Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin bin Sulayman () (died on 23 June 1567 CE or 16
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 ...
974 AH, Taibah,
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 ...
) was the 24th
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 ...
(Absolute Missionary) of the
Taiyabi Ismailis. He succeeded
Mohammad Ezzuddin
Syedna Mohammad Ezzuddin () (died 1539 / 27th Safar, 946 AH in Zabid, Yemen) was the 23rd Da'i of the Dawoodi Bohra, a sub-sect of Isma'ili Shi'i Islam. The Dawoodi Bohra trace their belief system back to Yemen, where it evolved from the Fatimid C ...
to the religious post.
Family
He hailed from a large family, comprising seven brothers and one sister named Fatema Baisaheba. His father's name was Sulayman while his mother's name was Noor Bibisaheba.
Life
Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin's native city was
Sidhpur
Siddhpur, also spelled Sidhpur, is a Town, municipality and headquarter of Sidhpur taluka in Patan district, in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is a historical place located on the bank of the endorheic Saraswati River, which is probably a r ...
,
Gujarat
Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, 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 List of states and union territories ...
, India. He was one of many bright students who went to Yemen, to study Islamic education. At first, Syedna Yusuf studied from Syedi Hasan bin Nooh. His sharp intellect and curiosity soon caught the attention of the 23rd Da'i,
Syedna Mohammad Ezzuddin, who then personally began to educate him, tutoring him every alternate day. When his learning was complete, Syedna Yusuf returned to India. In the year 1536,
Syedna Ezzuddin performed ''
nass'' upon Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin when he was in Sidhpur. For five years he stayed at Sidhpur, where he built a
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 ...
whose minarets are present even today. In Sidhpur, a dispute arose between his followers and other locals, resulting in a trade boycott against the former. To counter this, Syedna Yusuf instructed his followers to set up their own marketplace. Twenty-four shops were established, and a well was dug specifically for his followers, who were barred from using the local well.
After this, he decided to travel to
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 ...
, where enemies had captured many fortresses belonging to the Da'wah in the era of Arwain Pasha, who was the governor of the region under
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks () were a Turkic peoples, Turkic ethnic group in Anatolia. Originally from Central Asia, they migrated to Anatolia in the 13th century and founded the Ottoman Empire, in which they remained socio-politically dominant for the e ...
. Syedna Yusuf recaptured most of the forts that belonged to previous ''
Du'āt''. Books and other theological and literary works of the era of previous ''
Du'āt'' were transferred to India.
Burial
His tenure as ''da'i'' was for 28 years, 9 months and 23 days. His grave is located at Taibah in Yemen.
It was identified by 52nd Dai Syedna
Mohammed Burhanuddin
Mohammed Burhanuddin (6 March 1915 – 17 January 2014) was the 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq of Dawoodi Bohras from 1965 to 2014. He led the community for 49 years in a period of social, economic, and educational prosperity; strengthened and re-institu ...
during his first visit to Yemen in 1961.
Succession
Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin gave ''nass'' or succession to
Jalal Shamshuddin bin Hasan of Ahmedabad as his successor, the 25th Da'i.
Gallery
File:Mosauleum Dai Yusuf Najmuddin bin Suleman.JPG, Mausoleum of Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin, Taibah, Yemen
File:Mosque,Dai Yusuf Najmuddin bin Suleman,Taiba.JPG, Mosque of Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin in Taibah, Yemen
File:Water System, Syedna Yusuf.jpg, Water system built by Syedna Yusuf
File:Tomb of Yusuf Najmuddin ibn Sulaiman,tayba,yemen.jpg, Tomb of Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin, Taibah, Yemen
References
Further reading
*Daftary, Farhad, ''The Ismaili, Their History and Doctrine''(Chapter -Mustalian Ismailism- p. 300-310)
*Lathan, Young, ''Religion, Learning and Science''
*Bacharach, Joseph W. Meri, ''Medieval Islamic Civilisation''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yusuf Najmuddin ibn Sulaiman
Tayyibi da'is
Dawoodi Bohra da'is
1567 deaths
Year of birth unknown
16th-century Arab people
16th-century Ismailis
16th-century Islamic religious leaders