Serving Humanity as One Family

Having embraced the qualities that make us different, we should come together unified by our common goals for higher standards of living, social and educational development, and progress in all aspects and facets of life. It is my prayer that the Almighty continues to inspire us towards acts that benefit humankind. May He give us the strength to live together in harmony, to strive for the development and prosperity of India and the entire world, and to expend our efforts for the betterment of all people.

Raudat Tahera, the mausoleum where the 51st and 52nd Dais are laid to rest, is at the heart of the SBUT project. Their visionary leadership made the SBUT redevelopment possible.

The Prophet Mohammed has described all Creation as a single family reliant on the Almighty, and that the Almighty’s love for any human being is directly proportional to how well they tend to His family. This prophetic statement is the foundation upon which Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin and his predecessors built the Dawoodi Bohra community’s edifice of volunteerism, service, and philanthropy — a legacy now carried forward by Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin. The community’s commitment to uplifting the underprivileged is rooted in their love for the Almighty, and a desire to be loved by Him. Building upon the foundations his father established decades ago, Syedna Saifuddin continues to address pressing contemporary challenges through philanthropic and socio-economic initiatives which focus on issues such as women empowerment, food security, environmental stewardship, equitable housing, and accessible healthcare.

India’s Largest Non-Profit Urban Redevelopment Project

Recognising the dire living conditions in Bhendi Bazaar, a locality marked by overcrowding and deteriorating buildings in Mumbai, India, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin embarked on an ambitious journey to revitalise the 16.5 acres of this historically significant neighbourhood when he founded the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (S B U T) in 2009. Today, committed to fulfilling his father’s aspirations, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has taken on the patronage of the S B U T redevelopment project which continues to cross milestone after milestone.

The sbut project is an inclusive endeavour that aims to uplift and rejuvenate Bhendi Bazaar, improving the lives of all residents regardless of their religious or community affiliations. This transformative enterprise has already made significant progress by replacing dilapidated structures with state-of-the-art buildings, widening roads, introducing modern amenities, and establishing vibrant commercial spaces while preserving the area’s rich cultural and religious heritage. Upon completion, the project will provide modern infrastructure and housing to more than 3,200 families and 1,250 businesses. The S B U T project has earned recognition as a national best practice for inner-city redevelopment, illustrating the far reaching impact that dedicated community-driven and faithbased initiatives can have on urban areas.

The old Bhendi Bazaar was overcrowded and unsafe, diminishing quality of life (right). The new SBUT towers provide modern homes and improved business spaces, revitalising the area while preserving its charm and character (bottom).

The Raudat Tahera mausoleum (left) and the recently restored Saifee Masjid, a historic place of worship built by the 51st Dai. These iconic structures not only serve as a source of inspiration for the monumental SBUT endeavour but also stand as a testament to the power of faith and spirituality in transforming urban landscapes.

Faiz al-Mawaid al-Burhaniyah: The Community Kitchen

Recognising that access to healthy, nutritious meals is a basic human right, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin established a network of community kitchens, operating under the banner of Faiz al-Mawaid al-Burhaniyah (fmb), in every village, town, or city where Dawoodi Bohras reside. These kitchens ensure that every family, regardless of their means, receives at least one wholesome and nutritious meal daily, effectively eradicating food poverty within the community. This achievement secures a fundamental necessity while also reinforcing the community’s social fabric through bonds of kinship and brotherhood.

Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin served as the driving force behind implementing his father’s transformative vision. In recent years, he has further strengthened the F .1M B network, enabling the Dawoodi Bohra community to address a number of food related societal challenges by extending its resources beyond the community. During times of natural disaster and hardship, F.1M B kitchens around the world support their neighbourhoods and cities by providing hot meals or foodstuff to those in distress. During the covid-19 pandemic, for example, F.1M B kitchens distributed thousands of cooked meals and tonnes of food provisions. These kitchens regularly partner with local food pantries to carry out food drives and tackle food insecurity in their host cities.

