porus wrote:
Lady Husaina's father was declared "Muddai". She was forced to break off all relations with her father's family, especially her brother Ismail. Her nephew, Ismail's son, was Ahmed Luqmani who, until his death two years ago, led the Progressive Bohra Jamaat in the United Kingdom.
There is a rumor that due to machinations in Saifi Mahal among the wives of Sayedna Tahir Saifuddin, Lady Husaina was administered poison and she died from it.
While on Lukmani family, there was an interesting article which appeared on this forum some time back :-
Miya saheb Ismailji Bhaisaheb Lukmani was the maternal uncle (Mama) of Sayedna Burhanuddin Saheb who broke his relations with Sayedna Taher Saifuddin when Lukmani's sister Husaina I-saheba and wife of Taher Saifuddin died suddenly because of poisoning and late Sayedna was suspected for the tragedy. He died in India and was buried in Malegaon. Janab Ahmed Lukmani who stays in London is his son and scholar on Ismaili literatures.
My Experiences and My Will
Praise be to Allah, the Sustainer of all the Worlds. His blessings on the Holy Prophet Maulana Mohammad Mustafa, upon his Vasi Maulana Ali Murtaza, upon his daughter Maulatena Fatematuz Zahra, the choicest among the women of the world, upon his two beloved grandsons Imam Maulana Hasanal Mujtaba and Imam Maulana Husain, the martyr of Karbala and upon all the Imams who were descended from Imam Maulana Husain to the 21st Imam, Maulana Imam Tayyab Abil Qasim and upon the Imams who will come till the Day of Judgment.
The Holy Prophet laid stress upon the need for the young and the old to make a 'will' as one never knows when death may strike. Bearing this in mind I, Ismail Luqmani, son of Syedi Luqmanji Sahib, a humble servant of Allah and the follower of the Panjatan, the Imams and the rightly appointed Dais, do realise that since I have grown old it is my duty to leave a 'will' without further delay for my children, relations and friends. I possess neither wealth nor property which I may bequeath to my successors. But knowledge is an everlasting wealth and true faith will be the means of deliverance on the Day of Judgment.
Hence I wish to leave behind as a gift for my family and friends true faith as I see it together with the true record of some of the events in our community from 1256 Hijri (1840 AD) to the present day. I do believe that the vast majority of our community members is ignorant of what actually transpired in 1256Hijri and thereafter and those few who know the facts maintain silence lest they are deprived of their bread and butter as if it is the mulla who provides sustenance and not Allah.
The scholars who knew the true history are no longer alive and the unfortunate heart-rending incident of 1256 Hijri was almost forgotten. But when Taher Saifuddin Sahib started his 'Reign of Terror' in the community and opened the door to conflict in 1335 Hijri (1917 AD) he indirectly became instrumental in reviving and bringing into lime light the event of 1256 Hijri, so much that it found its place even in the Privy Council records at a later date. During the Burhanpur Dargah Case our religious history came under close scrutiny. I was one of the witnesses in this case on behalf of the victims of oppression while I myself was one of the victims.
In order to uphold his false claims, Taher Saifuddin Sahib arranged to produce in Burhanpur court by way of evidence a number of our community books - all in Arabic. With the help of these very books we were able to refute all his claims. Although both the parties produced certain letters and documents as well, we did not have to produce any books from our side as this job was already done for us. As a result of all this the event of 1256 Hijri was clearly highlighted. Based on the facts revealed in this case and keeping in view my own personal experience I am now writing the true history of that period. But before commencing the 1256 Hijri events, I would like to give a brief account of the rightful Dais prior to 1256 Hijri so that one may easily distinguish between right and wrong.
Before the seclusion (satar) of the 21st Imam, the 20th Imam took steps to establish the Mission (Daawat) in Yemen through Maulatena Arwa binte Ahmed, better known as Hurratul Maleka. There were 23 Dais in Yemen from Sayedna Zoeb bin Musa to Syedna Mohammad Izzudin.
