Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin () is the spiritual leader, the 53rd
Da'i al-Mutlaq
(; pl. , ) is the most senior spiritual rank and office in Tayyibi Isma'ilism. The Da'i al-Mutlaq has headed the Tayyibi community since the occultation (Islam), seclusion of the 21st Tayyibi Imamate in Ismaili doctrine, Imam, at-Tayyib Abu'l-Q ...
of more than one million
Dawoodi Bohra
The Dawoodi Bohras are a religious denomination within the Ismā'īlī branch of Shia Islam. They number approximately one million worldwide and have settled in over 40 countries around the world. The majority of the Dawoodi Bohra community re ...
s, a subgroup of the
Tayyibi,
Musta'li,
Ismaili Shia
Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood ...
branch of
Islam
Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
.
He is the second son of the 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq,
Mohammed Burhanuddin, whom he succeeded in 2014. He is the Chancellor of
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University is a Collegiate university, collegiate, Central university (India), central, and Research university, research university located in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, which was originally established by Sir Syed Ahmad Kh ...
and
Jamia Millia Islamia
Jamia Millia Islamia is a Public university, public and research university located in Delhi, India. Originally established at Aligarh, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, United Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India) during the British R ...
situated in India.
A direct descendant of the Islamic
Prophet Mohammed, Saifuddin's lineage traces back through the Prophet's daughter,
Fatima al-Zahra, and her husband,
Ali ibn Abi Talib
Ali ibn Abi Talib (; ) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from until Assassination of Ali, his assassination in 661, as well as the first imamate in Shia doctrine, Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muha ...
, continuing through
Imam Hussein and the Ismaili Imams up to
Ja'far al-Sadiq
Ja'far al-Sadiq (; –765) was a Muslim hadith transmitter and the last agreed-upon Shia Imam between the Twelvers and Isma'ilis. Known by the title al-Sadiq ("The Truthful"), Ja'far was the eponymous founder of the Ja'fari school of Isla ...
In
Egypt
Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...
, he rebuilt shrines of the
Ahl al-Bayt
() refers to the family of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. In Sunni Islam, the term has also been extended to all descendants of the Banu Hashim (Muhammad's clan) and even to all Muslims. In Shia Islam, the term is limited to Muhammad, his daugh ...
and is personally responsible for the restoration of medieval Fatimid architecture, notably
Al-Anwar Mosque,
Al-Aqmar Mosque,
Al-Juyushi Mosque, and
Lulua Mosque. In
Yemen
Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Located in South Arabia, southern Arabia, it borders Saudi Arabia to Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, the north, Oman to Oman–Yemen border, the northeast, the south-eastern part ...
, he has spearheaded several campaigns to improve socio-economic conditions of the inhabitants of the
Haraaz region, introducing sustainable agricultural systems, improving local infrastructure, addressing substance abuse issues and providing equal access to education for children. Saifuddin personally leads community programs throughout the world, such as the
Saifee Burhani Upliftment Project in Mumbai’s
Bhendi Bazaar, a philanthropic initiative called Project Rise, and the Faiz al Mawaid Buhaniyah community kitchen, which work towards socio-economic development, environmental conservation, food security and reducing food waste.
Early life

Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin was born on 20 August 1946 (
23 Ramadan 1365 AH) in
Surat, India,
He is the second son of the 52nd al-Dai al-Mutlaq, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, and the grandson of the 51st al-Dai al-Mutlaq, Syedna Taher Saifuddin. He was named Aali Qadr Mufaddal by his grandfather, the name's
Abjad value corresponds to the year 1365 AH.
From an early age, Saifuddin received personal spiritual and scholarly tutelage from both his grandfather and father, familiarising him with the values, customs, and traditions associated with the office of the al-Dai al-Mutlaq. His early education, following Fatimi tradition, emphasised Quranic principles, forming the foundation of his later scholarly and community engagements. He also benefited from the mentorship of his father-in-law, Syedi Yusuf Najmuddin, the rector of
Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah, whose daughter Jawaratusharaf he married in 1970.
He completed his primary and secondary education in Mumbai and subsequently enrolled at
Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah in
Surat
Surat (Gujarati Language, Gujarati: ) is a city in the western Indian States and territories of India, state of Gujarat. The word Surat directly translates to ''face'' in Urdu, Gujarati language, Gujarati and Hindi. Located on the banks of t ...
, the community’s Arabic academy. He graduated in 1969 with the degree of al-Faqih
al-Jayyid (Distinguished Jurist), considered equivalent to a master's in Islamic jurisprudence. In 1971, he was awarded the degree of ''al-Aleem al-Baari'' (Outstanding Scholar), a title conferred upon the institution’s most accomplished graduates.
Between 1972 and 1978, Saifuddin pursued advanced Islamic studies in Cairo, engaging with scholars from
Al-Azhar University
The Al-Azhar University ( ; , , ) is a public university in Cairo, Egypt. Associated with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Islamic Cairo, it is Egypt's oldest degree-granting university and is known as one of the most prestigious universities for Islamic ...
