In a significant legal development, the Bombay High Court has confirmed the position of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin as the 53rd Dai-al-Mutlaq, the spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community. The court’s verdict dismissed the claim of Taher Fakhruddin, who contested Saifuddin’s status.
The dispute, which spanned a decade, was meticulously analyzed by Justice Gautam S. Patel, who emphasized the impartial nature of the judgment, based solely on evidence rather than religious beliefs. The Dawoodi Bohra community welcomed the court’s decision, eager to further comprehend the implications of the verdict.
The community’s statement acknowledged the court’s dismissal of challenges to Syedna Saifuddin’s appointment and the rejection of allegations against him. The claims brought forth by Khuzaima Qutbuddin, the original plaintiff, and his son, Taher Fakhruddin, were comprehensively refuted.
The community placed its trust in the Indian judiciary, which has consistently upheld the Syedna’s position and the Dawoodi Bohra community’s long-standing beliefs, customs, and practices.
The legal dispute emerged following the passing of the 52nd Syedna, Mohammed Burhanuddin, in 2014. His son, Mufaddal Saifuddin, assumed the role of the 53rd Syedna, but Khuzaima Qutbuddin, Syedna Burhanuddin’s half-brother, brought a challenge against Saifuddin’s succession. Qutbuddin alleged that Syedna Burhanuddin had secretly designated him as the successor in 1965, accusing Saifuddin of unlawfully assuming the Syedna’s role.
With Qutbuddin’s passing in 2016, his son, Taher Fakhruddin, continued the legal battle, asserting that his father had declared him as the 54th Dai of the community. However, the Bombay High Court’s decision has now laid the legal dispute to rest, confirming Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin’s position as the legitimate 53rd Dai-al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohra community.
