Saifee Villa (previously known as Lakshmigiri ) is a mansion at 102, Thurstan Road in Colombo 03, Sri Lanka , located between Thunmulla Junction and College House, Colombo .
71-460: 6°53′57.05″N 79°51′33.00″E / 6.8991806°N 79.8591667°E / 6.8991806; 79.8591667 Lakshmigiri (built in 1910) was the stately home of Hon. A. J. R. de Soysa , Member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon , planter and musician He was the second son of Sir Charles Henry de Soysa . Born in 1869 at Brodie House (later gifted to Ceylon University College ) he
142-436: A Bohra's adult life. The Dawoodi Bohra follow a Fatimid-era tabular calendar which matches the lunar cycle of 354 days (and hence requires no adjustments). The odd-numbered months have 30 days and the even-numbered months have 29 days—except in a leap year when the 12th and final month, Zil Hajj , has 30 days. This contrasts with other Muslim communities, which base the beginnings of specific Islamic months on sightings of
213-569: A believer to the duties owed to Allah, including an oath of allegiance : a vow to accept the spiritual guidance of the Da'i al-Mutlaq wholeheartedly and without reservation. This ceremony, akin to baptism in Christianity , is mandatory to enter the fold of the faith. The mithaq is first taken at whatever age a child is deemed to have reached maturity: most commonly, thirteen years for girls, fourteen or fifteen for boys. These vows are renewed throughout of
284-412: A crocheted white cap with a gold design. Men, adhering to the customs of Muhammad , are expected to grow a full beard. The women wear a two-piece dress called rida, distinct from hijab , purdah , and chador . Its distinguishing features are bright colors, decorative patterns and lace, and the fact that it does not cover a woman's face. The rida is of any colour except black. A flap called pardi
355-458: A journey from Mecca , through the deserts of modern-day Iraq, to Kufa . The Bohras believe that Husayn's sacrifice was foretold by Muhammad, and that he was destined to change the course of Islam as a result of his martyrdom . Remembrance of the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, often linked to the hagiography of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ , is among the most important events of the year for
426-449: A medium to articulate Islamic values and heritage. Though Arabic remains community's dominant liturgical language, Lisan al-Dawat is its language of sermons and its medium of official and day-to-day communication. The Dawoodi Bohras wear distinct attire. The men traditionally dress in a predominantly white, three-piece outfit: kurta , a form of tunic; saaya , an overcoat of equal length; and izaar , loose-fit trousers; with topi ,
497-776: A schism in the community. A majority of Bohras acknowledged Dawood Bin Qutubshah as the rightful successor and henceforth came to be known as Dawoodis (or Da’udis.) Over the next few centuries, the Bohra headquarters moved within India with the changing location of the Dai. The centre of the Da’wah has been in six places: Ahmedabad (eight Dais, from 1567/974 to 1655/1065); Jamnagar in the Kathiawar region of Gujarat (five Dais, from 1655/1065 to 1737/1150); Ujjan in
568-451: A spirit of self-sacrifice, forbearance, and adherence to their faith. During the ʿAshara Mubāraka , the Bohra communities all over the world host a series of majālis twice a day, one each in the morning and in the evening, recounting Husayn ibn Ali's sacrifice, which forms the central theme of the discourse. The majālis led by the Da'i al-Mutlaq on occasion attract hundreds of thousands of followers. To facilitate marriages among
639-762: A town in Gujarat, was one of the Bohras who travelled to Yemen to seek knowledge from the Dai. Najmuddin arrived in Yemen while still in his youth and first studied under Hasan bin Nuh al-Bharuchi. He was eventually appointed the 23rd Dai as his successor and became the first from the Indian community to lead the Tayyibi Da’wa as the 24th al-Mutlaq. When Najmuddin died in CE 1567/H 974, the central headquarters of
710-415: Is 80 feet above the plinth: the number signifies the age of Taher Saifuddin , who is buried there. The sanctum of the mausoleum is 51 × 51 feet, which symbolises Saifuddin's position as the 51st Dai al-Mutlaq. The entire Quran is inscribed in gold on its walls, whilst Bismillah is engraved 113 times in precious stones, and four doors, one on each side of the wall, are clad with silver. The inner side of
