Hyderabad, March 25: On 25 {+t} {+h} March His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin turns one-hundred years old and will spend the day as he always does on important occasions – in the midst of his followers the one million strong Dawoodi Bohra community to whom he has provided visionary leadership as a spiritual guide, as a moral compass, a pragmatic advisor and as a beloved father.
However, for 47 out of the 100, history has been unfolding on a larger canvas. “Religion is nothing but love” he maintains, and from this creed springs his life’s work, impacting thousands of people within and beyond the community. In the 47 years since he succeeded his father as the head of the community, he has single-mmdedly worked towards creating a socially, economically and spiritually uplifted society.
For the sick, he has encouraged the building of medical facilities – Saifee Hospital built under his aegis is recognized as a premier medical institution in Mumbai. For education he supports schools, colleges and grants and educational aid; For charity his numerous trusts disburse assistance on humanitarian grounds towards needs as varied as housing, medical aid and education; for the environment, he has set up a special trust, Burhani Foundation (India) that supports environmental issues throughout the country. But above all Syedna’s emphasis has been on housing – an unprecedented number of housing projects across the country have provided community members with a home. The most ambition of these projects is the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Project which aims to redevelop one of the oldest parts of Mumbai, Bhendi Bazaar – the first community initiative to redevelop a Mohalla. The Burhani Qardhan Hasana Trust founded by Syedna has seen a large number of Dawoodi Boliras be facilitated with interest-free loans for their business and social requisites. To the world he provided a unique example of international corporation ˜˜ he has built bonds of friendship with governments and monarchs as diverse as from Africa to America to Europe to the Middle East – all of whom accord his universal respect and friendship.
To the world he has also provided cultural enrichment ˜˜ especially in the restoration on fantastic mosques and mausoleums important to the Islamic World. Starting from the massive Jame Al Anwar, the Fatemi mosque in Cairo to the resplendent mosque of AM Ibe Abi Talib in Kufa, Iraq.
And his most loved and greatest contribution to the world has been the creation of a community that simultaneously straddles the worlds of tradition and modernity to push forward with confidence and peace into the 21 {+s} {+t} century.
Strong, consistent and loving leadership has encouraged Dawoodi Bohras to focus on economic dynamism and self-sufficiency, social responsibility, technological advancement and 100 per cent literary. Today, they stand tall as one of the most dynamic, educated and progressive the Dawoodi Bohra community today. Our joy on this occasion knows no bounds.
For this and the love you His Holiness, give in abundance and for the years you have devoted to the welfare of humanity, we sincerely offer gratitude and pray for Your Holiness long healthy and blissful life.
–Agencies