,
Cairo University
Cairo University () is Egypt's premier public university. Its main campus is in Giza, immediately across the Nile from Cairo. It was founded on 21 December 1908;"Brief history and development of Cairo University." Cairo University Faculty of En ...
, and other prominent academic institutions. His time in Cairo strengthened his expertise in Arabic language, literature, and Fatimi intellectual traditions, while broadening his exposure to Islamic scholarship and interfaith dialogue. During this period, he became known as al-Amir Mufaddal and represented his father in various academic and interfaith circles.
In addition to his studies in Cairo, Saifuddin also holds academic credentials from the
University of Mumbai
University of Mumbai is a public state university in Mumbai. It is one of the largest university systems in the world with over 549,000 students on its campuses and affiliated colleges. , the university had 711 affiliated colleges.
It was est ...
and is fluent in
Lisan ud-Dawat,
Arabic
Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
,
English,
Gujarati,
Hindi
Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...
, and
Urdu
Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...
. His practical experience was shaped by accompanying his father throughout most of his travels, witnessing firsthand the management of the community's religious, social, and civic affairs.
On 27 January 1969, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin privately designated Saifuddin as his successor at the age of 22 through ''nass'' (a formal spiritual designation).
This designation was reaffirmed in 1994, 2005, and twice again publicly in 2011.
Following a legal challenge by Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin’s brother, Khuzaima Qutbuddin, the Bombay High Court upheld Saifuddin’s succession as the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq in April 2024, concluding a decade-long case.
Construction Projects

Egypt
Syedna Saifuddin is responsible for the restoration of medieval
Fatimid
The Fatimid Caliphate (; ), also known as the Fatimid Empire, was a caliphate extant from the tenth to the twelfth centuries CE under the rule of the Fatimid dynasty, Fatimids, an Isma'ili Shi'a dynasty. Spanning a large area of North Africa ...
mosques in
Egypt
Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...
. Projects include the restoration and revival of
Al-Hakim Mosque
The al-Hakim Mosque (), also known as al-Anwar (), is a historic mosque in Cairo, Egypt. It is named after al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, al-Ḥākim bi-Amr Allāh (985–1021), the 6th Fatimid Caliphate, Fatimid caliph and 16th Isma'ilism, Ismāʿīlī ...
(al-Jamea al-Anwar),
the restoration of the masjid of
Zoeb bin Moosa in 1406H, the restoration of
Aqmar Mosque in 1408H,
construction of the mosque of
Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Ismail in
Salamiyah
file:Hama qalat shmemis salamiyyah syria 1995.jpg, A full view of Shmemis (spring 1995)
Salamiyah (; also transliterated ''Salamiyya'', ''Salamieh'' or ''Salamya'') is a city in central Syria, administratively part of the Hama Governorate. It is ...
in 1414H,
restoration of the
Lulua Mosque and
Juyushi Mosque in 1416H, construction of the
zareeh of
Zaynab bint Ali
Zaynab bint Ali (, ), was the eldest daughter of Fatima and Ali, Ali ibn Abi Talib. The former was a daughter of the Prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the latter was his cousin. Ali is also recognized as the fourth ...
in Cairo in 1416H,
Palestinian Occupied Territories / State of Israel
Syedna Saifuddin is responsible for the restoration of the
Mashhad Ras al-Husayn in
Ashkelon
Ashkelon ( ; , ; ) or Ashqelon, is a coastal city in the Southern District (Israel), Southern District of Israel on the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean coast, south of Tel Aviv, and north of the border with the Gaza Strip.
The modern city i ...
in 1421H.
Yemen
Syedna Saifuddin is responsible for the restoration of the
Mazar and
Mosque
A mosque ( ), also called a masjid ( ), is a place of worship for Muslims. The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place where Salah, Islamic prayers are performed; such as an outdoor courtyard.
Originally, mosques were si ...
of
Hatim bin Ibrahim in 1425H, and the identification and ratification of the tombs of eight
Da'i al-Mutlaq
(; pl. , ) is the most senior spiritual rank and office in Tayyibi Isma'ilism. The Da'i al-Mutlaq has headed the Tayyibi community since the occultation (Islam), seclusion of the 21st Tayyibi Imamate in Ismaili doctrine, Imam, at-Tayyib Abu'l-Q ...
in Yemen.
Aljamea tus Saifiyah Campuses
Under his guidance two new campuses of
Aljamea tus Saifiyah have been completed. The
Nairobi
Nairobi is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Kenya. The city lies in the south-central part of Kenya, at an elevation of . The name is derived from the Maasai language, Maasai phrase , which translates to 'place of cool waters', a ...
,
Kenya
Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
campus was inaugurated by Syedna Saifuddin and the
President of Kenya
The president of the Republic of Kenya () is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Kenya. The president is also the head of the executive branch of the Government of Kenya and is the commander-in-chief of the Kenya De ...
