Time For Major Change

[Gulaame Islaam]

It is time to examin what it means to be a Bohra. What are we?
We are a group of Shite Muslims of Indian (Subcontinent) origin in majority with a minority from Yemen and ? Egypt. A major difference between us and other Shites is that our culture is Indian; our language is Indian; and our long ago forefathers decided to follow the teachings and philosophy of an Imam who claimed a true descendent of the family of Maulaana Ali; Our way of living and orientation to life is a little different from other Indian Shiite Muslims. we call ourselves Bohras which I am told means "traders" and that must have been because our forefathers were traders as opposed to proffessionals or farmers etc. So what distinguises us from other Shite muslims is: 1 our historical roots, 2 our culture which means way of life, language, rituals, foods, etc. 3 we follow the dictates of a family of priests who claim descendency from Maulaana Ali. There is a comfort in being part of a society of similar people. No different from Greeks going to a Greek Church; Thai christians going to a Thai church; Japanese going to a Japanese temple.
Like other Shites we are Muslims first and shites second and we practice Islaam in our way of practising and live a culture that has become distinctly Bohra. We find much comfort and support in spending many hours of our lives together. The religious leader provides a direction for us and creates a symbol for our identity. The leader is also supposed to set an example of character, lifestyle and values like those of Maulaana ALI, (that is why we can call ourselves Shiites).
Unfortunately in the last 1/2 a century or so the leadership has changed. Those who have studied the character and lifestyle values of Maulaana Ali have found that what we are being taught today and how we are being led today by our religious teachers and leaders is in direct opposition to the basic tenants of not only Maulaana Ali but also of Rasulullah. To give a few examples:
It is the most fundamental tenant of islaam the we dO not worship anything or anyone but Allah. But today we are asked to worship the Dai, and we worship money by elevating anybody to high status and power if they have money, no matter how little knowledge they have of islaam, no matter how they treat the poor and the needy, and no matter how they might have made their money, legally or illegally.
Maulaana Ali was not only brave and just but he was also kind and generous and lived a very simple life because he worshipped God and all of Gods people, no matter who they were, and he particularly cared for the poor and the orphans and the widows.
One of the most important differences between Islaam and Christianity and Jewdaism at the time when Rasulullah declared it was its leniency. Jewdaism and Christianity had laid down too many rules for their followers, Not to eat meat on Friday, not to do this, that and the other on Sabaath day etc. The God of islaam He said is very kind and benevolent and lenient. There are very few rules in islaam. But our leaders are asking us not to talk to our relatives if they dont wear a beard, not to talk to our brother if he has a mortgage for the house he lives in, Our ladies should not work even if thay are the sole suppliers of food for their families.
As you can see , things have gotten absurdly unjust and downright unislaamic. Yet we all need each other!
THE ONLY WAY OUT THAT I CAN SEE IS TO GET TOGETHER WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF THE PRIESTLY FAMILY. WE CAN CONTINUE TO PRACTICE ISLAAM AN DCONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE SAME CULTURE AND FRIENDSHIP GROUPS.

[questions]

I have read various ways that people have disengaged themselves from the social aspect of the bohra jamaat over a number of posts .
Perhaps if we start a list of simple yet practical things that each one of us has done to rid ourselves of the fear of being socially ostracized, it will be useful. For example:

1. Read the Quran translation and tafseer - knowledge is power
2. Go to various shia majlis so if that you can easily compare bohra waez to non bohra learning - also teaches you to the nuances to fit in various social circles
3. Cultivate non bohra friends - do not limit yourself to bohras friends only
4. Question everything kothar/amil tells you politely and innocently - to prove you are not a complete schmuck !
5. Be a L.A. type bohri - only attend jk on Lailul qadr and Ashura - limit the amount of times the Kothari lies fall on your ears.
6. Do not live in a bohri mohalla
7. Do not take the tiffin dabba regardless of what people say
8. I have never paid any salam money at all - silat najwa etc - when people come with jhollas to collect - - now they know not to make eye contact with me !
9. I have not got my picture taken for the ejmat card - my name is there with the family but I do not plan to go for any ziarat with bohra group - hopefully I will go with a shia group.
10. Encourage your children to get out of traditional bohra business and if possible to do something completely different ...

Other folks can add what has worked for them ......

[Gulaame Islaam]

Thank you QUESTIONS for your very thoughtful response. It amazes me that nobody else shared their thoughts in response to what I said. Too rebellious perhaps. But have you had the chance to gather a group of Bohoras and study Islaam together, independent of the Mullas?