781-555: Is also funded in large part by the Da'i al-Mutlaq. The office of the Da'i al-Mutlaq has appointed committees at the city level to oversee the management of this corpus. The Bohras use these loans to finance their enterprises, acquire homes, and pursue higher education. The rite of initiation for the Bohras is the mithaq . This ceremony is a covenant between the believer and God , effected through God's representative on earth. The mithaq binds
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#1732863153861852-545: Is awarded for the best cadet platoon from a girls' school by the National Cadet Corps (Sri Lanka) in his memory. According to 'Colombo Heritage' as time ran on De Soysa ran into financial difficulties and various properties were sold off, the house was mortgaged, and later foreclosed. It was then bought in and around 1923 by the Dawoodi Bohra "Adamjee Lukmanjee" family, and has remained in their ownership to date under
923-457: Is based on a Neo-Indo-Aryan language, Gujarati , but incorporates a heavy amount of Arabic , Urdu , and Persian vocabulary and is written in the Arabic script naskh style. The Bohras' cultural attire is known as Libas al-Anwar and men usually grow a full beard. Prominent religious festivals include Eid-e-Milad an-Nabi, Eid al-Fitr , Eid al-Adha and Muharram . The majlis is an age-old practise of
994-547: Is considered to have played an important role in shaping the community's social and economic progress. Community members seek and abide by his counsel in different aspects of life. The 1st Dai, Dhu'ayb bin Musa, was appointed in 1138 (532 H ) in Yemen by Queen Arwa bint Ahmed when the 21st Imam went into seclusion. Over the next 400 years, 23 Dais established the Dawat in Yemen. The seat of the Dawat then transferred from Yemen to India, where
1065-511: Is derived from the traditions of the Fatimid imams ; direct descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima , who ruled over North Africa between the 10th and 11th century CE . Whilst adherence to traditional values is important for the community, they are also known for their mercantilism and forward outlook. Lisan ald-Da'wat is the language of the Bohras. The language
1136-532: Is described as an extravagant mix of Baroque and Italianate architecture reminiscent of a retreat of Queen Victoria with gates inspired by those of Buckingham Palace . The Gates of Lakshmigiri are identical to the gates of the Egyptian Museum , Cairo. It said that designer of the Egyptian Museum gates was inspired by the design of the Gates of Lakshmigiri. A. J. R. de Soysa had a keen interest in horse racing. It
1207-422: Is folded to one side to allow a woman's face to be visible, but it can be worn over the face when desired. Joining each other for meals is a well-known Dawoodi Bohra custom. Families and friends gather around sharing the meal from a large circular tray called thaal . The thaal is raised upon a kundali or tarakti made of wood or metal, on top of a safra , a large cloth that covers the floor. Each course of
1278-722: Is founded on the conviction that there is only one deity, Allah that the Islamic prophet Mohammed is the last of the Prophets and, that the Holy Quran is the message of Allah. They follow the sharia-mandated tenets of Islam, such as reciting the Quran, performing the five daily prayers (Salah), and fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the mandatory Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah and the Prophet's shrine in Medina. At
1349-586: Is fundamental to Bohras' beliefs. The Fatimids , descendants of the Prophet Mohammed, ruled over North Africa and Egypt, Hejaz, and the Levant between the 10th and 11th centuries. They flourished during what Maurice Lombard called the Golden Age of Islam , and were patrons of arts, learning, and scientific discovery. The 14th Imam, al-Mui’zz , founded the city of Cairo and established Al-Azhar University , one of
1420-504: Is in reference to Dawood Bin Qutubshah , the 27th Da'i al-Mutlaq , who emerged as the leader of the majority following a schism in 1588. Dawoodi Bohras culture is a blend of Yemeni, Egyptian, Pakistani , and Indian cultures. Their language Lisan al-Dawat , written in Perso-Arabic script, derives from Arabic , Urdu , Persian , Sanskrit , and Gujarati . Lisan al-Dawat, which takes its basic structure from Gujarati developed as
1491-694: Is said that he built the western and eastern towers of Lakshimigiri, to be able to observe the races taking part at the Colombo Racecourse Airstrip , situated just down the road. In 1893 he built the Chevaliar Jusey de Silva ward at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children and in 1913 inaugurated the Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind, Ratmalana. The De Soysa Trophy (formerly for shooting )
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#17328631538611562-507: Is the most important of the seven pillars of Islam according to the Dawoodi Bohra faith. The other six pillars are tahaarat (purity in body and thought), salah (daily ritual prayers), zakaat (offering a portion of one's income in the cause of Allah ), sawm (fasting in the month of Ramadan ), hajj (a ritual pilgrimage to Mecca ), and jihad (striving in the way of Allah). The Bohras build mosques wherever they live to congregate for prayers and majalis (religious congregation) for
1633-478: The zikr of Allah and his prophets, imams, and da'is. During the seclusion of the Imam, his vicegerent, al-Dai al-Mutlaq was appointed to lead the community and administer, with complete authority, its secular and religious affairs. The Dai preaches Quranic precepts, which are the foundation of the faith, and guides the community on the path of salvation. Over the nine centuries that this office has existed, each Dai
1704-648: The Executive Council of Ceylon , on the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission . It was the first form of representative government in the island. The 1931 Donoughmore Constitution replaced the Legislative Council with the State Council of Ceylon . Members of the Legislative Council, used the post-nominal letters , MLC . In 1833 the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission created
1775-539: The Government Agents of the Western and Central provinces) and six appointed unofficial members (three Europeans, one Sinhalese , one Tamil and one Burgher ). The unofficial members had no right to initiate legislation; they could only contribute to discussion. This was the first step towards giving the people of the country a voice in its administration. However, in 1860 the member of the Legislative Council were given
1846-629: The Land Reform act, a large portion of the land surrounding Lakshmigiri was seized, and the tenants were given ownership rights. What remains today is a portion of the land that once was. The Adamjee Lukmanjee Family are members of the Muslim Dawoodi Bohra community. They were honoured to house the Head of the Community; Syenda Taher Saifuddin on all of his five visits to Sri Lanka. Lakshmigiri housed
1917-619: The Western Province and one each from the other eight provinces. Three non-official members were elected to the Executive Council. Yet again the Ceylonese were not satisfied and requested more change. The Second Manning Reforms of 1923 increased membership from 37 to 49, of which 12 were official and 37 were unofficial. Of the non-official members, eight were appointed by the governor (three Muslim, two Indian Tamils and three others) and
1988-566: The 24th Dai, Yusuf bin Sulayman Najmuddin , became the first Dai to assume office from this region. Despite territorial and political upheavals through different periods, the Dais persevered and continued to lead the faithful and preserve the faith. The current leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community is the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq, Aali Qadr Mufaddal Saifuddin , who lives in India. As of 2021, there are an estimated 1 million Dawoodi Bohras around
2059-456: The 9th month of the Islamic calendar, the Dawoodi Bohras like rest of Islamic world, observe a mandatory fast from dawn to dusk. The Bohras congregate in their local mosques for daily prayers (particularly for the evening prayers), and break the day-long fast with the iftaar ( lit. ' fast breaking ' ) meal together. Ramadan is a month of heightened spirituality activity for
2130-666: The Bohras first eat mithaas (sweet dish), followed by kharaas (savoury dish), and then the main course. Food wastage is frowned upon. Those seated at the thaal are encouraged to take smaller portions and expected to finish those. The Bohra cuisine, influenced by Gujarati , Persian , Yemeni , and Egyptian cuisines, is known for its unique taste and dishes such as bohra-style biryani , dal chaawal palidu (rice, lentils, and curry), kheema samosa (minced mutton samosa ), dabba gosht ( steamed-mutton-in-a-box ), and masala bateta (spicy potatoes). Islam prohibits riba ( lit. ' usury ' ) and interest ;