,
Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta ( born 26 October 1961) is a Kenyan politician who served as the fourth president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022. The son of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, he previously served as Prime Minister of Kenya, Deputy Pri ...
on 20 April 2017. The
Prime Minister of India
The prime minister of India (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the head of government of the Republic of India. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen Union Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers, despite the president of ...
,
Narendra Modi
Narendra Damodardas Modi (born 17 September 1950) is an Indian politician who has served as the Prime Minister of India, prime minister of India since 2014. Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is the Member of Par ...
inaugurated the fourth campus in
Marol
Marol is a locality in the suburb of Andheri (East) in Mumbai, India.
History
The area has been inhabited for centuries, successively coming under both Portugal, Portuguese and United Kingdom, British rule.
Geography
Marol consists of the area ...
, Mumbai on 10 February 2023.
Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust
Syedna Saifuddin has led the
Bhendi Bazaar Redevelopment Project, including the public charitable trust named the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust was created on 23 January 2009 with an initial corpus provided by settlors Shahzada
Qaidjoher Ezzuddin
Da'i al-Mutlaq#Deputies, Mazoon al-Da'wat Shahzada (title), Shahzada Qaidjoher Ezzuddin () is the eldest son of Mohammed Burhanuddin, the grandson of Taher Saifuddin, and elder brother of the incumbent Dua't al-Mutlaqin, 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq Mufad ...
and Shahzada Abbas Fakhruddin. The first phase was completed and inaugurated by Syedna Saifuddin on 18 May, 2016. About 250 dilapidated buildings in
Bhendi Bazaar will be replaced with 17 new mega-towers with modern roads, infrastructure, efficiently opitimised residential spaces and densely networked commercial areas. The philanthropic enterprise "aims to rehabilitate 3200 families and 1250 businesses which are currently living in poor conditions." It is expected to be completed by 2030.
On 17 April 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a delegation of Dawoodi Bohra community members at his official residence in New Delhi, led by
Husain Burhanuddin. During the meeting, the delegation expressed appreciation for the enactment of the
Waqf Amendment Act. In his address, the Prime Minister commended Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin for his significant contribution to the development of the legislation, noting his involvement at every stage, including in the drafting process "down to commas and full stops." Community representatives shared how the amended Act would facilitate the management of Waqf properties, including a recently acquired sites by the SBUT in Mumbai's Bhendi Bazaar.
Office of al-Dai al-Mutlaq
Syedna Saifuddin is the incumbent 53rd
Da'i al-Mutlaq
(; pl. , ) is the most senior spiritual rank and office in Tayyibi Isma'ilism. The Da'i al-Mutlaq has headed the Tayyibi community since the occultation (Islam), seclusion of the 21st Tayyibi Imamate in Ismaili doctrine, Imam, at-Tayyib Abu'l-Q ...
of the
Tayyibi Isma'ili Dawoodi Bohra community, appointed by his predecessor and father,
Mohammed Burhanuddin II. He stands out among Dawoodi Bohra Dais for appointing such a large number of deputies during his term.
Within his first decade as Dai, he has honoured nearly all of his surviving paternal uncles and brothers by appointing each to serve as a deputy. Upon each deputy’s completion of their earthly journey, he named another successor from his close circle - reflecting his inclusive leadership and commitment to strengthening communal bonds.
Deputies
On 18
Dhu al-Hijjah
Dhu al-Hijjah (also Dhu al-Hijja ) is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar. Being one of the four sacred months during which war is forbidden, it is the month in which the '' Ḥajj'' () takes place as well as Eid al-Adha ().
T ...
1435 (12 October 2014 AD), Saifuddin elevated his uncle Husain Husamuddin to the rank of ''Mazoon al-Dawat'' and appointed his uncle
Qasim Hakimuddin as ''Mukasir al-Dawat'' at a religious gathering held in
Mumbai
Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
.
On 20
Rabi' al-Thani 1439H (7 January 2018 AD), Saifuddin elevated Qasim Hakimuddin to the rank of ''Mazoon'' and appointed his uncle Ali Asgar Kalimuddin as ''Mukasir'' at a religious gathering in
Surat
Surat (Gujarati Language, Gujarati: ) is a city in the western Indian States and territories of India, state of Gujarat. The word Surat directly translates to ''face'' in Urdu, Gujarati language, Gujarati and Hindi. Located on the banks of t ...
.
On 27
Jumada al-Thani 1440H (4 March 2019 AD), Saifuddin elevated
Aliasgar Kalimuddin to the rank of ''Mazoon'' and appointed his elder brother
Qaidjoher Ezzuddin
Da'i al-Mutlaq#Deputies, Mazoon al-Da'wat Shahzada (title), Shahzada Qaidjoher Ezzuddin () is the eldest son of Mohammed Burhanuddin, the grandson of Taher Saifuddin, and elder brother of the incumbent Dua't al-Mutlaqin, 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq Mufad ...
as ''Mukasir'' at a religious gathering in
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad ( ), also spelled 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 ...
