page_title: Alavi Bohras
section_title: Society
hierarchical_section_title: Alavi Bohras / Society
caption_attribution_description: English: A grand majlis in the grand mosque
context_page_description: The Alavi Bohras are a Taiyebi Musta'alavi Isma'ili Shi'i Muslim community from Gujarat, India. In India, during the time of the 18th Fatimid Imam Ma'ad al-Mustansir Billah around 1093 AD in Egypt, the designated learned people who were sent from Yemen by missionaries under the guidance of the imam established a da'wah in Khambhat.
  After the division of the Mustaalid community, the Yemenite Da'wah followed their 21st imam, the son of 20th Imam Aamir in the succession of Fatimid Imams of Egypt, at-Taiyeb Abul Qaasim as their Imam of seclusion ستر, and the Bohras are the modern descendants of Taiyebi Da'wah established from Khambhat, Patan and Sidhpur in the 5th century Hijri and also the immigrants from Yemeni Taiyebi Da'wah.
  Subsequently, splits occurred at various instances in the mainstream Bohra community regarding the spiritual appointment in the succession of the representative of the Imam us Satr or Da’i in Ahmedabad between 1422–1640 AD. Two major splits during this period resulted in the formation of three major groups of Bohras: Alavis, Dawoodis and Sulaymanis.
context_section_description: Allah created humans as a final and complete being which is the sign of His Supreme Authority. The position of humans is above all His creations.  Unlike others he needs society, education and work to survive.  He, the Exalted made manifest from the hidden knowledge and the stored judgement in Adam and Eve (آدم ۔ حواء), the two parents, a male and a female, as a cause for the creation of mankind and society to reveal His mighty power.  He paired them and they procreated, and the children and the number increased.  They were transferred through the chaste loins and pure approved wombs.  Alavi Society is based on 6 steps like everything which has 6 dimensions.  These 6 steps is further rooted in 6 distinguished things created by Allah for His divine mission-دعوۃ.  It is 1. Qur’an (القرآن) – the divine book, 2. Nabi-نبي (warner) – prophet, 3. ‘Aalim-عالم (learned) – the vicegerent of the prophet, 4. Shaahid-شاهد (witness) – the imam of the descendants of prophet, 5. ‘Aabid-عابد (pious man) – missionary in the place of imam, and 6. Khalq-خلق (universe) – things into existence.
  It is relayed by the eminent 15th century Sunni Egyptian author al-Maqrizi, Fatimid Caliph Imam al-Mo'iz wished to impart the principles of compassionate society and governance to the leaders of the Kutama tribe and to deter them from an opulent lifestyle.  He says, "I summoned you in my chamber so that you could see what I do when I am away from you and far from your eyes.  My status exceeds yours only because I have responsibility over your affairs on earth and because Allah has singled me out as your Imam.  I busy myself with letters that come to me from the east and west, to which I respond in my own hand."  This is how Imam responded to each and every society members.  The six dimensions or "M-م" of the Alavi Society in place of above mentioned things are:
  1.     Madrasah (مدرسۃ) – religious seminary: It stands for the teaching of the holy Book where children learn the basics of their community.  It is the beginning of their involvement in the social development and relations.  The first heavenly order that the Prophet Mohammad received at Mount Noor under the Hira cave was "to read".  So it became necessary for every believer to acquire knowledge throughout his lifetime from the designated person and the representative of Prophet Mohammad from his progeny.  So, Madrasah is not only meant for children but it is the learning hub for those who are keen in knowing the realities of creation.  Prophetic traditions says, "Seditions appear and crush believers-your only salvation is your learning." Social health based on the overall knowledge is served by this "M" of Madrasah.  The importance of reading which is the stepping stone of any learning institution could be well found in the foremost Qur’anic verses, "READ in the name of your Lord who created.  Created man from an embryo. Read, for your Lord is most beneficent.  Who taught by the pen.  Taught man what he did not know." (al-Quran 96-1)
  2.   Misaaq (میثاق) – covenant: After completing basic religious and social learning, a learner or an ordinary Alavi initiate steps into puberty and towards intellectual advancement.  Now in order to become a member of a community and begin his spiritual journey with an Imam, he has to give unconditional and lifetime oath of fealty or the promise for loyalty to the Imam's representative i.e. Da'i al-Mutlaq. This divine tradition and sublime submission was initiated from heavens and will be continued till the last day of this creation.  The Prophets took this oath from their respective people of their time and they commanded their missionaries to do so in order to protect their faith.  The initiate is also bound by this oath to keep secret the esoteric knowledge imparted to him by a hierarchy of teachers authorized by the Isma'ili Imam.  He has to renew this oath to Imam every year on 18th Zul Hijjah known as Eid e Ghadeer e Khumm-عید غدیر خم.  
  Once the believer had solemnly bound himself through the oath, he could undergo a step-by-step introduction into 'wisdom'-
caption: An assembly-majlis in a mosque during Moharram where Da'i delivers an extensive lecture with the mourning on Imam Husain
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