# Husain Burhanuddin

Shahzada Syedi Husain Burhanuddin (Arabic: شهزاده حُسين بُرهانُ ٱلدّين, romanized: Ḥusayn Burhānuddīn), also known as Husain Mufaddal Saifuddin, is the third and youngest son of Mufaddal Saifuddin, the incumbent 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq. He is a Qāriʾ and an honorary member of Naqabāt Qurrāʾ al-Quran (lit. 'Guild of Quran Reciters') in Cairo. He is currently the Chairman of Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust.
Burhanuddin is a provost of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah and heads Mahad al-Zahra, a Quranic sciences institute run by his father. He also administers other socio-economic institutions of the Dawoodi Bohra community. Burhanuddin is a recipient of All India Council for Human Rights' Ambassador for Peace Award.

## Career
### Early life

Burhanuddin was born on 24 December 1977 (15 Muḥarram al-Ḥarām 1398H) to Mufaddal Saifuddin and Jawaharatusharaf (née Najmuddin). He received his schooling at MSB Educational Institute in Mumbai where he graduated with high distinction.

### Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah

Burhanuddin is a senior member of the executive board of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah. He oversees the academic and administrative affairs of the academy. He also teaches at the academy.

### Mahad al-Zahra

Husain Burhanuddin has led the Mahad al-Zahra's development. He focuses on Quranic science, recitation, and exegesis with a view to benefit the modern day society. In order to foster a better understanding of Quranic arts and sciences, he has directed that Mahad al-Zahra distribute several guides and booklets to Dawoodi Bohra community centers worldwide, among them seven installments of Khazāʾin Maʿānī al-Qurʾān al-Fāʾiqah, a series for the non-Arabic speaking audiences to gain an insight into the meanings of the Quran.
Burhanuddin's emphasis on audio-visual teaching to facilitate learning has accelerated Quranic education within the community: through its e-learning program, Mahad al-Zahra attracts thousands of applicants from around the world to participate in virtual classes along with one-to-one recital sessions through video-conferencing, aiding huffaz as young as 6 years old.
As of 2024, more than 8 branches of Mahad al-Zahra have been established at Dawoodi Bohra centers in India, Kenya, Kuwait, Pakistan, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Yemen.
As the head of the Mahad al-Zahra, Burhanuddin personally conducts the final oral examinations for the Huffaz (lit. 'guardians of the Quran').

### Community Outreach

Under Burhanuddin's leadership, Mahad al-Zahra has become one of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah's largest avenues for community outreach. Over the past two decades, the department has extended access to Quranic education to members of the Dawoodi Bohra community through numerous educational institutions established across the globe.
Burhanuddin frequently visits Dawoodi Bohra community centers across the globe to encourage accurate recitation of the Quran and facilitate its memorization. Between 2007 and 2011, at various venues, Burhanuddin conducted 3-day workshops designed to motivate and teach participants Quran memorization techniques.
Burhanuddin has initiated an annual outreach where ḥuffāẓ are sent all over the world during the month of Ramadān al-Muʿazzam, to conduct classes that help children as well as adults recite and memorize the Quran.
Today, he is said to be responsible for running almost all the major departments and organisation of Dawat-e-Hadiyah an acting as the prime handler of the daily affairs of the religious mission.
Burhanuddin called on Narendra Modi in November 2020, at the Prime Minister's office to discuss on various projects and initiatives by the Dawoodi Bohra community.
During the Narendra Modi's visit to Egypt in June 2023, Burhanuddin welcomed him to the Al Hakim Mosque, the renovation of which was led by his father, Mufaddal Saifuddin.

### Quranic studies

By 1995 (1416H) he had completed memorization of the Quran. Three years later, in 1998, he graduated from Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah with the degree of al-Faqih al-Jayyid (lit. 'The Distinguished Jurist').
Burhanuddin frequented Cairo to study the art of recitation as well as the sciences of Quranic readings. He later released an audio recording of the entire Quran in the murattal style of recitation, certified by al-Azhar University, Cairo.
Burhanuddin, in his capacity as a Qari, has delivered 30-minute mujawwad recitations of the Quran which precede the sermons delivered by his father Mufaddal Saifuddin, during Ashara Mubarāka, since 2012.
On 29 Dhu al-Hijja 1439H (9 September 2018), he was certified in the Ten recitations al-Sughra from the recitations of al-Shatebiya and al-Durra. On 25 July 2022, he published a book on the Ten recitations titled قراءات زاهرة لكتاب الله which was endorsed by the 'Muṣḥaf Revision Committee' of Al-Azhar University.

