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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Dawoodi Bohras are a religious denomination within the Ismā'īlī branch of Shia Islam. They number approximately one million worldwide and have settled in over 40 countries around the world. The majority of the Dawoodi Bohra community resides in India, with a sizable congregations in Pakistan, Yemen, East Africa, and the Middle East. They also have a growing presence in Europe, North America, South East Asia, and Australia.[1]
The Dawoodi Bohras are a close-knit community who follow the tenets of Islam. Their faith is based on the belief in one deity; Allah.[2] The core of the their faith is the belief that the Ahl al-Bayt, members of the Prophet Mohammed's family, are the rightful successors of the Prophet and guides of mankind. Like all Shia Muslims, they hold the traditions that Ali bin Abi Talib, the Prophet Mohammed's legatee, succeeded him and provided the Prophet with an interpretation and explanation of the revelations he had received. A fundamental tenet of the Dawoodi Bohra faith is that there will always be an imam on earth, descended from the Prophet through his grandson Imam Husain, to carry on the task of leading humanity. When the imam chooses to withdraw from public view, his office is taken over by the Al-Da'i al-Mutlaq (unrestricted missionary) who, like the imam, preserves and protects the faith until the imam's return. The Al-dai al-mutlaq first operated from Yemen and subsequently from India, for over the last 450 years. The dais are considered to have played an important role in shaping the lives of Dawoodi Bohras and contributing to the community's progress over the last nine centuries[1]
Mostly self-reliant, the Bohras are typically traders, businesspersons, and entrepreneurs. The word "Bohra" comes from the Gujarati word vohrvu or vyavahar, meaning "to trade".[3] Their cultural heritage is in the traditions of the Fatimid imams; direct descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima. The Fatimids ruled over North Africa between 10th and 11th century CE.[4] Whilst adherence to traditional values is important for the community, they are also known for their mercantilism and having a modernist approach to their lifestyles.[5]
Lisaan ud-Da'wat is the language of the Bohras, which is mostly based on Gujarati, a Neo-Indo-Aryan language. However, its script and a large portion of vocabulary are in Arabic. The Bohras' religious attire is known as Libas al-Anwar. Men who follow Muhammad's practises are expected to grow a full beard. The Bohras community during their gatherings, eat in groups of eight or nine people, seated around a particularly big metal plate called thaal. Prominent religious festivals include Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and Muharram. The majlis is an age-old practise of the community in which they meet to remember Allah on major dates in the Islamic calendar. They frequently conduct the mandatory Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah and the Prophet's shrine in Medina.[1]