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:

In an article on your web site, on the Internet, dated 6th June 2001 wherein you have stated that you will endeavor to reply  any question from any Dawoodi Bohra. Accordingly I state my questions as under and hope that suitable answers will be given.The word 'DAWOODI', in the belief of Bohras is used since Hijri 1000 with reference to the Name of the Haadi in comparison  to Suleman. Today  is > there any  Dawoodi by birth ?  Can any one be a Dawoodi  or today who is the one in accordance with Dawoodi faith ? What is the belief ? Is the Dawoodi Bohra faith of today the same as that of Hijri 1000 or what is the difference ? If this question is posed in a Court proceeding, with which > documentary evidence can it be proved ? 2. Secondly on your question 46 - 'Criticise Syedna'- the author has quoted certain Ayats from the Quoran and expressed his opinion on the so called Syedna. I clarify that I am not the follower of the Syedna. Whatever is his faith, according to me it is not the faith of Dawoodi Bohra. These Najmis are known as Dawoodi Bohras only by birth. Najmuddin was only a Nazim without Nuss. Many historical writings of that time are available and shall > be made available to any one who is interested. They are believers of Najmi > faith. The main question therefore is that whether according to Quran is it > correct for a believer to follow a Mushrik or a Pseudo leader ? 3. There are many Ayats about Sajda In the Quran. In the second chapter there is a description of Sajda to Maulana Adam Saheb. In sura 2 : 30 -34 there is clarification about RAB, KHALIFA, MALAEKAT , SAJDA and SAJID. Therefore is it correct to offer Sajda according to Quran to Khalifa or Masjood - other then RAB ?
4. Further in this matter what was the belief in Dawoodi Bohra faith upto the 46th Dayee ? Correct or otherwise ? I have already clarified that I do not believe in the Najmi Faith. 5. I shall be obliged if you could, reply to my above questions based on the Quran or any other book of Dawoodi Bohra faith.

(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:

Dawoodi Bohra

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever 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.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 78: Exert your utmost for the cause of Allah, as one should. He has chosen you for His service and has not laid on you any hardship in your deen. Therefore, be steadfast in the religion of your father, Abraham. Allah had called you ‘Muslims” before this, and has called you (by the same name) in this Quran also, so that the Messenger may be a witness in regard to you, and you may be witnesses in regard to the rest of mankind. Therefore, establish the ‘salaat’ and pay the ‘zakaat’, and hold fast to Allah. He is your ‘Maula’: what an excellent ‘Maula’ and what an excellent Helper!

Brother, the Truth is that one who believes, obeys and follows Allah and His Messenger, Mohamed ar-Rasool Allah (saws), is a ‘muslim’. That is the name Allah has termed for us, and that should be our recognition and our pride.

The fact is that there should be no Sunnis, no Shias, no Ismailis, no Najmis, no Dawoodi Bohras, etc. These are all man-made and self-invented names, and have no place in the Ummah of Islam. Our recognition, our loyalty, our joy, our pride… should be that we are muslims. Allah has exhorted us again and again in the Holy Quran not to break this Ummah of Islam, and has shown severe displeasure and Wrath at the people who strive to break this Ummah into sects and creeds according to their own beliefs. None of the names, sects and creeds are mentioned in the Quran and thus no one has any authority to break this Ummah. Whoever does so will be severely accountable to Allah on the Day of Judgement. We should all strive to unite this Ummah and unite in the worship of the One Lord Alone.

Allah says in Chapter 30 Surah Rum aayat 31-32: "This (Islam) is the right and true faith, but most people do not know. (Be steadfast on this) turning wholly and sincerely towards Allah Alone, and fear Him, and establish the Salat, and do not be like the mushriks, who have set up their separate creeds and divided themselves into sects, each sect rejoicing in what it has."

Allah says in Chapter 45 Surah Al-Jathiyah aayat 17: "Then they differed amongst themselves after the knowledge (of Islam) had come to them, only because they wanted to wrong one another. Your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning the matters in which they have been differing."

Just look at the Anger and Wrath of Allah described on those who break up their religion into sects:

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 23 Surah Mu’minoon verse 52-55: 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. What? Do they think that, by continuing to provide them with wealth and children, We are solicitous for their welfare? Nay, they do not understand the reality of the matter!