## Potential Successor-Designate
### The Likely Heir

The incumbent Syedna, Mufaddal Saifuddin, has not made any public announcement regarding his successor. However, following the Ismaili tradition like his father, Saifuddin is likely to have privately designated a successor early in his tenure to ensure seamless continuity of spiritual leadership.
Community observers believe that Husain Burhanuddin is the likely successor-designate, citing his prominent role at public events, exceptional command of Quranic sciences, and comprehensive understanding of community affairs — qualities that distinguish him. He devotes himself primarily to religious pursuits, displaying a notable detachment from worldly concerns and material interests.
His appointment as the Chairman of the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust and as the Syedna's representative to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and at Imam al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo further suggest his special standing, as such significant responsibilities would typically be reserved for the Syedna himself.

## Lineage

Burhanuddin is a direct descendant of the Islamic Prophet Mohammed, who was himself a descendant of the Prophet Abraham, through an unbroken chain of noble and august ancestry. His heritage to the Prophet Mohammed traces back through the Prophet's daughter, Fatima al-Zahra, and her husband Ali ibn Abi Talib. From Fatima and Ali, the line continues through their son, Imam Hussein, and the subsequent Imams in the Ismaili tradition up to the fifth Imam, Ja'far al-Sadiq. Burhanuddin's ancestors include Mir Mahamad Ali, Fakhr al-Din Shaheed, Abd al-Qadir Hakimuddin, Khanji Pheer and Syedi Lukman who were direct descendants of Ja'far al-Sadiq.

## Works

Burhanuddin has authored several audio and text books on Quran recitals, some are:
* Al-Taysīr fī Hifz al-Quran al-Karīm (Arabic: التيسير في حفظ القران الكريم, lit. 'Simplifying Memorization of the Holy Quran'): A practical guide for memorizing al-Quran al-Kareem.
* Al-Muṣḥaf al-Murattal (Arabic: المصحف المرتل, lit. 'Murattal recitation of the Holy Quran'): Audio recording of the complete Quranic text in murattal (tartīl) style.
* Al-Muṣḥaf al-Muʿallim (Arabic: المصحف المعلم, lit. 'Pedagogical recitation of the Holy Quran'): A digital aid for the memorization of the 30th Juzʾ of al-Quran.
* Al-Muṣḥaf al-Mujawwad (Arabic: المصحف المجود, lit. 'Mujawwad recitation of the Holy Quran'): Audio recording of the 30th juzʾ of al-Quran in mujawwad (tajwīd) style.
* Qira'aat Zahira le Kitab Allah (Arabic: قراءات زاهرة لكتاب الله)

## Personal life

Burhanuddin has two elder brothers, Jafar us Sadiq Imaduddin and Taha Najmuddin and two sisters, Ummehani A. Nooruddin and Ruqaiyah A. Vajihuddin.
Husain's wife, Naqiyah, daughter of Mukasir al-Dawat Syedi Malik ul Ashter Shujauddin, is known for her elegance and charm. She not only runs the Rawdat al-Quran al-Kareem school of Quranic sciences in Mumbai but also has a significant online presence, having the largest Instagram audience of any female in the Dawoodi Bohra community with over 130,000 followers. She completed her postgraduate education at D'Youville University, a nationally-ranked Catholic college located in upstate New York. An American citizen who grew up in Houston, she possesses a deep understanding and expertise in media presence - her personal website highlighted her modern and sophisticated ideology, particularly on teaching and leadership.

## Recognition and awards

* India: On 15 May 2015 (27 Rajab 1436H) Mufaddal Saifuddin, the 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq, bestowed upon him the cognomen of Burhan al-din (Arabic: برهان الدين, lit. 'Proof of Faith').
* India: Burhanuddin was conferred one of the highest degrees of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah; al-ʿAlīm al-Bāriʿ (Arabic: العليم البارع, lit. 'The Outstandingly Learned') on 3 May 2016 (27 Rajab 1437H).
* India: Burhanuddin was conferred one of the highest degrees of Dawat-e-Hadiyah; Thiqat al-Daʿwat al-Ṭayyibīyyah (Arabic: ثقة الدعوة الطيبية, lit. 'The trusted of the Taiyebi Da'wah') on 3 May 2016 (27 Rajab 1437H).
* India: Burhanuddin was a recipient of All India Council of Human Rights, Liberties, and Social Justice's Ambassador for Peace Award on 9 December 2019 "for protecting and promoting human rights, peace and harmony."
* Egypt: Honorary member of Naqabāt Qurrāʾ al-Quran (lit. 'Guild of Quran Reciters') in Cairo.
* United Arab Emirates : On behalf of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, Shahzada Husain Burhanuddin attended the COP28 Global Faith leaders summit in Abu Dhabi and signed a joint appeal to take meaningful action in addressing climate crisis.