Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As Salaam Aleikum,

* Burhan, can you please explain the meaning of Bohora Namaaz dua's we recite.  * Also in one of your email you state that Umar, Osman and Abu-Bakar (spelling) were the chosen one but we Bohora treat them as enemy of Islam.  Is their a Central Islamic think tank where by this issue can be resolved ? To my Bohora brethren: Under the leadership of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, we as a community have certainly made great strides in both positive and some negative directions through out the world.  When we are challenged or asked a thought provoking questions we should not immediately categorized the inquirer as "Dawaat-no-Dushman" and shower him with all swear words possible.  I say lets refrain from using foul language and threats to anyone who questions the Bohora faith.  I think the true strength of our Bohora faith "Dawaat-nu-Safinu" should be defendable with clear reasons and logic.  So far from our side (Bohora) we simply become defensive instead of answering basic Burhan's questions such as... * Do we (Bohora) have an approved translation of Quran in English or Dawaat ni Zaban? * Where is our Imam, why still in seclusion after 900+ years?  * Are we serving the religion and its leaders or the religion is serving us'?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

One should listen to reason

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your comment: Burhan, can you please explain the meaning of Bohora Namaaz dua's we recite. 

My beloved brother in Islam, there are many duas the Bohras recite in the ‘namaaz’ as well as after it. If you could give me the exact duas of which you need the translations or meanings, we would be honored to do so.

Your question: Also in one of your email you state that Umar, Osman and Abu-Bakar were the chosen one but we Bohora treat them as enemy of Islam.  Is their a Central Islamic think tank where by this issue can be resolved ?

Firstly, brother I would just like to make a correction or elaborate your statement to make it clearer. The first three Khalifas were chosen by the believers, not through any Divine authority. Only the Messengers and Prophets of Allah are the ones who are chosen and appointed by Allah Subhanah.

The truth of the matter is that the Shia-Sunni issue was not prevalent during the times of the first four Khalifas of Islam. These issues started many years after the death of these noble souls. In the beginning there were political differences between the noble ‘ahle-bayt’ of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and the Banu Umayyah rulers, and it has been recorded that the majority of the believers were on the side of the rightful ‘ahle-bayt’. Many years later, these political differences converged into religious differences under the influence of some unscrupulous leaders, who aroused the emotions of the muslims and gave the political environment a religious fervor; thus breaking the unity of the Ummah of Islam.

These religious differences took such a turn in the past one thousand plus years, that it has become very difficult to resolve this issue. Each sect distrusts and negates the beliefs of the other to such an extent, that the ummah of Islam fell into the same quagmire that effects the communities of the Jews and the Christians.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 23 Surah Mu’minoon verse 52-54:And you all belong to one and the same ummah, and I(Allah) am your Lord; so fear Me Alone! Yet afterwards the people divided themselves into different sects, and each sect rejoicing in what it has. Well, leave them deeply involved in their heedlessness up to an appointed time.

Thus the only way to resolve this issue is for us to take advice from the above command of Allah Subhanah and implement it in our lives; individually and collectively. Leave aside all the sects, whether they be Shia, Sunni, Bohras, Ismaelis, Itna-Asharis, etc. and let us work to be united into the One Ummah of Islam. If someone asks us what sect of Islam we belong to, our answer should always be that we belong to the sect that the Messenger of Allah (saws) belonged to; and he was a ‘muslim’. We should leave behind all the man-made sources of guidance, and come back to the guidance revealed by Allah; the Al Quran.

Your statement: To my Bohora brethren:

Under the leadership of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, we as a community have certainly made great strides in both positive and some negative directions through out the world.  When we are challenged or asked a thought provoking questions we should not immediately categorized the inquirer as "Dawaat-no-Dushman" and shower him with all swear words possible.  I say lets refrain from using foul language and threats to anyone who questions the Bohora faith.  I think the true strength of our Bohora faith "Dawaat-nu-Safinu" should be defendable with clear reasons and logic.  So far from our side (Bohora) we simply become defensive instead of answering basic Burhan's questions such as... * Do we (Bohora) have an approved translation of Quran in English or Dawaat ni Zaban? Where is our Imam, why still in seclusion after 900+ years?  Are we serving the religion and its leaders or the religion is serving us'?

Allah-o-Akbar! May Allah bless you and increase yours and our quest in the search for the Truth. You have said in a few words, which we have been trying so hard for our Bohra brethren to understand. May Allah reward you with contentment in this world, and honor you with Paradise in the Hereafter.

My beloved brother, Allah has given us the power of reasoning and intelligence which He has not bestowed on any of His other creation. And this is exactly what we will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgement. Did we, with this gift and blessing of reason and intelligence, determine the Truth and obey it? Or did we, deny the Truth and followed the ways we found our elders and forefathers following? We have the very words of Allah Subhanah in the form of the Holy Quran amongst us in its exact original form? Did we try to understand, obey and follow the commands of Allah; or did we spent our entire lives following some holy person or Personalities in the name of Islam?

