Dawoodi Bohra community leader Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin arrives in Surat for annual ‘Istifada Ilmiyya’

Dawoodi Bohra community leader Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin arrives in Surat for annual ‘Istifada Ilmiyya’

Every year the annual education seminar is held in Surat and is attended by the leader. Community members said the events were divided into three phases.

Religious leader of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq, arrived in Surat Thursday to attend annual education seminars and religious programmes. He will be in the city till November 1.

A large number of members of the Dawoodi Bohra community arrived in Surat from various parts of the country and abroad to attend events to be held in this connection in the Zampa Bazar area on Thursday. The place itself was well decorated with colourful lights and painted buildings. Hundreds of volunteers were also present to guide visitors.

Every year an annual education seminar ‘Istifada Ilmiyya’ is held in Surat which is attended by the leader. Community members said the events were divided into three phases. ‘Istifada Ilmiyya’ is a series of learning and skill development sessions that cover a wide variety of topics such as Islamic philosophy, history and jurisprudence, as well as contemporary topics. The attendees include students, business people, professionals, teachers, etc as well as members of Syedna’s administration, graduates of the Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah Arabic Academy.

The Surat unit of the community had been preparing for the event over the last 15 days by hiring open grounds and plots on rent and by erecting tents with various facilities for visitors to stay. Besides booking hotel rooms, several houses in Zampa Bazar, Sagrampura, Begampura, Salabatpura (walled city areas) have been rented out for visitors. Apart from this, the organisers have also arranged cleaning staff to maintain cleanliness on roads and halls.

Hatim Fakhar, public relations coordinator for the Dawoodi Bohras in Surat, said, “The anticipation and excitement to host thousands of attendees for this annual educational seminar in Surat are palpable, and we hope we will be able to provide them a memorable experience. This year the event is more special as we will mark the 80th birthday of His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin at the end of the ‘Istifada Ilmiyya’ event.”

“We are grateful to the local authorities and government agencies for rendering their timely support and assistance as always in hosting thousands of community members in the city,” Fakhar added.

The Zampa Bazaar area in Surat is the centre of the Dawoodi Bohra community in India, where one can find religious places, an Arabic university, shops run by the community, besides the presence of a large number of members.

On the sidelines of the educational seminars, various stalls and exhibitions on environment, business, etc have also been set up at the community’s sports ground in Khaimat al-Riyada to provide a holistic learning experience to the attendees.

Ummehani Ismail, a lawyer and a mother of two who travelled from the USA to attend the annual seminar, said, “Every year I look forward to attending these seminars which has helped me develop new skills and broaden my knowledge base and understanding on various aspects of life. These sessions empower me to be a better person and create a positive impact on society. Throughout the event, we engage in thought-provoking discussions, attend workshops and benefit from the speakers’ insights.”