Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin Calls for Balanced Life

SURAT: Calling on the Dawoodi Bohra community to approach life with the precision and creativity of an artist, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin urged followers to cultivate balance, purpose, harmony and compassion during a major gathering in Surat attended by around 85,000 community members from India and abroad.

The 53rd leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community delivered a sermon at Masjid e Moazzam while addressing an occasion commemorating his 83rd birthday and the 116th birth anniversary of his late father and predecessor, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin.

Drawing an analogy between life and art, Syedna Saifuddin said an artist first visualises an image, works on it with care and eventually brings it to life. He encouraged community members to adopt the same approach towards their own lives.

He highlighted balance and proportion as qualities that lend beauty to a work of art, and said individuals should similarly strive to maintain balance across different aspects of their lives.

Syedna Saifuddin also called upon the community to live in comfort and harmony while demonstrating love, compassion and consideration towards neighbours.

The occasion holds special significance for the Dawoodi Bohra community as Syedna Saifuddin chose to celebrate his birthday on the birth anniversary of his father following Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin’s death in 2014, thereby keeping alive his memory and legacy.

Surat’s historic Zampa Bazaar witnessed a surge of community activity in the days leading up to the celebrations, with families arriving from across India and overseas. A themed procession was also held on the eve of the celebration, with Syedna Saifuddin watching from a stage at Devdi Mubarak, home to his ancestral residence and Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah, the community’s premier Arabic academy.

The celebrations also mark the conclusion of Istifada Ilmiyyah, the community’s annual learning and study programme. Held over nearly two weeks in multiple phases, the programme brought thousands of participants from different countries and backgrounds to Surat.