2201-452: The Bohras that ends with Eid al-Fitr . In the month of Zil Hajj the Bohras undertake hajj and all celebrate Eid al-Adha at its conclusion. In line with Shia traditions, on the 18th of Zil Hajj, the day Muhammad publicly anointed Ali ibn Abi Talib his successor, the Bohras mark celebrate Eid i-Ghadir by , observe fasting, and offering special prayers. Special prayers and congregations are also held during other major events such as
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2272-528: The Bohras. Known as ʿAshara Mubāraka ( lit. ' the Blessed Ten ' ), the Dawoodi Bohras congregate for a series of ten majālis ( lit. ' congregations ' ) in the beginning of the month of For them, Husayn ibn Ali's martyrdom epitomizes the values of humanity, justice, and truth. They consider his sacrifice and stand against tyranny, to offer lessons in bravery, loyalty, and compassion. These values, they believe, inculcate in them
2343-569: The Dawoodi Bohra, Taher Saifuddin, the 51st Da'i al-Mutlaq, started Rasm-e Saifee in Jamnagar c. 1952 and later institutionalised it c. 1963 . During Rasm-e Saifee multiple nikah are solemnized at the hands of the Da'i al-Mutlaq and his representatives. Saifuddin's son and successor, Mohammed Burhanuddin , founded the International Taiseer al-Nikah Committee (ITNC), which now organizes Rasm-e Saifee throughout
2414-412: The Dawoodi Bohras follow the practice of Qardan Hasana ( lit. ' good loan ' ), which means interest-free loans. Based on the ideal of benefitting the borrower (as opposed to the lender), this model has played an important role in the economic growth of the community. Qardan Hasana contributions from the Bohras are voluntarily made to an institutionally-maintained loan corpus, which
2485-638: The Da’wah were transferred from Yemen to Gujarat by his Indian successor, Jalal bin Hasan . When the 26th al-Dai al-Mutlaq died in CE 1589/H 997, he was succeeded by Dawood Bin Qutubshah . However, three years later, Sulayman bin Hasan, a high-ranking dignitary in Yemen, claimed the succession to the leadership of the community for himself. This succession dispute was brought before the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1597. A special tribunal decided in favour of Dawood Bin Qutubshah. However, this did not dissolve tensions, leading to
2556-494: The De Soysa family covered a large area of about 125 acres stretching from what is now Duplication road to Cinnamon Gardens ; and Thunmulla Junction to Charles Circus. It is said that Sir Charles de Soysa owned a total of 48 houses in the city of Colombo. Over the years, the 125-acre Alfred House Estate underwent several subdivisions, some major changes being precipitated by the master plan for Colombo which foresaw many new roads across
2627-612: The Legislative Council was elected, who was James Peiris . Four non-official members were also selected to be part of the Executive Council. Due to the shortcomings of the Second Manning Reforms the Donoughmore Commission was sent to Ceylon. The Commission gained its name from the royal commission under the Earl of Donoughmore that came to Ceylon in 1927. Its recommendations led to Ceylon gaining limited self-government and
2698-825: The Legislative Council of Ceylon, the first step in representative government in British Ceylon . Initially the Legislative Council consisted of 16 members: the British Governor , the five appointed members of the Executive Council of Ceylon (the Colonial Secretary , the Attorney General , the Auditor-General , the Treasurer and the General Officer Commanding ), four other government officials (including
2769-514: The Prophet through his grandson Imam Husain , to carry on the task of leading the faithful. When the imam chooses to withdraw from public view, he is represented by the Al-Da'i al-Mutlaq (unrestricted missionary) who, like the imam, preserves and protects the faith until the imam's return. After the 21st Imam chose seclusion in 1132, the Al-dai al-mutlaq operated from Yemen and subsequently from India, for over
2840-530: The Syedna and his royal family. It was considered a center for the community in Sri Lanka, as it was the venue for numerous religious and cultural gatherings. On 19 June 1979, after the death of Syenda Taher Saifuddin, his heir Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin , in the memory of his fathers' visits, changed the name from "Lakshmigiri" to "Saifee Villa" (where the word "Saifee" is derived from the name Saifuddin). The crown of
