Progressive Dawoodi Bohra also known as ''Bohra Youth'' is a reform movement within 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 ...

subsect of

Mustaali The Musta‘lī ( ar, مستعلي) are a branch of Isma'ilism named for their acceptance of al-Musta'li as the legitimate nineteenth Fatimid caliph and legitimate successor to his father, al-Mustansir Billah. In contrast, the Nizari—the other l ...

Ismai'li

Shi'a Islam Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that the Islamic prophet Muhammad designated ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as his successor (''khalīfa'') and the Imam (spiritual and political leader) after him, most n ...

. They disagree with mainstream Dawoodi Bohra, as led by the incumbent

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 ...

, on doctrinal, economic, and social issues and broke off . The Progressive Dawoodi Bohra were led by

Asghar Ali Engineer Asghar Ali Engineer (10 March 1939 – 14 May 2013) was an Indian reformist writer and social activist. Internationally known for his work on liberation theology in Islam, he led the Progressive Dawoodi Bohra movement. The focus of his work was ...

, until his death in 2013. Engineer had alleged that the 51st Da'i al-Mutlaq,

Taher Saifuddin Taher Saifuddin (4 August 1888 – 12 November 1965), 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 establishe ...

, claimed infallibility and issued new doctrines pronouncing that all properties owned by the Bohras (including

mosque A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...

s) belonged to the Syedna, and that they are mere (account keepers) on his behalf. Further, Saifuddin professed to have instituted a doctrine of Raza, which required that his followers do nothing (secular or religious, including

namaz (, plural , romanized: or Old Arabic ͡sˤaˈloːh, ( or Old Arabic ͡sˤaˈloːtʰin construct state) ), also known as ( fa, نماز) and also spelled , are prayers performed by Muslims. Facing the , the direction of the Kaaba ...

) without first attaining his permission. The policy of requiring a Raza began in 1902, when the 50th Da'i al-Mutlaq,

Abdullah Badruddin Syedna Abdullah Badruddin bin Syedna AbdulHusain Husamuddin ( ar, عبدُالله بَدرُالدين); born 11 July 1846) was an Indian-born religious leader, and the 50th Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohra sect. He was the son of Syedna Abdu ...

, demanded that it be sought before construction of a secular school in

Burhanpur Burhanpur'' is a historical city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative seat of Burhanpur District. It is situated on the north bank of the Tapti River and northeast of city of Mumbai, southwest of the state's capi ...

could begin. Several Bohras challenged Badruddin's and then his successor Saifuddin's authority through litigation in Mumbai courts and the Syedna's claims were accepted by the judge.

Beliefs and practices

The Progressives are subject to ''baraat'', a form of excommunication that disallows other community members from speaking to them and bans them from mosques, and liken this situation to that of untouchables. The Progressive Dawoodi Bohra community also claims that the 52nd Da'i Syedna

Mohammad Burhanuddin Mohammed Burhanuddin (6 March 1915 – 17 January 2014) 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 f ...

asserted the same rights as Saifuddin. The ruling was appealed before the Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur. Progressive Bohras claimed that the

Waqf A waqf ( ar, وَقْف; ), also known as hubous () or '' mortmain'' property is an inalienable charitable endowment under Islamic law. It typically involves donating a building, plot of land or other assets for Muslim religious or charitabl ...

Act of 1954 provided exclusive control of property such as mosques to the Waqf Board, and that the Syedna had no rights over them.

History of the Imāmī-Progressive Dawoodi Bohra

{, class="" style="float:; margin: 2ex 0 0.6em 0.5em; width: 8em; line-height:111%;" !The schematic history of the development of the Imāmī- Mustā‘līan Progressive Dawoodi Bohra from other

Shī‘ah Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that the Prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali, ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as his S ...

Muslim sects A sect is a subgroup of a religion, religious, politics, political, or philosophy, philosophical belief system, usually an offshoot of a larger group. Although the term was originally a classification for religious separated groups, it can now ...

, - ,

References

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External links

Progressive Dawoodi Bohras
Dawoodi Bohras Tayyibi Isma'ili branches

Beliefs and practices

History of the Imāmī-Progressive Dawoodi Bohra

See also

References

External links