The office of the Dai was not the monopoly of one family alone. Rather it was given to the most deserving, sincere and learned person in the community, If the Dai found a person of a family other than his own more suited for the office he would appoint such a person as his successor and ignore his own son. Consequently Sayedna Yusuf bin Sulaiman of Sidhpur, India was appointed the 24th Dai on account of merit. He then migrated to Yemen but the office continued after him in Ahmedabad, India, until the time of the 29th DaiSayedna Abdul Tayyab bib Sayedna Dawood bin Qutub. After him Sayedna Ali Shamshuddin became the 30th Dai in Yemen but once again this post was transferred after him to Ahmedabad, India, which remained the centre of Daawat till the 33rd Dai. From there the centre shifted to Jamnagar where there were five Dais up to Sayedna Ismail Badruddin (Junior). Then there were two Dais in Ujjain, Sayedna Ibrahim Wajihuddin and Sayedna Hebatullahil Moayyad, followed by Sayedna Abdul Tayyab Zakiuddin who preferred to settle down in Burhanpur. He appointed as his successor his son, Sayedna Yusuf Najmuddin who chose to live in Surat. There he..nominated as the next Dai Sydedna Abdeali Saifuddin who in turn named his brother Syde Abdul Qadir hakimuddin for the post of dai after him, but Sydena Hakimuddin did not live long leaving Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin in search of a suitable person to succeed him.
Although his own brother Shaikh Adam Safiuddin was his first assistant (Maazoon) he did not appoint him as his successor and his keen eye fell upon two pupils from Aurangabad. Shaikh Mohammed Ali & Shaikh Tayyabali, who had joined the religious school (Saifee Daras) for higher education. Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin took personal interest in the training of these two brothers so much so that both of them proved to be capable of becoming Dais. As if by instinct he choose the younger brother Mohammedali as the next Dai, gave him the title of Izzudin and instructed him to appoint after him his elder bother Tayyabali who was awarded the title of Zainuddin. Sydna Abdeali Safuddin left his Young son Mohammed in charge of the two brothers. When the younger brother died, Sydna Tayyab Zainuddin become Dai. He trained the master's son and made him worthy of the office of Dai He gave him the title of Badruddin. And after appointing him as his successor he died in 1252 Hijri 1836 AD. Syedna Mohammad badurddin took charge as the 46th Dai at an early age of twenty eight.
Now we come to the era of Najmuddin Saheb whose last name was Yousuf. But before we look the event of that era I would like to throw some light on how the previous 46 Dai lived. What scarifies they gave for the community and how they spent their time and energy in spreading knowledge and true guidance. I am sure this will help you to see the truth.
As it is not necessary that most of Dais should remain in one family Syedna Abde Ali Saifuddin ignored his brother and selected two strangers from Aurangabad because he found them capable of holding this post. Likewise in Yeman the Dai's post was held by persons belonging to different families and so were the post of Maazoon and Mukaasir, The fifth Dai in Yeman, Sydna Ali bin Mohammed bin Waleed was a special case . He was a descendant of Waleed son of Utbah, the brother of Shaibul, both of whom were unbelievers of Makkah and were enemies of the Holy Prophet and they took an active part in persecuting the prophet. Once, when the prophet was boycotted, harassed and injured by the makkans he took refuge near the house of his enemy Utbah, who felt pity upon the Prophet and sent with his servant a bunch of grapes with his servant a bunch of grapes out of his abundant crop which he had obtain from his orchard. Upon receiving the bunch the Prophet found that it contained 18 grapes. He thereupon prayed to Allah for a reward to Utbah for his kindness and the answer to his prayer was that 18 of Utbah's descendants later become Dai in Yeman. By the time the office of Dai was transferred to India there had been only 17 Dai from Utbah family in Yeman. Hence after the 29th Dai in India by the wish of Allah this was given to Syedna Ali Shamsuddin in yeman thus completing the figure of 18 in the family of Utbah.
Apart from this, the Dais, Mazoons and Mukasirs in Yamen came from different families and this practice continued in India.
The style of 46 Dais was very simple. The plain and undecorated house of these Dais in Yemen and in India can be seen even today. Syedna Dawood bin Qutubshah, the source of our title As Dawoodi Bohras, led a very austere life living in a basement in Ahmedabd for over three years. Sydna Shaikh Adam was for a very long time a victim of atrocities committed by the than rulers. Syedna Qutbuddin gave his life and become a martyr. All these suffering were in the course of performing their duty to guide people in the cause of Islam.
In order to justify their own misdeeds the present claimants of the Dai's office have misguided people into believing that the 26th Dai, Syedna Dawood bin Ajabshah was fond of pious feasts and monetary presents, ziafats and salams and ostentatious processions and that they are just his example. This is far from the truth and they are just trying to fool the community. Through their Amils they bring pressure upon the community member to donate exorbitant sums and money to meet the expenses of traveling and substance for the troop of as many as 150 whose stay may prolong for several days and months unnecessarily. No such burden was placed on the community by the 26th Dai as alleged. It so happened that during his time there was peace and security and there was no oppression from the rulers. Taking advantage of the peaceful situation the member of the community on their own initiative used to invite the Dai into their homes. However the Dai observed simplicity and there was no sign of pomp or show.
