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:

what is doaat ? If you say that the syedna is a self proclaim leader then why is it that since long there are 52 doaat`s. And this was after Immamiat ended. Can you please throw some light of knowledge on this ? Will appreciate it. thanks

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Answer:

Dai is a self-proclaimed leader

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.

The literal meaning of ‘dai’ is ‘one who calls’; and ‘doaat’ is the plural term for ‘dai’.

Your Question: If you say that the syedna is a self proclaim leader then why is it that since long there are 52 doaat`s. And this was after Immamiat ended. Can you please throw some light of knowledge on this?

The Truth is brother, that only the Messengers of Allah can come to mankind and declare that they have been appointed as Allah’s Messengers to mankind. No Imaam, no dai, no mazoom, no mukasir, nobody can come to mankind and claim that they have been Divinely appointed. All leaders, except the Messengers of Allah, are either self-appointed or chosen by fellow men!

If someone other than the Prophets of Allah come and declare that they have been Divinely appointed, then they are confirmed and manifest liars.

The Bohras indeed claim to believe in a succession of 52 doats; and each and every one was appointed by human beings! And to make it a condition of Faith and unconditionally believe or follow any man-appointed leader is against the clear guidance and teachings of the Quran and Sunnah.

If the Bohra sect claims 52 such man-appointed leaders in succession after the supposed Immamiat ended, the Ismaili’s believe that the Immamiat never ended and can trace their leader, the current Aga Khan , as a direct descendant of the Prophet (saws)! So does that make the Aga Khan and his practice of Islam automatically right????

The current ruler of Jordan, King Abdulla claims that he is a direct descendant of the Prophet (saws), and has documentary evidence to prove his claim! So does that make the King of Jordan and his practice of Islam automatically right???

No brother, Islam is not a property which when one man dies, he passes it on as inheritance to his heirs! True Islam is what was revealed by Allah Subhanah and practiced and implemented by the Noble Messenger of Allah, Mohamed ar-Rasool Allah (saws). Whoever believes in the guidance and teachings of Allah and His Messenger (saws), and does righteous good deeds according to the Quran and Sunnah, will be considered the true followers of Islam.

No man, no leader, no sect, no cult, no one, can claim exclusive monopoly to the deen of Islam! Whoever obeys and follows Allah and His Messenger (saws), will be considered the true believers in the sight of Allah; and whoever follows anyone else other than Allah and His Messenger (saws) are guaranteed to go astray from the Siraat al Mustaqeem!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verse 31-32:O 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 has revealed the Criterion in the form of the Quran to judge between Right and Wrong! Whoever uses Allah’s Criterion to judge between Right and wrong is rightly guided; and whoever uses any other criterion is guaranteed misguidance.

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 is a Criterion of the Truth and falsehood."

Thus brother, the only way to determine the Truth from the falsehood is through the Guidance of the Holy Quran. If one can find anything, absolutely anything, in the Glorious Quran to prove the Syedna’s claim, then he is guiding aright; but if one cannot find anything in the Quran that substantiates his claim, then one must follow the Truth of the Holy Quran and leave the falsehood alone.

But to follow the Syedna and believe his claims, without any evidence from the Quran is nothing but absolute misguidance. The names of the Syedna and his long chain of 52 ancestors are nothing but something man has invented himself; for Allah has sent down absolutely no authority for them.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 71-72:They worship besides Allah those for whom Allah has sent down NO AUTHORITY! Nor they themselves have any knowledge about them. Such transgressors have no helper! And when our CLEAR REVELATIONS are recited to them, you perceive signs of disdain on the faces of the disbelievers, as though they were going to assualt those who recite our Revelations to them!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 12 Surah Yusuf verses 39-40:(Yusuf said), “O my fellow prisoners, say, which is better: various lords or the One Omnipotent Allah? The lords whom you worship other than Allah are nothing more than mere names that you and your forefathers have invented; for Allah has sent down absolutely NO AUTHORITY for them. Sovereignty belongs to none but Allah. He has commanded that you shall not worship anyone but Him. This is the Right and Straight Way, but most people do not know this”.

Beloved brother, we humbly and as your sincere well-wishers advice you to read the Glorious Quran with understanding and use this Divine Criterion to determine the Truth from the falsehood.

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 in Islam,

Burhan