2911-590: The aftermath of a severe drought in Kathiawar. The 43rd Dai, Abdeali Saifuddin, invited 12,000 of his followers to Surat, and provided food, work and lodgings for all of them. His only conditions were that they learn and practice vocational skills, and he gave them their earnings when it was time for them to leave Surat. Many from this group decided to use this capital to venture forth to trade in East Africa. A century on from Abdeali Saifuddin, Taher Saifuddin acceded to
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2982-581: The community in which they congregate on major dates in the Islamic calendar. The Bohra community during their gatherings, eat in groups of eight or nine people, seated around a big metal plate called a thaal. Dawoodi Bohras are a subset of the Taiyebi sect of the Musta'li branch of Isma'ilism , itself a branch of Shia Islam. Reverence for the Fatimid Imams, whose lineage traces back to Mohammed's daughter Fatima
3053-523: The core of their faith is the belief that the Ahl al-Bayt , members of the Prophet Mohammed's family, are the rightful imams and successors of the like all Shia Muslims, they hold that Ali bin Abi Talib, the Prophet Mohammed's legatee, succeeded him and provided an interpretation and explanation of the Holy Quran. A fundamental tenet of the Dawoodi Bohra faith is that there will always be an imam on earth, descended from
3124-420: The day Muhammad first began his Da'wah ( lit. ' mission ' ), the night of Isra and Mi'raj , the birthday of Muhammad , the urs mubarak ( lit. ' remembrance day ' ) of prominent community leaders, and the birthday of the current Da'i al-Mutlaq. The grandson of Prophet Muhammad Husayn ibn Ali was martyred along with his family and companions on the plains of Karbala while on
3195-469: The estate. The earlier subdivisions were however made by the De Soysa family itself, which constructed several stately mansions within the property and gifted the land in front of Lakshmigiri to Royal College, Colombo, now the University grounds (playing fields). The house is an example of the beautiful colonial architecture of the time. In the book India House, Colombo by Sarvodaya Vishvalekha, Lakshmigiri
3266-550: The faith and authoring seminal works. The 19th Dai, Idris Imaduddin , wrote numerous works, including a comprehensive and detailed history of the Fatimid faith. Meanwhile, the community in Gujarat had maintained ties with their Dais in Yemen, who closely supervised their affairs and regularly welcomed Bohra delegations from Gujarat. During this time, the community grew in size, especially in Cambay, Patan, Sidhpur, and Ahmedabad. Yusuf bin Sulayman Najmuddin , originally from Sidhpur ,
3337-604: The first Da'i al-Mutlaq . Succession to the office of al-Da'i al-Mutlaq happens through nass , whereby each Da'i appoints a successor in his own lifetime. As of 2024 the chain of succession was uninterrupted. The roots of the community's establishment in India go back to the Fatimid era, when Al Mustansir Billah , the 18th Imam, sent a Dai named Abdullah from Yemen to initiate the Da’wah on his behalf. Abdullah arrived in Cambay (modern day Khambhat , Gujarat) in AD 1067/H 460 and soon won many converts, including local rulers. Abdullah
3408-554: The four elected non-official members was Ponnambalam Ramanathan . The financial committee was also established to control the revenue. It included the Colonial Secretary, Colonial Treasurer, Revenue Controller and all the non-official elected members. These changes did not satisfy the Ceylonese, and the movement for constitutional reforms grew. Further reforms were enacted in 1920 by the First Manning Reforms . Membership
3479-503: The gates of Lakshmigiri adorns an "S" that once stood for "Soysa" family, after the name-change to "Saifee Villa", the "S" is still appropriate. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin stayed once at Saifee Villa. The Villa hosts numerous functions, and religious gatherings. During the era of Syenda Taher Saifuddin, as a child, Mufaddal Saifuddin , began the recitation of the Quran in Saifee Villa. In
3550-456: 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. Mostly self-reliant, the Bohras are typically well-educated traders, businesspersons, and entrepreneurs. The word "Bohra" comes from the Gujarati word vohrvu or vyavahar , meaning "to trade". Their heritage
3621-410: The meal is served one after the other for those seated at the thaal to share. The meal begins and ends with a taste of salt, traditionally said to cleanse the palate and prevent diseases. Bohras usually wear a topi (cap)during the meal and eat with their hands. A common etiquette is for the host to offer to wash their guests' hands using a chilamchi lota (basin and jug). At community feasts,
