar () is a city located on the western coast of India in the state of Gujarat of Saurashtra (region), Saurashtra region. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jamnagar district and the fifth largest city in Gujarat. The city lies ...
, in the Kathiawar Peninsula of the modern Indian state of Gujarat
Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...
, in 990 H/1582 AD. He was the first Dai al-Mutlaq from the line of the royal Rajput
Rajput (from Sanskrit ''raja-putra'' 'son of a king') is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating from the Indian subcontinent. The term Ra ...
vizier Raja Bharmal, who (along with his brother, Raja Tarmal) had become Muslim at the hands of Maulaya Ahmad and Maulaya Abdullah, ''Du'aat'' sent to India from Cairo by the 18th Imam Al-Mustansir Billah
Abū Tamīm Maʿad al-Mustanṣir biʾllāh ( ar, أبو تميم معد المستنصر بالله; 2 July 1029 – 29 December 1094) was the eighth Fatimid Caliph from 1036 until 1094. He was one of the longest reigning Muslim rulers. ...
. They had taken knowledge and trained for this khidmat by Syedna Al-Mu'ayyad fi'l-Din al-Shirazi, the Bab-ul-Abwab of Mustansir Imam.
His full genealogy is as follows: Syedna Ismail Badruddin, son of Maulaya Raj, son of Maulaya Adam, son of Maulaya Dawood, son of Maulaya Raja, son of Maulaya Ali, son of Maulaya Isḥāq, son of Maulaya Ya’qub, son of Raja Bharmal. His grandfather, Maulaya Adam, had made Jamnagar
Jamnagar () is a city located on the western coast of India in the state of Gujarat of Saurashtra (region), Saurashtra region. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jamnagar district and the fifth largest city in Gujarat. The city lies ...
his home, and his father, Maulaya Raj, had established a large trading business there. Previously, Maulaya Raja had settled in Morbi
Morbi or Morvi is a city in the Morbi district in the state of Gujarat, India. It is situated on the Kathiawar peninsula. , the city's population was determined to be 194,947. The city is on the Machhu River, from the sea and from Rajkot.
H ...
, and earlier, his forefathers had lived in Patan.
Education
Syedna Ismail Badruddin’s father, Maulaya Raj, brought him to Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad ( ; Gujarati: Amdavad ) is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Ahmedabad's population of 5,570,585 (per t ...
, to the presence of the 27th Da'i Syedna Dawood Bin Qutubshah, when he was twelve years old. Syedna Dawood asked Maulaya Raj about the child, and Maulaya Raj replied that he was his fifth son. He said to Maulaya Raj, “You have conscientiously offered me a fifth of your wealth, but you have yet to offer me the fifth share of your sons.” Maulaya Raj was delighted at this request, and happily gave charge of the young Syedna Ismail to Syedna Dawood ('' Khumus''). Syedna Dawood personally undertook Syedna Ismail’s education. For many years thereafter, Syedna Ismail lived for eight months in Ahmedabad and returned to Jamnagar for the remaining four.
Marriage
Maulaya Raj performed Syedna Ismail’s marriage to a pious lady named Boodi Bai. She gave birth to Syedna Ismail Badruddin’s son and successor, Syedna Abduttayyeb Zakiyuddin II.
Before Dai's position
With wholehearted devotion, Syedna Ismail Badruddin served seven Da'is (27th to 33rd); Syedna Dawood bin QutubShah, Syedna Shaikh-Adam Safiyuddin, Syedna Abduttayyeb Zakiyuddin I, Syedna Ali Shamsuddin, Syedna Qasim-Khan Zainuddin, Syedna Qutub-Khan Qutbuddin, and Syedna Feer-Khan Shujauddin. One of his achievements was the repayment of a major loan in the time of Syedna Qasim-Khan Zainuddin. At the time of a drought in Gujarat, Syedna Badruddin also sent cart loads of rice to the Dai in Ahmedabad for mumineen. Over these years, due to the excellence and sincerity of Syedna Ismail Badruddin and the jealousy and scheming of certain people, Syedna Badruddin endured a number of serious trials. As a result of the scheming, on two occasions, an envoy was sent by the Dai of the time to inquire about the serious and false allegations made against Syedna Ismail Badruddin. Even in the face of such animosity, Syedna Badruddin remained steadfast.
After Dai's position
Among the most significant achievements of Syedna Ismail Badruddin’s reign was a renaissance in Da'wat knowledge. When Syedna Badruddin became Dai, he established a well-ordered institution of learning in Jamnagar. Students came from far and wide. Syedna Badruddin himself taught these students many Dawat books. Around thirty students came to study full time with Syedna Ismail Badruddin.
Syedna Ismail Badruddin was seventy-five when he became Dai. Despite his advanced age, he led for 20 years with physical vigor and spiritual dynamism.
Death
He died on 23 Jumada al-Akhirah 1085 H/1674 AD at the age of ninety five. Th
Mazar-e-Badri
in Jamnagar is the holy mausoleum where Syedna Ismail Badruddin is buried.
References
Further reading
*''The Ismaili, their history and doctrine'' by Farhad Daftary (Chapter -Mustalian Ismailism- p. 300-310)
*The ''Uyun al-akhbar'' is the most complete text written by an Ismaili/Tayyibi/Dawoodi 19th Dai Sayyedna Idris bin Hasan on the history of the Ismaili community from its origins up to the 12th century CE period of the Fatimid caliphs al-Mustansir (d. 487/1094), the time of Musta‘lian rulers including al-Musta‘li (d. 495/1101) and al-Amir (d. 524/1130), and then the Tayyibi Ismaili community in Yemen.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ismail Badruddin 01
Dawoodi Bohra da'is
1676 deaths
Year of birth unknown
17th-century Ismailis