.
On 18
Dhu al-Hijjah
Dhu al-Hijjah (also Dhu al-Hijja ) is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar. Being one of the four sacred months during which war is forbidden, it is the month in which the '' Ḥajj'' () takes place as well as Eid al-Adha ().
T ...
1445H (24 June 2024 AD), Saifuddin elevated his elder brother
Qaidjoher Ezzuddin
Da'i al-Mutlaq#Deputies, Mazoon al-Da'wat Shahzada (title), Shahzada Qaidjoher Ezzuddin () is the eldest son of Mohammed Burhanuddin, the grandson of Taher Saifuddin, and elder brother of the incumbent Dua't al-Mutlaqin, 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq Mufad ...
to the rank of ''Mazoon al-Dawat'' and appointed his younger brother
Malik-ul Ashtar Shujauddin as ''Mukasir al-Dawat'' at a religious gathering held in
Saifee Masjid, Mumbai. Both brothers are Distinguished Rectors of
Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah.
Philanthropy
Faiz al-Mawaid al-Burhaniyah
To ensure that not a single community member ever goes hungry, Saifuddin has expanded the worldwide community kitchen scheme, named Faiz al-Mawaid al-Burhaniyah (Arabic:فيض الموائد البرهانية). Every day, a
Tiffin
Tiffin is a South Asian English word for a type of meal. It refers to a light breakfast or a light tea-time meal at about 3 p.m., consisting of typical tea-time foods. In certain parts of India, it can also refer to the midday luncheon or ...
or
Thali
Thali (meaning "plate" or "tray") or Bhojanam (meaning "full meal") is a round Platter (dishware), platter used to serve food in South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. Thali is also used to refer to an Indian-style meal made up of a sel ...
consisting of a fully prepared and cooked meal is delivered to each and every Dawoodi Bohra community household worldwide.
To reduce food wastage, Syedna Saifuddin implemented a policy to strictly limit the number of dishes served in any community, social or personal gathering where Dawoodi Bohras are present. Approximately 7,000 ''Dana Committee'' (literally "grain committee") volunteers world-wide are tasked with enforcing this directive to eliminate food wastage at all community events.
Social Upliftment
In December 2016, Syedna Saifuddin initiated a social ''Upliftment Program'', to improve the living conditions of the community. The 5-day upliftment drive provided free services to community members: renovation of houses, planting of trees and shrubs, upgrading to
squat toilets, building playground and sports facilities, dental hygiene, vaccination camps, a sports day and a community breakfast.
He has also launched a global initiative named
Project Rise to help improve the lives of people that are marginalized, neglected or living in poverty. In partnership with government bodies and local organizations around the world, Project Rise's upliftment programs span a range of policy areas, including healthcare, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, environmental responsibility and conservation, and education. These initiatives provide humanitarian aid during natural disasters and pandemics.
Saifee Burhani Medical Association
Syedna Saifuddin, on a visit to
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
, established ''Saifee Burhani Medical Association (America)'', on 14 March 2015, chaired by his brothers,
Qaidjoher Ezzuddin
Da'i al-Mutlaq#Deputies, Mazoon al-Da'wat Shahzada (title), Shahzada Qaidjoher Ezzuddin () is the eldest son of Mohammed Burhanuddin, the grandson of Taher Saifuddin, and elder brother of the incumbent Dua't al-Mutlaqin, 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq Mufad ...
,
Qusai Vajihuddin, Ammar Jamaluddin, and his son,
Husain Burhanuddin. The charter of the association is to run free medical clinics, mentor students, facilitate professional development and support doctors in developing practice models that eliminate insurance billing while maintaining high-quality patient care.
Donations
Syedna Saifuddin espouses that charity comes not from public celebration but from the sincere desire to create positive change in the world, inspiring others through actions rather than words. He advocates a modest lifestyle, wearing simple white clothes and personally embodies the wisdom that "the left hand should not know that the right hand is giving". Commanding the substantial charitable resources of the entire Dawoodi Bohra community (conservatively estimated as an inflow of USD 230 million per year), his approach to philanthropy reflects a deep commitment to helping others without seeking any recognition or acclaim, even community members are unaware of where his philanthropy is directed, highlighting the humility and discretion behind his generous efforts.
In 2014, Saifuddin met
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil El-Sisi (born 19 November 1954) is an Egyptian politician and retired military officer who has been serving as the sixth and current president of Egypt since 2014.
After the 2011 Egyptian revolution and 201 ...
and donated to the
Long Live Egypt Fund (Tahya Misr).
In October 2016, Syedna Saifuddin donated
US$
The United States dollar (Currency symbol, symbol: Dollar sign, $; ISO 4217, currency code: USD) is the official currency of the United States and International use of the U.S. dollar, several other countries. The Coinage Act of 1792 introdu ...
