The Bombay High Court has upheld the appointment of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin as the leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, rejecting a challenge from his nephew, Syedna Taher Fakhruddin.
In 2014, Syedna Taher Fakhruddin filed a petition alleging that his uncle had taken over the position of Syedna in a fraudulent manner. However, the court dismissed the suit, ruling that Fakhruddin had not provided sufficient proof to support his claim.
The court emphasized that its decision was based solely on the issue of proof and did not involve matters of faith. Justice Gautam Patel stated, “I have only decided on the issue of proof and not faith.”
Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin succeeded his father, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, as the 53rd Syedna of the Dawoodi Bohra community in 2014. The Dawoodi Bohras are a religious denomination among Shia Muslims. The position of Syedna is traditionally passed down through a process known as “nass,” in which the current leader designates their successor.
In this case, Syedna Taher Fakhruddin claimed that his father, Khuzaima Qutbuddin, had been secretly appointed as Syedna by Syedna Burhanuddin in 1965. However, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin opposed the suit, arguing that the alleged “nass” lacked witnesses and could not be accepted.
The court agreed with Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, ruling that Fakhruddin had not provided sufficient proof to support his claim. The court also emphasized that the “nass” can be conferred upon any deserving member of the Dawoodi Bohra community, not necessarily a family member of the current leader.