YourComment: The main question therefore is that whether according to Quran is it correct for a believer to follow a Mushrik or a Pseudo leader ? he Quran exhorts the believers time and again, to follow Allah and His Messenger (saws), and no one else … How can this same Quran guide the believers to follow a Mushrik or a Pseudo Leader or anything else??????

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verse 31-32: Prophet, tell the people, “If you sincerely love Allah, follow me. Then Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, for He is All Forgiving, All Merciful.” Also say to them, “Obey Allah and His Messenger.” And if, in spite of this, they do not accept your invitation, warn them that Allah does not love those, who refuse to obey Him and His Messenger.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisa verse 79-80:

We have sent you (O Mohamed) as a Messenger to mankind, and Allah’s witness suffices for this. Whoever obeys the Messenger, in fact obeys Allah, and whoever turns away from him, he will be accountable for his deeds. Anyhow, we have not sent you (O Mohamed) to be a guardian over them.

Your Comment: There are many Ayats about Sajda In the Quran. In the second chapter there is a description of Sajda to Maulana Adam Saheb. In sura 2 : 30 –34 there is clarification about RAB, KHALIFA, MALAEKAT , SAJDA and SAJID. Therefore is it correct to offer Sajda according to Quran to Khalifa or Masjood - other then RAB ?

Yes, there are many aayahs in the Holy Quran regarding Sajdah. It is also true that the Angels and the Jinns were commanded to do ‘sajdah’ to Prophet Adam (a.s.) in the heavens when Allah created him. But one must understand and realize very well that, that sajdah was not done in worship, nor was it done for ‘shukr’, nor was it done on the earth, nor was it done by man! It was a command of Allah to the angels and the jinns to bow down to Adam, and they all obeyed Allah’s Command, except Iblis.

In the ‘shariah’ given to the Last Messenger of Allah (saws), the act of sajdah is an act of worship, of ‘tahdeem’, of ‘shukr’, of ‘ibaadah’ and the ‘azmat’ (Greatness) … and is due to none other than our Creator, Allah Subhanah Alone as is evident from the aayahs of the Quran.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Surah Fusselat verse 37: Do not do ‘sajdah’ to the sun and the moon, but do ‘sajdah’ to that Allah, Who Created them, if you really are indeed His worshippers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 13 Surah Raad verse 15: For it is Allah Alone before whom everything in the heavens and the earth do ‘sajdah’ willingly or un-willingly. Even the shadows of all things do ‘sajdah’ to Allah in the morning and evening!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 48-50: And don’t they observe anything created by Allah: how it casts its shadow right and left, doing its ‘sajdah’ to Allah Alone? Thus do all things express their humility to Allah. All the animate creation in the heavens and the earth and all the angels do ‘sajdah’ in adoration to Allah Alone. They do not show any arrogance at all, and fear their Lord, Who is above them, and do whatever they are bidden by Allah.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 77: O you who believe, do ‘rukoo’ and ‘sajdah’ to Allah Alone, worship Allah Alone, and do righteous deeds. It may be that you attain true success.

Thus, according to the above clear aayahs of the Quran, and in keeping with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws), in Islam, this act of sajdah cannot be done to anyone or anything else except Allah Alone. And whoever shares this act and does sajdah to anybody else for any reason, he will be guilty of the unforgivable and heinous sin of ‘shirk’.

Your Comment: Further in this matter what was the belief in Dawoodi Bohra faith upto the 46th Dayee ? Correct or otherwise? I have already clarified that I do not believe in the Najmi Faith.

Allah Alone knows best what was the belief of the Bohras upto the 46^th dai, or even beyond. Brother, obviously nothing is mentioned in the Quran about the Dawoodi Bohra or the Najmi Faith, and thus we neither have any knowledge about it, nor are we able to comment on it.

What the Quran does mention is that one who believes in Allah, in His Messengers, in His Books, in His Angels, in the concept of the Hereafter, and in His Divine Destiny has imaan or faith. And one who has faith and does good righteous deeds according to the Quran and Sunnah, will deserve Allah’s Mercy.

And Allah Alone Knows Best, and He is the Only Source of Strength.

May Allah guide you and us to read and understand the simple and plain words of the Glorious Quran. May Allah increase our knowledge from the Holy Quran. May Allah guide us to the Siraat al Mustaqeem.

May Allah guide you and us all to the Siraat al-Mustaqeem

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