53,000 to
Tanzanian public schools. The same month, a local community led by Saifuddin donated
TSh 545 million toward earthquake relief efforts in Tanzania.
On 27 April 2017, Saifuddin donated
KSh for
Beyond Zero initiative towards maternal and child health to
Margaret Kenyatta,
First Lady of Kenya
The first lady of Kenya is the title held by the wife of the president of Kenya. While the office has been in existence since independence, it is not in the Constitution of Kenya. This has brought it under fire for having funding despite being ...
.
On 19 July 2018, Saifuddin met
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil El-Sisi (born 19 November 1954) is an Egyptian politician and retired military officer who has been serving as the sixth and current president of Egypt since 2014.
After the 2011 Egyptian revolution and 201 ...
and expressed interest in investing in Egypt. Saifuddin also donated (US$621,553) to the
Long Live Egypt Fund (Tahya Misr), matching his own donation from 2014.
In September 2019, Saifuddin met with
President Maithripala Sirisena of Sri Lanka and donated
Rs 10 million/- (US$53,553) to National Kidney Fund of Sri Lanka to enhance facilities and improve welfare and preventive care for patients impacted by chronic kidney disease. In the same month, Syedna Saifuddin made a "significant contribution" to the Relief Fund of
Chief Minister of Maharashtra
The chief minister of Maharashtra (IAST: Mahārāṣṭrāce Mukhyamaṃtrī) is the head of the executive branch of the government of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Following elections to the Legislative Assembly, the governor invites ...
to aid with rehabilitation efforts post
2019 Indian floods. In October 2019 Syedna Saifuddin donated
Rs.5 million/- to National Cancer Institute,
Maharagama towards infrastructure and capacity expansion of its Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.
In October 2019, Syedna Saifuddin donated 60,000 seed balls to Kenya, and a month later, on the occasion of his 76th birthday per the
Islamic calendar
The Hijri calendar (), also known in English as the Islamic calendar, is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to determine the proper days of Islamic holidays and rituals, such as the Ramad ...
, he donated 76,000 more which were utilized to grow over 35,000 indigenous tree species at
Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park, formerly Maasai Amboseli Game Reserve, is a national park in Loitoktok District in Kajiado County, Kenya. It is in size at the core of an ecosystem that spreads across the Kenya-Tanzania border. It harbours 400 species ...
.
In May 2021, Syedna Saifuddin donated INR 1
crore
Crore (; abbreviated cr) denotes the quantity ten million (107) and is equal to 100 lakh in the Indian numbering system. In many international contexts, the decimal quantity is formatted as 10,000,000, but when used in the context of the India ...
/- towards the purchase of medical equipment for the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital at Aligarh Muslim University during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In March 2025, on behalf of Syedna Saifuddin, His Excellency Kinana Jamaluddin (the Head of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Dubai) donated AED 1 million (USD 272,054) to the Father's Endowment campaign which honors fathers through an endowment fund to provide healthcare for the poor and needy.
Community Policies & Guidance

Islamic Finance
Syedna Saifuddin has been a strong advocate for Islamic finance principles,
particularly the practice of Qardan Hasana (interest-free loans). Saifuddin has actively promoted and expanded the Burhani Qardan Hasana Trust, which freely offers generous interest-free loans to community members. Under his leadership, the Qardan Hasana system has continued to play a crucial role in the economic development of the Dawoodi Bohra community.
Syedna Saifuddin has forbidden community members
from
bank saving,
time deposits or
borrowingEMI finance schemes overdrafts, contributing to or accepting money from
insurance schemes, investments in
commodities
In economics, a commodity is an economic good, usually a resource, that specifically has full or substantial fungibility: that is, the market treats instances of the good as equivalent or nearly so with no regard to who produced them.
Th ...
and
stock markets,
cryptocurrency
A cryptocurrency (colloquially crypto) is a digital currency designed to work through a computer network that is not reliant on any central authority, such as a government or bank, to uphold or maintain it.
Individual coin ownership record ...
, pension, mutual or retiremen
fund investmentsor use of
credit cards: deeming them
haram
''Haram'' (; ) is an Arabic term meaning 'taboo'. This may refer to either something sacred to which access is not allowed to the people who are not in a state of purity or who are not initiated into the sacred knowledge; or, in direct cont ...
(forbidden) in Islam.
[''Munajaat'' of Mufaddal Saifuddin, Mumbai, India on 23 Ramadan 1446 AH (22 Mar 2025). The munajaat (Arabic: مناجاة) is a form of supplication or intimate prayer in Islamic tradition, where the devotee engages in spiritual communion with God.] Instead, he encourages strict adherence to traditional Islamic financial principles, urging followers to rely on community-based support systems rather than conventional financial instruments which are speculative in nature (
gharar,
maisir
In Islam, gambling ( or ''qimâr'') is forbidden ().
