Intrest in the Bohra Sect

[Imran786]

Hi there,

I am a Nizari Ismaili (with the belief of the Aga Khan as the present Imam), and I have been researching about the Dawoodi Bohra tradition for quite some time but I am still not understanding quite well. I have a few questions I wish to learn about (out of complete interest). Please do not criticize or discriminate, but rather help expand my narrow knowledge on this religious sect. Well, here we go:

1. Who is Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin? Is he considered the Imam or just as a Dai? What is his positional standing compared to the prophet or Imam? How does he play a role in the lives of Dawoodi Bohras (do you visit him or does he visit you, etc.)?

2. Where did the split take place between the Nizari Ismailis and the Bohras? Are Bohras considered Druze (if not then what is Druze)?

3. Are there similarities between Nizari Ismailis and Bohras? How many Bohras are their worldwide?

4. Is there a Bohra Council and is this and official website hosted by this council (if there is)?

As more questions approach my mind, I hope I will be welcomed to come back and learn more about the traditions/culture and sect over all. Thanks so much,

Imran

[seeker110]

First you need to buy topi, ejar and saya.As far as moula,he is the richest bohra alive.Our council is outlawed.You should hear his powerful speeches.His knowledge is out of this world.Really.He is a doctor,but doesnt write proscriptions.But on a personal note,why are you making more problems for yourself.Now seriously there are a lot of books but they are not in any stores,I think.

[bensaheba]

Dear Imran786:
It is good to have an inquiring mind, a non-inquiring mind is a dead mind. As to your present or future questions I must say there is a lot of literature available. There is a book by Jonas Blank entitled," Mullahs on the main frame". This book is written by a christian who researched our religion including the firm believers and those who have some reservations about transparency in the accounting of funds and other strong arm tactics used by the current Dai's administration. I must say it is not biased one way or the other but his fair assessment. the book goes into details and will answer all your questions and more. But briefly:
1)Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin is not an Imam but his Dai-ul-mutlaq with all the powers that an imam would have if he were present. He is one of Imam's many hoodoods who are with Imam in seclusion and he is present among the people.
2) Nizari(s) are considered our cousins. Imam Mustaali which is our Imam whose brother was Nizar who is your Imam.
3) unfortunately there are no similarities between us and Nizari(s), but we do share 18 Imams up to Imam Mustansir (father of Mustaali and Nizar). Bohras in the world are numbered around a million, no one has ever conducted a census or headcount to determine the exact number.
4)I have no idea what is meant by official council and it's functions as our terminology used for the same functions might be different, so this question is hard for me to answer. This website is not from the mainstream bohra but from an off-shoot which is demanding reform in the strong-arm practices of the mainstream and also demanding some sun light to fall on their accounting of monies collected and distributed. The mainstream websites are sanctioned for the purposes of writing syrupy articles and news about the Dai and his family members, no "anti" discussion is allowed there.

You are welcome to learn all you want about us as we are not an underground sect and have something to hide. But it is difficult to tell you our history and connections to you in short messages like this , so I strongly recommend that you read the above book before you ask questions as some people tend to ridicule and you will ask better questions after you are familiar with the history.

[incredible]

if u are really interested to learn about bohras contact amil(official representative) of syedna muhammed burhanuddin saheb(tus) in your local area.

[Imran786]

Dear Imran786:
It is good to have an inquiring mind, a non-inquiring mind is a dead mind. As to your present or future questions I must say there is a lot of literature available. There is a book by Jonas Blank entitled," Mullahs on the main frame". This book is written by a christian who researched our religion including the firm believers and those who have some reservations about transparency in the accounting of funds and other strong arm tactics used by the current Dai's administration. I must say it is not biased one way or the other but his fair assessment. the book goes into details and will answer all your questions and more. But briefly:
1)Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin is not an Imam but his Dai-ul-mutlaq with all the powers that an imam would have if he were present. He is one of Imam's many hoodoods who are with Imam in seclusion and he is present among the people.
2) Nizari(s) are considered our cousins. Imam Mustaali which is our Imam whose brother was Nizar who is your Imam.
3) unfortunately there are no similarities between us and Nizari(s), but we do share 18 Imams up to Imam Mustansir (father of Mustaali and Nizar). Bohras in the world are numbered around a million, no one has ever conducted a census or headcount to determine the exact number.
4)I have no idea what is meant by official council and it's functions as our terminology used for the same functions might be different, so this question is hard for me to answer. This website is not from the mainstream bohra but from an off-shoot which is demanding reform in the strong-arm practices of the mainstream and also demanding some sun light to fall on their accounting of monies collected and distributed. The mainstream websites are sanctioned for the purposes of writing syrupy articles and news about the Dai and his family members, no "anti" discussion is allowed there.

You are welcome to learn all you want about us as we are not an underground sect and have something to hide. But it is difficult to tell you our history and connections to you in short messages like this , so I strongly recommend that you read the above book before you ask questions as some people tend to ridicule and you will ask better questions after you are familiar with the history.

Thank you very much for your knowledge filled answer. I was wondering where I could find this book you have mentioned in the Toronto/GTA area as I am not allowed to purchase things on the internet without my parents permission and they would rather me buy it in a bookstore or an Islamic gift store or such.. Thanks!

**oh yah! i was also wondering the difference between a Dawoodi Bohra and the general Bohra stream.. thanks! **

[Hussain_KSA]

I will be able to send the pdf version of Jhona blanks book in few days.

[Imran786]

I will be able to send the pdf version of Jhona blanks book in few days.

Thank you very much, that would be greatly appreciated..

[Hussain_KSA]

I will be able to send the pdf version of Jhona blanks book in few days.

Thank you very much, that would be greatly appreciated..

Dear brother Imran,

As promised, I can forward you the PDF version of Jhona Blank book "Mullas on main frame". It is 1.2 MB file. Please contact me on yaahussain@yahoo.com.

Regards

[Al-Uqul]

Hi there,

I am a Nizari Ismaili (with the belief of the Aga Khan as the present Imam), and I have been researching about the Dawoodi Bohra tradition for quite some time but I am still not understanding quite well. I have a few questions I wish to learn about (out of complete interest). Please do not criticize or discriminate, but rather help expand my narrow knowledge on this religious sect. Well, here we go:

1. Who is Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin? Is he considered the Imam or just as a Dai? What is his positional standing compared to the prophet or Imam? How does he play a role in the lives of Dawoodi Bohras (do you visit him or does he visit you, etc.)?

2. Where did the split take place between the Nizari Ismailis and the Bohras? Are Bohras considered Druze (if not then what is Druze)?

3. Are there similarities between Nizari Ismailis and Bohras? How many Bohras are their worldwide?

4. Is there a Bohra Council and is this and official website hosted by this council (if there is)?

As more questions approach my mind, I hope I will be welcomed to come back and learn more about the traditions/culture and sect over all. Thanks so much,

Imran

1.he is a Da'i according to bohras,but not all Bohras See Him as the Da'i sulaymani Bohras Have theirs in Najran Saudi arabia,the imam is hiding and one Day From imam Tayyibs Lineage will Emerge Imam Al-Qa'im il-Qiyamah the imam to Redeem the Momins,Insha'Allah Ta'ala.

2.Druze follow only Batini Aspect of sharia,like Nizaris,whereas we follow the Zaheri Aspect aswell,and the druze Broke off when Imam Tariq Al-Hakim Bi Amrallah(Alayhi Wa ala alih Al-salat Wa Salam)Was Murdered.
Druze Follow Rasaa'il al-hikma,Bohras follow the Metapyhsics of Sayedna Hameedudeen al-kirmani(R.A) Imam al-Hakims(a.s) Top Da'i.Whereas nizari follow Abu hatim Razi and Abu yaqub sijistani largely.
the nizari Broke off when imam mustansir(a.s) Died

3.Yes there Are much More similarities then differences,
they however follow Da''a''im al-islam and You follow the Farnams of Your Imam From a Fiqhi Point of View.

there are about 2 million Dawoodi bohras in india,and there are about 1.5 million Sulaymani Bohras in Saudi arabia,Yemen and India.Sulaymani bohras do not call themself bohras but rather Mumins or Simply Isma'ili.
they are Largely arab may i Add.

4.allahu alim

[Smart]

^
Just a small correction to the statistic mentioned. The ejamaat card holding Dawoodi Bohras, worldwide number less than 600,000 and not two million in India alone.

[DBohra]

[quote="bensaheba"]Dear Imran786:
....... Bohras in the world are numbered around a million, no one has ever conducted a census or headcount to determine the exact number......


I beg to differ on this point I think the headcount of bohris is done every year.

[DBohra]

Just a small correction to the statistic mentioned. The ejamaat card holding Dawoodi Bohras, worldwide number less than 600,000 and not two million in India alone.[/quote]



It is less then 500000

[Al-Uqul]

Just a small correction to the statistic mentioned. The ejamaat card holding Dawoodi Bohras, worldwide number less than 600,000 and not two million in India alone.

It is less then 500000[/quote]
I Think The sulaymani Group is mLarger then the Dawoodi Offshoot,However Dawoodi's Are Spread Across the globe,and Get Around Well.

According to Official Najran consensus 2004 the isma'ili population in Najran ,Saudi Arbia was about 750,000

however Others contest This Claim.From the Wahabi Government of course.

This is the same government Accused of Undercounting Twelver shias in il-Qatif and il-a7sa Provinces.

However they Officially make up 2-5% of the Yemeni Population and the lowest number ive ever Seen was 60,000 for Yemen

whereas its likey they are 600,000 to 1.5 Million in yemen .

However Head counts Are not taken,and Not all bohras of the Dawoodi Branch Have a E-Jamaat Card.

Sulaymanis have nmo Websites that i know off and Dawoodis do,so the dawoodis seem to be the Largets of the Whole Mutsa'alian Population.


the Yemeni isma'ilis live Mainly in Manakha :http://www.alovelyworld.com/webyemen/htmgb/manakha.htm

http://www.abuyunis.com/Info%20by%20Region/Harraz.htm

Also there Are about 100,000 sulaymani Indians in gujurat RPivince,Aswell As Around 60,000 alavi bohra in Baroda city itself.

[Al-Uqul]

Just a small correction to the statistic mentioned. The ejamaat card holding Dawoodi Bohras, worldwide number less than 600,000 and not two million in India alone.

It is less then 500000[/quote]
numbers do not Matter,Faith,community,and Harmony do.