[questions]

@FMHASSANALI - Unfortunately I have not studied the Quran systematically, but would love to do that soon. Naturally its the logical starting point to arm oneself with knowledge. Everyone knows that the Christian Church in the Middle (Dark) Ages forbade the locals to read the Bible in their language and limited it to Latin, which meant that no one except for the priests could understand anything. Once the locals understood the clergy's tactic, their power was gone and has not returned to this day!
I have been raised hearing Shia majalis all my life and am sure you can relate to it when I say they are so good. Simply no comparison to bohra self glorification waez. You can find them in all languages English, Urdu and even Gujarati am sure on the internet.

[Gulaame Islaam]

If you live in Chicago or in the vicinity I would love to meet you. Actually I wonder if there is They did gain some ground.a way to gather all progressives in different cities and form a more solid group with a voice that can be heard by the average man more easily. The Catholic Church in Chicago started a group called Call to Action. It gathered people who wanted to remain Catholics and have a voice of opposition which was heard all over the world; they opposed some fundamental policies of the Pope in Rome. They did gain some ground.

[Mkenya]

FMHASSANALI and questions:

In some of my other posts I have put discussed the grip of Kothar on the Bohra community, Kothar's lifestyles, Kothar's ruthless adminstration through its network of Sheiks and Amils, etc. What I have expressed is not anything new or that which the majority of Bohras do not seem aware of. Bohra community's 'Khamiro' is weak and will always be weak. Bohras will always be under the knuckles of Kothar. As we have witnessed since the expiry of Burhanuddin Saheb, neither of the two so-called Dais have demostrated humbleness or magnanimity in their persona. Both have tried to corral as much support from the community so that they can continue to subjugate it. If today among Bohras were individuals of fearless determination they would call upon the masses to expose both these Dais(?) intentions for what they are. They would tell them point blank that:

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. YOU HAVE USURPED THE COMMUNITY FOR TOO LONG AND TOO RUTHLESSLY. WE WILL NOT KNUCKLE UNDER. FROM NOW ON WE WILL CALL THE SHOTS. YOU HAVE FOOLED US FOR TOO LONG WITH YOUR BOGUS DEEN. YOU HAVE LOOTED US OF OUR HARD-EARNED MONEY. DEEN AS WE OUR PARENTS KNEW IT HAS BEEN HIGHJACKED BY YOU AND TRANSFORMED INTO A SELF-SERVING CHARADE.

But it will not happen. The so-called Dais could not even wait for Chelum and they are at each others throats. They want money and power. There are billion of dollars, euros, pounds, rupees, francs, yens, pesos at stake. The wakfs are a 'hauze-kauthar' and wajebbat, zakat, sabil, ziafat, najwa, salaams, are a monthly endowment. Will they let all this go?

[AliZahra]

Brilliant - How true and tragic - I believe the crisis that we have now is a God Send - I am so proud to have been born a Bohra and so proud of our rich culture, heritage and history - Like I said in my post "The Way Forward", this crisis provides a great opportunity and possibility to first BREAKAWAY from the STATUS QUO and next see how Syedna Qutbuddin's faction develops and whether there will be some hope there for REAL REFORMS and CHANGES and if not I really like Mr. Hassanali's idea of socio/religious/spiritual gatherings, WITHOUT THE PRIESTS and would go one step further and make it a GLOBAL gathering once a year - Insha Allah - Those of us who are offering REAL SOLUTIONS, let us continue to keep in touch through this Forum and make some of these ideas into a REALTY - Salaams & Best Wishes

[voice]

Thank you QUESTIONS for your very thoughtful response. It amazes me that nobody else shared their thoughts in response to what I said. Too rebellious perhaps. But have you had the chance to gather a group of Bohoras and study Islaam together, independent of the Mullas?

Reason of not noticing is that you had posted topic on different thread. I also saw it today only. I appreciate your call and would like to tell you that we are already practicing Islam in similar friendly group. Regular gatherings and Quranic teachings are part of our main focus to educate our community.
Alhamdulillah, that`s the only thing at present I can say after reading your post. May Allah swt help all of us to make this change a possibility, ameen.