Despite the huge turnover in meals prepared and food items distributed, great care is taken in ensuring that no food is wasted. Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin’s guidance and emphasis on preventing food waste has inspired Dana (grain) Committees whose sole responsibility is to make sure that no grain of food is discarded and that all communal events, large or small, have zero food wastage.

Revitalising Yemen

A prime example of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin’s commitment to social welfare is his work in Yemen, a land of great significance to the Dawoodi Bohra community. At a relatively young age, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin was entrusted by his father, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, with the responsibility of overseeing the welfare and development of the Yemeni community. Entrusted by Syedna

He spearheaded a range of initiatives for the well-being of Yemeni Dawoodi Bohras, including educational programmes, healthcare initiatives, infrastructural development, and economic advancement projects. Syedna Saifuddin continues these efforts today, despite the challenging circumstances brought on by years of conflict which have caused widespread poverty and hardship.

His Holiness participates in meal preparation while visiting an FMB community kitchen in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

A competition in Glasgow, Scotland, celebrates the cultural significance of roti, a beloved flatbread, representing the love and care that defines FMB kitchens’ approach to nourishing families.

Leveraging the infrastructure of the FMB community kitchens, Dawoodi Bohra centres across Texas, like the one pictured here in Dallas, partnered with Rise Against Hunger to pack 80,000 meals in a single day, contributing to 180,000 meals over five years.

The FMB community kitchen network relies
on several thousand volunteers.

One of his most impactful efforts in Yemen has been the drive to eliminateqat cultivation, replacing it with sustainable agro-economic ventures such as coffee plantations and animal husbandry. This initiative has not only addressed a significant social malady but also promoted economic progress in the Haraazregion. Additionally, Syedna Saifuddin has focused on providing free education in remote areas, improving infrastructure, and investing in renewable energy. Syedna Saifuddin’s commitment to the Yemeni people exemplifies the Dawoodi Bohra community’s dedication to social welfare and development, especially in the face of adversity.

His Holiness commends young volunteers assisting with tiffin distribution, embodying FMB’s mission to ensure every family receives nutritious meals while fostering an ethos of community service at an early age.

A young boy delivers a tiffin in Boston, USA. This worldwide effort highlights the programme’s commitment to fostering a sense of togetherness and shared experiences among community members, regardless of their location.

Women at the Heart of Community Growth

Building upon his predecessors’ foundations, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin advances and strengthens women’s contributions to societal progress within the Dawoodi Bohra community. This commitment spans education, entrepreneurship, and leadership across diverse sectors.

The community’s dedication to women’s advancement is especially evidentin education. Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah, the premier Dawoodi Bohra academic institute, consistently enrols more female than male students in its eleven-year programme. This commitment to equal or greater access for women is evident across the community’s educational system and carries through to higher education. Female college attendance rates among Dawoodi Bohras often surpass national averages in the countries where they reside, with many women pursuing advanced degrees at prestigious institutions worldwide. This emphasis on education has produced a generation of highly qualified Dawoodi Bohra women who excel in diverse careers, holding influential positions in corporate leadership, scientific research, and government.

The community invests in women’s holistic development, fostering knowledge and skills that empower them in both career and family life. This approach reflects a commitment to gender equity while honouring cultural values, offering a faith-inspired model of progress. It shows how cultural frameworks can drive advancement, recognising that true growth embraces professional success alongside other vital dimensions of life.

Dawoodi Bohra women participate in the UAE National Day celebration with the Woman Business Circle, demonstrating the entrepreneurial leadership and diverse professional networks fostered within the community.

From medical illustration to scientific research and beyond, women in the Dawoodi Bohra community excel across varied fields, demonstrating the success of comprehensive educational empowerment.

A young Dawoodi Bohra law school graduate in Seattle reflects the community’s dedication to education. Dawoodi Bohra women in the US demonstrate remarkable educational success.