page_title: Mufaddal Saifuddin
section_title: Early life
hierarchical_section_title: Mufaddal Saifuddin / Personal life / Early life
caption_attribution_description: English: A photo of three Dai al-Mutlaq together: Syedna Taher, Syedna Mohammed, and Syedna Aali Qadr Mufaddal
context_page_description: Mufaddal Saifuddin is the spiritual leader and 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq of two million Dawoodi Bohras, a subgroup of the Tayyibi, Mustaali, Ismaili Shia branch of Islam. He is the second son of the 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq, Mohammed Burhanuddin, whom he succeeded in 2014. Saifuddin led the restoration of medieval Fatimid architecture, notably Al-Anwar Mosque, Al-Aqmar Mosque, Al-Juyushi Mosque, and Lulua Mosque in Cairo. He also discovered the burial places of the 5th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 30th Da'i al-Mutlaq in Yemen in the years 2018 and 2019.
context_section_description: Mufaddal Saifuddin was born on 20 August 1946 (23 Ramadan 1365 A.H.) in Surat, India, and was given the name Aali Qadr Mufaddal (Arabic:عالي قدر مفضل, Abjad value 1365, which corresponds to his Islamic year of birth) by his grandfather Taher Saifuddin. His kunya is Abu Jafar us Sadiq and his laqab is Saifuddin. 
  During the era of his grandfather Taher Saifuddin, he began the recitation of the Quran in Saifee Villa, Colombo. He received much of his spiritual tutelage from his father, Mohammed Burhanuddin and his father-in-law Yusuf Najmuddin the rector of Al Jamea tus Saifiyah. In 1969 he graduated from Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah with the al-Faqih al-Jayyid degree (the Distinguished Jurist). In 1971 he was conferred with the degree of al-Aleem al-Baari' (the Outstanding Scholar). 
  Saifuddin married Jawharatusharaf Najmuddin, daughter of Yusuf Najmuddin, on 1 January 1970.
  At 22 years of age, his father Burhanuddin designated him as his successor by performing nass (appointment by designation) on him in 1969, following that, in 2005 and 2011.
  Saifuddin was appointed Amirul Hajj by his father Burhanuddin in 1390 AH (1970 CE). After Hajj, he travelled to Karbala, Najaf, Syria, Misr and Yemen. In Yemen, he laid the foundation for the 3rd Da'i al-Mutlaq's Hatim's mausoleum. After that journey Burhanuddin bestowed upon him the honorific title Aqeeq-ul-Yemen in 1391 AH/1971 AD.
  Saifuddin often accompanied his father Mohammed Burhanuddin, meeting heads of state and notable personalities.
caption: A young Aali Qadr Mufaddal Saifuddin (bottom right) with his father, Mohammed Burhanuddin (right), and grand father, Taher Saifuddin (left) c. 1950.
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