[voice]

FMHASSANALI and questions:

In some of my other posts I have put discussed the grip of Kothar on the Bohra community, Kothar's lifestyles, Kothar's ruthless adminstration through its network of Sheiks and Amils, etc. What I have expressed is not anything new or that which the majority of Bohras do not seem aware of. Bohra community's 'Khamiro' is weak and will always be weak. Bohras will always be under the knuckles of Kothar. As we have witnessed since the expiry of Burhanuddin Saheb, neither of the two so-called Dais have demostrated humbleness or magnanimity in their persona. Both have tried to corral as much support from the community so that they can continue to subjugate it. If today among Bohras were individuals of fearless determination they would call upon the masses to expose both these Dais(?) intentions for what they are. They would tell them point blank that:

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. YOU HAVE USURPED THE COMMUNITY FOR TOO LONG AND TOO RUTHLESSLY. WE WILL NOT KNUCKLE UNDER. FROM NOW ON WE WILL CALL THE SHOTS. YOU HAVE FOOLED US FOR TOO LONG WITH YOUR BOGUS DEEN. YOU HAVE LOOTED US OF OUR HARD-EARNED MONEY. DEEN AS WE OUR PARENTS KNEW IT HAS BEEN HIGHJACKED BY YOU AND TRANSFORMED INTO A SELF-SERVING CHARADE.

But it will not happen. The so-called Dais could not even wait for Chelum and they are at each others throats. They want money and power. There are billion of dollars, euros, pounds, rupees, francs, yens, pesos at stake. The wakfs are a 'hauze-kauthar' and wajebbat, zakat, sabil, ziafat, najwa, salaams, are a monthly endowment. Will they let all this go?

Well, it appears that SKQ camp is indicating to change in same way. That`s the proposal you can find in topic, "The Way Foward". May Allah swt make it successful. Ameen.

[Gulaame Islaam]

Thanks a lot. I will look up. Like you said I am a late commer to this forum.

[Gulaame Islaam]

Dear fatemidawat;
Thank you for your enthusiastic response. How do we come out and talk with each other? Everyone is talking under a psudoname; fear is rampant; fear not just for yourselves but also for your families. Now is a good time because the kothar will know people have an alternative easily available. Who is the rep for SKQ in chicago and other cities so that we can negotiate proper governence and people dictate rules. Perhaps people in India who are better organised can help us.

[Mkenya]

I can emphatically state that Bohras are a weak-kneed and spineless community. Kothar's forces have ensnared the community in a strait jacket from which Bohras cannot escape. Bohras' social and communal activities revolve around Masjid, Waaz, Daris, Halka, Sabak, Mojiza, Barakat, etc. Over the last many years Kothar has cleverly channeled this focus to its advantage. The aura of infallibility, deliverance of Jannat, absolvement of sins, heavenly guidance in endeavours, and so on has hyptonised most Bohras. It is a mammoth task to swing a community with such ingrained faith.

A few people, me among them, sincerely believe that we do not Dais, PERIOD. Dais have a self-serving agenda. Friends and family members tell me about ruthless enforcement by Amils and Mullas. To which I say ' You deserve it', or 'So, stop attending'. They pay wajebaat and zakat regularly to stay in the fold, know what is going on and yet continue to attend functions of the community.

[Gulaame Islaam]

I think that if we establish an entity soon and show a face which Bohras can see and identify with, a great many people will shift and come out of their closets, just like we are beginning to do. Those of us who are older may have have more free time available to us to make things happen. The progressives in New Jersy and Toronto could launch a gathering that we could all go to; they are already organised I am told. Then we would have a large group in India and a large group in America with local branches. What a wonderful thing it would be for our children and their children to identify with- Pure Bohras, rid of all the anguish and nonsense ideas and rituals that are artficially created and that have nothing to do with Islaam or spirituality. They will have a place to come to for learning true spirituality. They would creatively participate in its evolution, moving forward in a very fast moving modern world, and not stuck carrying the long gone skeletons of the past. They could be real muslims praising Allah and Life, and enjoying Gods bounty rather than sitting for hours crying in the mosque fearing death.

[qutbiranglaya]

Look at what others think of us.......a cult??????????
Jago Mumineen Jago.
Every Bohra must listen to this speech.

HASSANBHAI JAFFER AT AFRICA FED MEETING DARESSALAM - YouTube


We have been reading quite a bit of the "goings-on" within the Bohora community; a recurring theme being that the sect has evolved to a cult, with their leaders enforcing tight control over each individual within the community. Nobody is allowed to speak out for fear of being banished from the community at the slightest sign of dissidence or criticism.

In contrast, we the Ismaili Khojas cherish the complete level of freedom of expression we enjoy because we have no clerical authority ruling over us. Listen to Alhaj Hassan Jaffer speaking his mind at the last Africa Federation Conference held in Dar es Salaam in 2010.

Hassanbhai disseminates some very relevant issues affecting the Community.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9KvwRmT9qMc