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#17328631538613692-493: The moon crescent. Dawoodi Bohras observe all significant occasions on the Muslim calendar, such as Muharram, Ramadan, Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha and Mawlid al Nabi. They also observe some occasions particular to their sect, such as the death anniversaries of previous dais and the birthday of the current dai. These occasions typically bring together members of the community for educational sermons and communal meals. During Ramadan ,
3763-609: The name "Saifee Villa". During World War II , the Royal Air Force was temporarily shifted to the Colombo Racecourse Airstrip . Lakshmigiri is located adjoining the airstrip, therefore it was transformed into one of the RAF headquarters in Colombo . Unfortunately, it was during this time that many ornaments, antiques, chandeliers & valuable furniture was ransacked by these British troops prior to their exodus from Sri Lanka. In 1972 under
3834-496: The non-official members, six were appointed by the governor (two Low Country Sinhalese, two Tamils, one Kandyan Sinhalese and one Muslim) and the remaining four were elected (two Europeans, one Burgher and one educated Ceylonese). The most notable aspect of the McCallum Reforms was the introduction of elected members. However, fewer than 3,000 people could vote, as the right to vote was based on education and assets held. One of
3905-404: The office of al-Dai al-Mutlaq as the 51st Dai, He is credited with revitalising the community by restructuring its organisation on modern lines. He shifted the community headquarters from Surat to Mumbai, which had become a major centre of trade and commerce in India. His emphasis on acquiring higher education across disciplines saw many young Dawoodi Bohras go on to settle in different parts of
3976-442: The oldest universities in the world. Before the empire's decline, Al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah , the 20th Fatimid imam, directed his grand emissary, Arwa bint Ahmad , the Sulayhid queen of Yemen, to establish the office of the Da'i al-Mutlaq ( lit. ' unrestricted missionary ' ) to act as vicegerent for his son, the 21st Imam Al-Tayyib Abu'l-Qasim and to lead the faithful. Arwa bint Ahmad appointed Zoeb bin Musa as
4047-482: The present-day state of Madhya Pradesh (two Dais, from 1737/1150 to 1779/1193); Burhanpur , Madhya Pradesh (one Dai, from 1779/1193 to 1785/1200); Surat in the present-day state of Gujarat (eight Dais, from 1785/1200 to 1933/1351) and Mumbai in the state of Maharashtra, where the current Dai resides. Starting in the early 19th century, some community members emigrated in search of better livelihoods. The first wave of Bohra traders to migrate to East Africa did so in
4118-414: The remaining 29 were elected (23 on a territorial basis, three Europeans, two Burghers, one Ceylon Tamil for the Western Province). The 23 territorial constituencies were distributed as follows: The head of the Legislative Council had been the Governor, but the new reforms created the post of President of the Legislative Council , which was held by the Governor on a nominal basis, and the Vice President of
4189-435: The replacement of the Legislative Council with the State Council of Ceylon in 1931. The President of the council is the Governor of Ceylon . Official members included permanent or acting office holders: Dawoodi Bohra 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
4260-435: The right to introduce legislation which did not deal with the financial matters. In 1889 the number of appointed unofficial members was increased to eight (three Europeans, one Low Country Sinhalese, one Kandyan Sinhalese, one Tamil, one Muslim and one Burgher). The Legislative Council was reformed in 1910 by the McCallum Reforms . Membership was increased from 18 to 21, of which 11 were official and 10 were unofficial. Of
4331-442: The traveling Bohras. A Bohra mausoleum typically has white exteriors with a golden finial at the apex of the dome. The interior is usually lit up in incandescent light and Quranic verses are inscribed on its walls. These mausoleums embody several meanings in the form of their structure and build. As an example, Raudat Tahera , an austere structure in Mumbai, has a range of intricacies its design. The inner height of Raudat Tahera
