Important Aspects of Waqf in India

What is Bohar?

The Dawoodi Bohras are a religious denomination within the Muslim branch of Shia Islam known for trading and business acumen. They also have a growing presence in Europe, North America, and Australia. The present leader is the 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq, Mufaddal Saifuddin who assumed office in January 2014.[5]

They are estimated to total around one million globally. The majority of the Dawoodi Bohra community resides in India, with sizable congregations in Pakistan, Yemen, East Africa, and the Middle East. Their total estimation is 9 lakh in India.

Syedna Muhammad Burhanuddin, the former spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, died on 17 January 2014, after which his son Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin took over.

The Dawoodi Bohra community follow the fundamental seven pillars of Islam

1. walaayat - (The belief in the Prophet's leadership, guardianship of faith)
2. tahaarat (purity of body and thought - "cleanliness" or "ritual purity")
3. salaat (Arabic word of prayer)
4. zakaat (offering a portion of one's income to Allah - a mandatory donation to charity )
5. sawm (fasting, particularly in the month of Ramadan)
6. hajj (once in a lifetime a pilgrimage made to the Kaaba, the "House of Allah", in the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.)
7. jihad (an Arabic word that means "striving" or "struggling" - defending of one's faith )

In Tamil Nadu, there are 2,000 families in Chennai and another 2,000 families in places including Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Trichy, and Kallakurichi.

Yemen was the seat and homeland of the Bohra Muslims for four centuries. It was from there that the Bohra Muslims came to India, especially Mumbai, 700 years ago. Their Jamaat is called Anjuman-e-Najmi. Bohra Muslims also live in countries including England, America, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Saudi Arabia. Those who live there are also those who have migrated from India.