Who are the Dawoodi Bohras?


Answer: The Dawoodi Bohras are a modern religious group within the Ismaili Shia Sect of Shia Islam. They originate from Egypt tracing their lineage to The Fatimid Empire. Dawoodi Bohras are usually known for their trading policies, business acumen & entrepreneurship & believe in becoming Self-reliant. The word "Bohra" in Gujarati means "to trade" hence most of them prefers to do businesses & are quite involved in Software, Iron or Metal trading majorly.

From a religious perspective, They usually follow seven pillars of Islam (Walayah, Taharah, Salat, Zakah, Sawm, Hajj & Jihad) instead of Five. They're also quite active in Muharram-al-Haram performing the Mourning of Husayn ibn Ali & Ahl-al-Bayt and the day of the Ashura. They have an annual event of "Ashara Mubaraka" where they gather from across the world at a chosen place to perform the Mourning & doing community services. They're also very active in Ramadan & other months to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr, Eid-al-Adha, Eid-al-Ghadir etc. 

At present their current leader & Dai-al-Mutlaq is His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin who resides in Saifee Mahal, Mumbai, India. To know more about this community, I would suggest to read "Mullahs on the Mainframe: Islam and Modernity among the Daudi Bohras" by Jonah Blank published first in 2001.