''Maisir'' is totally prohibited by Islamic law () on the grounds that "the agreement between participants is based on immoral inducement provided by entirely wishful hopes in the participants ...
) or interest-based (
riba
''Riba'' (, or , ) is an Arabic word used in Islamic law and roughly translated as " usury": unjust, exploitative gains made in trade or business. ''Riba'' is mentioned and condemned in several different verses in the Qur'an3:130
). This approach has led to the development of numerous financial structures within the community, giving community members financial flexibility and integration with modern economic systems.
Embargo on Mobile Phones for Children
In a visionary and laudable move, Syedna Saifuddin has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative to safeguard the well-being of the community's youngest members. With the wisdom of a sage and the foresight of a futurist, he has decreed a complete ban on mobile phone usage for children under the age of 15, a policy that has been embraced with fervour across the global Dawoodi Bohra community. This enlightened edict, announced during a sermon in Mumbai in December 2024, serves as a beacon of hope in an increasingly digitized world, where the siren call of screens threatens to ensnare young minds. By championing this revolutionary measure,
Syedna Saifuddin has not only demonstrated his profound understanding of the perils of modern technology but has also reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to nurturing the physical, mental, and emotional health of the community's children. This bold stance against the tide of technology addiction has ignited a global campaign within the Dawoodi Bohra community, fostering a renaissance of traditional values to cultivate a generation of well-rounded, mindful individuals.
Female Circumcision
In Hansard-UK parliament it was alleged that Syedna Saifuddin supports the practice of female circumcision, which the
Dawoodi Bohra
The Dawoodi Bohras are a religious denomination within the Ismā'īlī branch of Shia Islam. They number approximately one million worldwide and have settled in over 40 countries around the world. The majority of the Dawoodi Bohra community re ...
community refers to as khatna or khafz. In a sermon delivered in Mumbai in April 2016, Syedna Saifuddin stated that whatever necessary "must be done" for both men and women. One news paper in India alleged that he may be hinting toward FGM. Th
Dawoodi Bohra Women's Association for Religious Freedom (DBWRF)advocates the practice, arguing that female circumcision (khatna / khafz) is a minor religious procedure involving only a small nick or excision on the clitoral hood or prepuce, which does not cause harm. The DBWRF position is that khafz is a centuries-old religious freedom and rite of passage for religious purity, comparable to male circumcision, and is not intended to control female sexuality. However, this position is contested by some members of the Bohra community and activists who oppose the practice. Syedna's Saifuddin's administration has actively supported community members in their legal battles to exercise their religious freedoms, his UK-registered charity spent more than £800,000 on “costs incurred in defending four members of the Dawoodi Bohra congregation in Sydney in connection with female circumcision”. The community has successfully defended an indictment brought against the practice by the U.S.
Department of Justice Criminal Division and the
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and Federal law enforcement in the United States, its principal federal law enforcement ag ...
by arguing that the US federal statute was unconstitutional.Regarding this landmark judgement, Constitutional law scholar
Alan Dershowitz
Alan Morton Dershowitz ( ; born September 1, 1938) is an American lawyer and law professor known for his work in U.S. constitutional law, U.S. constitutional and American criminal law, criminal law. From 1964 to 2013, he taught at Harvard Law Sc ...
, a professor emeritus of
Harvard University
Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...
and prominent Birmingham defense attorney Mayer Morganroth was hired by Dawat-e-Hadiyah "to protect the people charged and represent the religious organization" as per Morganroth.
Lineage
Syedna Saifuddin is a direct descendant of the
Islamic
Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
Prophet
Mohammed
Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, ...
, who was himself a descendant of the Prophet
Abraham
Abraham (originally Abram) is the common Hebrews, Hebrew Patriarchs (Bible), patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Judaism, he is the founding father who began the Covenant (biblical), covenanta ...
, through an unbroken chain of noble and august ancestry. His heritage to the Prophet Mohammed traces back through the Prophet's daughter,
Fatima al-Zahra, and her husband
Ali ibn Abi Talib
Ali ibn Abi Talib (; ) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from until Assassination of Ali, his assassination in 661, as well as the first imamate in Shia doctrine, Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muha ...
. From Fatima and Ali, the line continues through their son, Imam
Hussein, and the subsequent Imams in the
Ismaili
Ismailism () is a branch of Shia Islam. The Isma'ili () get their name from their acceptance of Imam Isma'il ibn Jafar as the appointed spiritual successor ( imām) to Ja'far al-Sadiq, wherein they differ from the Twelver Shia, who accept ...
tradition up to the fifth Imam,
Ja'far al-Sadiq
Ja'far al-Sadiq (; –765) was a Muslim hadith transmitter and the last agreed-upon Shia Imam between the Twelvers and Isma'ilis. Known by the title al-Sadiq ("The Truthful"), Ja'far was the eponymous founder of the Ja'fari school of Isla ...