The author of the book ‘Muntazaul Akhbaar’ writes that once Syedna Dawood bin Ajabshah went to see his sick daughter Fatimabai (not referred to as princess) and on the way stepped over a nail receiving serious injury to his heel. He went to the Hakim for the treatment of his injury walking bare-footed all the way. This wound proved fatal and ultimately caused his death.
Is it not strange that a Dai who was highly honored and loved by the people is unable to afford a servant in the house, owns no horse or carriage and walks bare-footed to the Hakim to fetch his medicine? In fact it proves how simple he was.
The rightful Dai never reserved religious grades, posts and honors for members of their families but gave preference over their own relations to outsiders in case these were more learned. This has been well elaborated in the book ‘Mausame Bahaar’ Volume III giving the detailed history of the Dais. The rightful Dais never misused Waqf properties nor did they ever get them transferred into their personal names. Whatever belonged to the community was spent for its benefit. Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin had issued special instructions to one of his Amils to see that income of the community fund (Baitul Maal) was spent with the consultation and advice of members and he was asked to exercise his best judgment as regards the money belonging to the ‘Daawat’.
Thus we notice a clear difference in the life style of the rightful Dais and the present claimants.
From the day Syedna Zainuddin started giving preference to Syedna Mohammad Badruddin over others, Najmuddin Sahib, Syedna Zainuddin’s son, lost no time in launching an adverse propaganda against Syedna Mohammad Badruddin and with the help of his associates he laid fake accusations against him. After Syedna Mohammad Badruddin assumed the office of Dai, the opposition of Najmuddin Sahib became stronger and more open. On a number of occasions he insulted the Dai and went so far as to say that the Nas on Syedna Mohammad Badruddin was not valid as it was made by his father during his illness. It has been reported that Miya Sahib Isabhai Dohadwalla, the father in law of Najmuddin Sahib made him appear before the Dai and seek his forgiveness for all his accusations.
The first name of Yusuf Najmuddin Sahib was changed by Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin Sahib to Abdul Qadir Najmuddin. He was Known in his circle as a very sensual and in order to boost his sensuality he made use of medicines derived from the testicles of a horse. Sheikh Tayyabali Salta of Ratlarn(?) has written a poem describing Najmuddin Sahib’s lust as “Baawaaji na waqto na Yaaquti ghanee khaadi…etc.”
From the beginning of 1252 Hijri (1836 AD) when Syedna Mohammad Badruddin became Dai at the age of twenty eight, Najmuddin Sahib had open confrontations with the Dai and always wished his early death so that he could usurp the coveted post of the Dai. Any intelligent person would ask, “How could one expect Syedna Mohammad Badruddin even to think of declaring Nas upon Najmuddin Sahib and appoint him as his successor in spite of such opposition and ill treatment?”
Najmuddin Sahib had lost his patience and was all the time planning somehow to get rid of Syedna Mohammad Badruddin who was suffering from piles for quite some time. This afforded him an opportunity to administer poison to the Dai in his medicine with the help of his associates, thus causing the Dai’s death.
Syedna Mohammad Badruddin promised on the evening of 29th Jamadi Aakhar 1256 Hijri (1840 AD) to some of the learned men that on the next day (1st of Rajab) when they would assemble for the majlis, he would discuss the question of Nas. But the day never dawned upon him as he died suddenly due to poisoning.
I made an affidavit in Bombay (mentioned later) as to the persons involved in the sudden death of Syedna Mohammad Badruddin. As regards poisoning of the Dai the relevant paragraph from Mausame Bahaar was quoted by us in the Burhanpur Dargah Case and treated as Exhibit P29. Therein the author says
“It is surmised that apart from the complaint of piles there was clear evidence of poison (Almas powder). No one expected such a thing to happen but all of a sudden he passed away leaving every one in total darkness and confusion. Like Syedna Shamshuddin he also departed from this world as a martyr.”
In 1340 Hijri (1922 AD) I went to Khaingaon for a change of climate, together with my family and stayed in the farm belonging to late Mr Hasanali Gulzar. One day my daughter, aged 12, was possessed by some evil spirit and it was soon discovered that the spirit was Chamanai, the mother in law of Najmuddin Sahib.
To be continued......