Intelligence dictates, that we can an open mind and give the person a chance to give his views, especially if they are backed by evidence from the Holy Quran. If the views of the person are indeed from the guidance and teachings of the Holy Quran, then it is a duty unto every believer, who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day, to submit to the commands of his Lord and Creator. And if the views of the person is not backed by the evidence from the Holy Quran, no matter who the person is, we should refrain from obeying them in Islam. Only Allah and His Prophet (saws) have the right that they should be obeyed and followed unconditionally. Anyone else, no matter who the person is, cannot be followed unconditionally; the pre-condition to obeying and following them is that they guide only from the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

But to revile and not allow the person to give his views at all, without referring whether his source is the Holy Quran or not, is not intelligence. It could be arrogance, ignorance, prejudice, or the inability to arrive to the Truth, but never intelligence.

All we ask and urge our brethren to do is read the Holy Quran with understanding, even if only once. And if after this exercise, they still think that the deen they are following is the right way; by all means follow it. And if they find that the deen they have been following is against the very guidance of the Holy Quran, they are welcome to align their lives to the commands and teachings of Allah Subhanah. At least this way, they will have the knowledge of the Holy Quran to back up their actions in the Court of Allah.

And this is exactly the guidance of the Holy Quran.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verse 29: Proclaim, “This is the Truth from you Lord: now whoever wills may accept it, and whosoever wills may reject it”.

Allah is our witness, that is all we invite our brethren to do. One thing we have realized, that if one reads the Holy Quran with understanding, no one will ever be able to mis-guide him/her in the name of Islam. Allah has laid upon the believers to invite mankind to the Truth of Islam. To believe or deny is left to each individual’s own free will. There is absolutely no compulsion in religion, an ultimately all of us will be gathered on an Inevitable Day in the Court of the One Lord, and He will Judge between all of us with Justice.

The questions that you have asked are indeed thought provoking, and one must endeavor to answer these himself in the earnest search for the Siraat al Mustaqeem.

Your Question: * Do we (Bohora) have an approved translation of Quran in English or Dawaat ni Zaban?

If the answer is yes, and they do have an approved translation of the Glorious Quran; our advice is please do yourselves a favor and read it. The words of each translation done by any eminent scholar may differ, but the meanings and guidance of the Quran will never change. The All Knowing, All Wise has Himself revealed this Glorious Book for our guidance, and He time and again exhorts us to read, ponder, think, and use common-sense to understand the teachings and guidance of this Glorious Message.

And if the answer is no, they do not have an approved translation; then we must ask ourselves, ‘why’? Why have we not been allowed to understand the Holy Quran? Why have they not made a translation, nor approved an existing one? Why have they translated so many other books, but not this Book, which is the constitution of Islam? Why is it that only some ‘chosen’ people are allowed to understand the Glorious Quran? Why is it that we are constantly reminded that if we try to understand the Holy Quran, we will be mis-guided in Islam? How is it possible for the Book which has been revealed by Allah Subhanah Himself for the guidance of mankind, to misguide those who want to understand its teachings?

Allah says in Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah aayat 185: "Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down: this Book is a perfect guidance for mankind and consists of CLEAR teachings which show the right way and are a Criterion of the Truth and falsehood."

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 89: We have sent down to you this Book, which makes everything plain, and is a guidance, blessing and good news to those who have surrendered themselves entirely.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verse 1-3: All praise is for Allah Alone, Who has sent down this Book to His Servant (Mohamed (saws), and assigned nothing crooked to it. This Book says everything directly, so that he may warn the people of the severe chastisement of Allah and give good news to the believers, who do righteous deeds, that they will have an excellent reward.

Your Question: * Where is our Imam, why still in seclusion after 900+ years? 
There are many more questions regarding the imam in seclusion, which come to mind.

Where is the Imam today?

Is he alone living somewhere, or does he too have a following like the Syedna?

If he has a following in today’s world, we would definitely know it, as they would be similar in belief and actions to the Dawoodi Bohras. Wouldn’t they?

Why is he still in seclusion?

Why does he not come out and proclaim himself? There is no apparent threat to his life or belief today.

We are made to believe that the Imam and Syedna correspond to each other by ‘ilhaam’, whereby the Imam comes in the Syedna’s dreams. Has Allah indeed given any man the power to come in another’s dream at will and correspond with him? Allah did not even give this kind of powers to His appointed Messengers!!

Is it the same 4 year old Imam Tayyeb alive today after these hundreds of years, or is it his descendants?

Today we live in a secular and non-Godly world. There would absolutely be no harm to the Imam’s life or mission if he were to reveal himself to mankind today (if there is indeed one to be revealed!).

How come the leadership never mention anything about the Imam, except his name?

And the most important question of all…. If this concept of the appointment of the Imam is so important and pivotal to Islam and its survival, how come nothing (absolutely nothing) has been mentioned about it in the Holy Quran? How come the Messenger of Allah (saws) never mentioned anything about this Imam and his seclusion? Did Allah and His Messenger (saws) forget to tell us about this very important aspect of Islam and its survival?

Your Question: * Are we serving the religion and its leaders or the religion is serving us'?

Your question is so comprehensive, that I have nothing to add here!

May Allah reward you immensely for having given us the opportunity to give our views and questions. If any brother or scholar has the answers to the above questions, and can give evidence from the Holy Quran for the answers; we would really like to hear from them. This is not, and should never be taken as an exercise to prove one party right or wrong. This exercise is only so that we are able to determine the Truth from the falsehood, and to increase our knowledge in this beautiful deen of Islam.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan