Upbringing and Education
Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS)
was born on 6th March 1915, corresponding to 20th Rabi al-Akher
1333H in Surat, India. His illustrious father, Syedna Taher
Saifuddin of revered memory personally undertook and supervised
Syedna’s upbringing and tutelage. Subsequently, Syedna Taher Saifuddin affirmed his son and
successor to be “like unto me”.
At the age of fifty-three,
Syedna succeeded his revered father as the 52nd Dai al- Mutlaq in
1965.
Recognizing him as a scholar
par excellence of Arabic literature and theology, Al-Azhar
University, Cairo and the
Aligarh Muslim University, India, have
conferred Doctorates in Islamic Sciences and Theology on Syedna
respectively. The University of Karachi recently conferred upon Syedna the Degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) in
recognition of his erudition and scholarly attainments.
"Besides being
himself a scholar, His Holiness is a patron of learning who has
been brought up in the tradition of his great father and has therefore, both inherited and himself cultivated a broad and
liberal humanism." -Nawab Ali Yaver Jung, Vice Chancellor,
Aligarh Muslim University.
An internationally acknowledged
Arabic scholar, Syedna has held the office of the Chancellor of
Aligarh Muslim University.
He has been the driving force behind the Dawoodi Bohra community's cent percent literacy achievement.
Syedna develops, endorses, encourages and financially supports all
levels of education. He oversees the administration of over four
hundred educational institutes all over the world established by
him and his distinguished predecessors.
"Knowledge is a
noble heritage; to safe guard this heritage for future
generations." -Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin
With his phenomenal accomplishments in Islamic studies, Syedna has
also nurtured his interest in secular studies. In consonance with
the Fatimi tradition of learning, Syedna has emphasised on
procuring both scientific and religious education. Subsequently
thousands of professionals and academics abound in this
comparatively small community.
Syedna has ensured that with
religious and moral studies, secular subjects need to be taught in
community institutes world over. The 200 years old Arabic academy, al-Jameah al-Saifiah in Surat, India
and the new academy campus built by Syedna in Karachi, Pakistan in
1983, impart higher level religious and secular studies to
students coming from all over the world.
"In the fast
progressing world, the concept of knowledge has changed. To lead a
self-sufficient and satisfying life with dignity and honour, not
only knowledge of literature and philosophy is requied but
technological and industrial know-how is necessary." -Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin
Syedna himself a Hafiz al-Quran (person having memorized the
entire Quran) is the Taslib (SA) was martyred in Iraq was a
spectacular achievement of Syedna. inspiration behind the resurgence and
consciousness among the Dawoodi Bohras for the recital and
memorization of al-Quran al-Majeed. He has institutionalized the
memorization of al-Quran al-Majeed in the community with the
establishment of Mahad al-Zahra, situated in Surat.
This institute takes pride in its state-of-the-art technology and an ambience
conducive to fostering the art of recitation and memorization of
al-Quran al-Majeed. Every year a large number of students and
professionals from the community graduate as Qaari and Haafiz.