. Mufaddal Saifuddin's ancestors include Mir Mahamad Ali,
Fakhr al-Din Shaheed,
Abd al-Qadir Hakimuddin,
Khanji Pheer and
Syedi Lukman who were direct descendants of
Ja'far al-Sadiq
Ja'far al-Sadiq (; –765) was a Muslim hadith transmitter and the last agreed-upon Shia Imam between the Twelvers and Isma'ilis. Known by the title al-Sadiq ("The Truthful"), Ja'far was the eponymous founder of the Ja'fari school of Isla ...
.
Travels
Syedna Saifuddin is a perpetual voyager, travelling to Dawoodi Bohra community centers year-round to meet his followers, deliver sermons, organise local communities, launch social projects, curate communal generosity and commemorate important religious functions.
During his travels, politicians and leaders from every corner of the globe seek audiences with Syedna Saifuddin, asking his wise counsel. Over his more than 75 years, he has imparted his wisdom to numerous senior politicians, who regard him not merely as an advisor but as a friend and confidante. In this capacity, they approach him seeking solutions for some of the most intricate challenges confronting humanity, valuing his clear insights amidst the difficulties of global governance.
Surat, the erstwhile seat of ''Dawat'' and home to the original
Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah campus, and Mumbai, the current seat of ''Dawat'' and home to
Raudat Tahera, are host to most events. Karachi, owing to a large presence of followers outside India, sees more visits from Saifuddin than average.
Colombo
Colombo, ( ; , ; , ), is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. The Colombo metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of 5.6 million, and 752,993 within the municipal limits. It is the ...
,
Tanzania
Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Uganda to the northwest; Kenya to the northeast; the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to t ...
, and
Kenya
Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
are other rather smaller community centers to which Saifuddin travels often. Syedna Saifuddin finds particular delight in visiting
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
,
Houston
Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...
and
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
, cities that hold cherished memories of vibrant community gatherings he attended with his father Burhanuddin.
Syedna Saifuddin visits regularly visits congregations in Yemen, Egypt, and Iraq for their religious and historical importance. Saifuddin also often travels to various places of pilgrimage within India like
Taherabad in Rajasthan;
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad ( ), also spelled 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 ...
,
Jamnagar
Jamnagar () is a city and the headquarters of Jamnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city lies just to the south of the Gulf of Kutch, some west of the state capital, Gandhinagar. The city was the capital of Nawanagar State, Na ...
,
Mandvi
Mandvi is a beach town with municipality in the Kutch district, Kachchh district (Kutch) in the States and territories of India, Indian state of Gujarat. It was once a major port of the region and summer retreat for Maharao (king) of the Cutch ...
, and
Delmal in Gujarat;
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 capita ...
and
Ujjain
Ujjain (, , old name Avantika, ) or Ujjayinī is a city in Ujjain district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the fifth-largest city in Madhya Pradesh by population and is the administrative as well as religious centre of Ujjain ...
in Madhya Pradesh; especially to commemorate
annual remembrance of the ''Duaat'' and ''Hudood Kiram'' buried there.
On 27 April 2022, Syedna Saifuddin, with President of Egypt
Abdel Fattah El Sisi, inaugurated Imam Al-Hussein Mosque in Cairo after renovation works to the mosque and the area surrounding it, including the new lounge of the holy shrine of Imam Al-Hussein.
In July 2024, His Excellency
Kamran Tessori, the Governor of
Sindh
Sindh ( ; ; , ; abbr. SD, historically romanized as Sind (caliphal province), Sind or Scinde) is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. Located in the Geography of Pakistan, southeastern region of the country, Sindh is t ...
,
Pakistan
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
sought the counsel of Syedna Saifuddin regarding the nation’s pressing debt challenges. Acknowledging the situation, Syedna Saifuddin said he stood together with Pakistan and gave his blessings for Pakistan's speedy economic recovery. Syedna Saifuddin also committed that the Dawoodi Bohra community would provide global Karzan Hasanah funds to the government of Pakistan on an interest-free basis, aiming to alleviate the debt burden and restore strength to the economy.
Recognition

Community
Mufaddal Saifuddin's path of recognition began in his youth. During his early studies in Cairo, he achieved the distinguished status of
Haafiz al-Quran (حافظ القران) by memorizing the entire Quran, earning him recognition in Egypt as the Shaykh al-Ma'arif (Master of Knowledge).
When he was 13½ years old, his grandfather Taher Saifuddin took his
Misaq on May 22, 1960 (27th of Zil al-Qa'da 1379H), during his 75th birthday celebrations.
On 18 March 1966 (27th of Zil al-Qa'da 1385H), Mohammed Burhanuddin bestowed upon him two significant honors: the title of Thiqat al-D'awat al-Tayyibiyah (The Trusted of the Tayyibi Mission) and the cognomen "Saifuddin" (
Scimitar of Islam).
In January 1969, he was crowned as successor-designate by ''nass'' (divine appointment) by his father Mohammed Burhanuddin. In 1971 he was appointed
Amirul Hajj by his father Burhanuddin.