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#17328631538614402-406: The world, resulting in thriving new communities. As Muslims, the Dawoodi Bohras believe in Tawhid , Islam's central monotheistic concept of a single, indivisible God ( Allah ). They recite the Shahada (Islamic holy creed): "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, Ali is the guardian of Allah". Walayah – devotion to Allah, Muhammad , his family , and his descendants –
4473-417: The world. The majority reside in the India and Pakistan . A sizeable diaspora is spread across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and East Africa. The Bohras are primarily traders and businesspersons, while some are industrialists and skilled professionals. The word Bohra takes root in the Gujarati word vohrvu , in reference to their traditional occupation as traders. The prefix Dawoodi
4544-403: The world. The majority of the Dawoodi Bohra community resides in India, with sizable congregations in Pakistan, Yemen, East Africa, and the Middle East. They also have a growing presence in Europe, North America, and Australia. The present leader is the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq, Mufaddal Saifuddin who assumed office in January 2014. The Dawoodi Bohras are a close-knit Muslim community. Their faith
4615-505: The year 2007 and 2008, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin held the 9 sermons of Ashara Mubaraka in Colombo, Sri Lanka. On both occasions, Saifee Villa was chosen as the venue for his arrival reception. Dignitaries such as Mr A. H. M. Fowzie were present at this event. In 2007, in the first sermon of Ashara Mubaraka , he stated that Saifee Villa is a "Historical House" ( tareekhi makaan ). Mufaddal Saifuddin arrived in Sri Lanka from Karachi on Monday 17 September 2012 and his arrival reception
4686-461: The year at various religious events. Burhanuddin's successor, Mufaddal Saifuddin , continues to uphold the tradition. It is customary among the Bohras to visit mausoleums, mosques, and other places of religious importance in Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, and India. In most places, a community-administered complex ( mazaar ) provides accommodation, business centers, dining, and various recreational activities to
4757-449: Was the first Wali ( representative) in India. The seclusion of al-Tayyib led to the establishment of the office of al-Dai al-Mutlaq in Yemen. The Indian community which had pledged allegiance to the Fatimids continued to remain loyal to the Dais in Yemen. This resulted in a secession with the Hafizis, led by Al-Tayyib's uncle, Abd al-Majid. Twenty-three Dais operated from their mountain bases in Yemen for nearly four centuries, preserving
4828-406: Was educated at S. Thomas' College , Prince of Wales' College and Royal College . He completed his education at Highbury House School St Leonards-on-Sea , where he excelled as a sprinter and pursued a degree in music at Trinity Hall, Cambridge . In 1911 he became the second member to be appointed to the Low Country Sinhalese seat of the Legislative Council of Ceylon . The Alfred House Estate of
4899-441: Was featured in the 1981 film Kaliyugaya by Lester James Peries . The mansion is also described in the books; Architecture and Nationalism in Sri Lanka: The Trouser Under the Cloth by Anoma Pieris and India House Colombo by Sarvodaya Vishvalekha. Legislative Council of Ceylon [REDACTED] The Legislative Council of Ceylon was the legislative body of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka ) established in 1833, along with
4970-439: Was held in Saifee Villa at 10pm. A large gathering of Dawoodi Bohra community of Colombo was present at this function. On Saturday 9 June 2013 Mufaddal Saifuddin arrived in Sri Lanka from Chennai . His arrival reception was held at Saifee Villa where a crowd of about 3,000 people were present. He also solemnized 7 wedding Nikahs on that day. Since then, he has visited at least once on each of his 15 visits to Sri Lanka. The house
5041-448: Was increased from 21 to 37, of which 14 were official and 23 were unofficial. Of the non-official members, four were appointed by the governor (two Kandyan Sinhalese, one Muslim and one Indian Tamil ) and the remaining 19 were elected (11 on a territorial basis, five Europeans, two Burghers and one Chamber of Commerce). A notable change was the introduction of territorial constituencies. Of the 11 territorial constituencies, three were from
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