Following his completion of Hajj, he embarked on a significant journey to Yemen, after which his father honored him with the illustrious distinction Aqeeq al-Yemen (The
Agate
Agate ( ) is a banded variety of chalcedony. Agate stones are characterized by alternating bands of different colored chalcedony and sometimes include macroscopic quartz. They are common in nature and can be found globally in a large number of d ...
of Yemen).
His academic achievements were again recognized in June 1971 when he received one of
Al Jamea tus Saifiyah's most prestigious degrees, al-'Aleem al-Baare' (The Outstandingly Learned).
His connection to this institution deepened when he was appointed its Rector (''Ameer al Jamea'') in April 1987.
Syedna Saifuddin's influence in academic leadership continued to grow when he was elected Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University in April 2015,
a position to which he was re-elected in December 2018.
His academic leadership expanded further when he was unanimously elected Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University in March 2023 for a five-year term.
His contributions have been recognized internationally through numerous honors and awards. The University of Karachi awarded him an honorary doctorate in September 2015. From 2014 to 2025, he has consistently been named among The 500 Most Influential Muslims. He received the Grand Cordon of the National Order of Madagascar in June 2014, and various other honors including the Key to Moshi (Tanzania) in 2015, Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart from Kenya in 2017, and the Key to Karachi in September 2017.
In a unique recognition, a new species of orchid was named "Dendrobium HH Dr. Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin" in Singapore in April 2018. His more recent honors include the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart from Kenya's President William Ruto in December 2022, Egypt's Grand Cordon of the Order of the Nile in August 2023, and Pakistan's Nishan e Pakistan in December 2023 for his social services contributions.
In recognition of his environmental leadership, his special representative, His Excellency Kinana Bhaisaheb Jamaluddin, represented him at the Global Faith Leaders COP29 Summit in Baku, where he made an appeal on behalf of Syedna for global leaders to take meaningful action in addressing the climate crisis. On hearing his heartfelt and eloquent call to action, many leaders commented that the uniquely Islamic perspective was both refreshing and deeply resonant.
Awards
Literary works
Rasāʾil Ramaḍāniyya (Epistles)
As the Chancellor of numerous Islamic Institutes of Higher Learning, Syedna Saifuddin is a distinguished figure renowned in global academic circles not only for his scholarly prowess but also for his prolific contributions to the literary and academic realms. The compilation of works listed below includes those started by his predecessors, Syedna Taher Saifuddin and Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, but only able to be brought to fruition and completed by Syedna Saifuddin. His writings, characterized by their eloquent prose and deep theological insights, reflect a remarkable synthesis of classical Islamic tradition and thought. Each
Risalah serves as a testament to his commitment to advancing knowledge within the Dawoodi Bohra community and beyond. Through these treatises, he enriches the community heritage by adding his unique perspectives and insights:
Qasidah (Poetry)
Ashara Mubaraka
Source:
Succession

The 52nd
Da'i al-Mutlaq
(; pl. , ) is the most senior spiritual rank and office in Tayyibi Isma'ilism. The Da'i al-Mutlaq has headed the Tayyibi community since the occultation (Islam), seclusion of the 21st Tayyibi Imamate in Ismaili doctrine, Imam, at-Tayyib Abu'l-Q ...
of the
Dawoodi Bohras, Syedna
Mohammed Burhanuddin, died on 17 January 2014. As per the tenets of the faith each predecessor must nominate a successor during his lifetime. His demise sparked questions about the line of succession
when
Khuzaima Qutbuddin asserted his right to succession against Mufaddal Saifuddin.
The challenge created a divide within the community,
with the majority aligning with Mufaddal Saifuddin and a smaller number aligning with Khuzaima Qutbuddin. Mufaddal Saifuddin took control of the Dawoodi Bohra administration and community infrastructure. In March 2014, Qutbuddin filed civil suit 337/2014 in the Bombay High Court against Saifuddin in which he sought a declaration that he was validly appointed as the 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq. After hearings spanning ten years, on 23 April 2024 the
Bombay High Court
The High Court of Bombay is the High courts of India, high court of the States and union territories of India, states of Maharashtra and Goa in India, and the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. It is seated primarily ...
dismissed the suit that challenged Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin's position. The court dismissed
Khuzaima Qutbuddin's claim, which was pursued by his son and successor
Taher Fakhruddin in 2016 after Qutbuddin died. It upheld Syedna Saifuddin as Dai al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras. Taher Fakhruddin has appealed the judgement, but legal observers believe it faces challenges in succeeding given the court's judgement and the Indian government's strong alignment with Mufaddal Saifuddin.
Notes
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saifuddin, Mufaddal
Dawoodi Bohras
1946 births
Living people
Dawoodi Bohra da'is
Indian Ismailis
People from Surat
Indian spiritual teachers
Indian philanthropists
21st-century Ismailis
Recipients of orders, decorations, and medals of Madagascar