Mufaddal Saifuddin

Mufaddal Saifuddin was born on 20 August 1946 (23 Ramadan 1365 A.H.) in Surat, India, and was given the name Aali Qadr Mufaddal (Arabic:عالي قدر مفضل, Abjad value 1365, which corresponds to his Islamic year of birth) by his grandfather Taher Saifuddin.

His kunya is Abu Jafar us Sadiq and his laqab is Saifuddin.

During the era of his grandfather Taher Saifuddin, he began the recitation of the Quran in Saifee Villa, Colombo.

He received much of his spiritual tutelage from his father, Mohammed Burhanuddin, and his father-in-law, Yusuf Najmuddin.

He completed his undergraduate education in India and Egypt from Al-Azhar University and Cairo University.

Mufaddal Saifuddin (عـالي قـدر مُـفـضّـل سـيـفُ ٱلـدّين) is the spiritual leader, the 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq of one million Dawoodi Bohras, a subgroup of the Tayyibi, Mustaali, Ismaili Shia branch of Islam.

Saifuddin is the present and 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Tayyibi Isma'ili Dawoodi Bohra community, appointed by his predecessor and father, Mohammed Burhanuddin II.

In 1969, he graduated from Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah in Surat with the al-Faqih al-Jayyid degree (the Distinguished Jurist).

At 22 years of age, his father Burhanuddin designated him as his successor by performing nass (appointment by designation) on him in 1969, and later in 2005 and 2011.

Saifuddin was appointed Amirul Hajj by his father Burhanuddin in 1390 AH (1970 CE).

After Hajj, he travelled to Karbala, Najaf, Syria, Misr and Yemen.

In Yemen, he laid the foundation for the 3rd Da'i al-Mutlaq Hatim's mausoleum.

After that journey, Burhanuddin bestowed upon him the honorific title Aqeeq-ul-Yemen in 1391 AH/1971 AD.

Saifuddin often accompanied his father Mohammed Burhanuddin on his travels.

Saifuddin led numerous projects for the restoration of medieval Fatimid mosques in Egypt and other Islamic edifices.

Projects include the restoration and revival of Al-Hakim Mosque (al-Jamea al-Anwar), the restoration of the masjid of Zoeb bin Moosa in 1406H, the restoration of Aqmar Mosque in 1408H, construction of the mosque of Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Ismail in Salamiyah in 1414H, restoration of the Lulua Mosque and Juyushi Mosque in 1416H, construction of the zareeh of Zaynab bint Ali in Cairo in 1416H, construction of the Mashhad Ras al-Husayn in Ashkelon in 1421H, the construction of the Mazar and Mosque of Hatim bin Ibrahim in 1425H, and the discovery of the burial places of eight Da'i al-Mutlaq in Yemen.

Saifuddin married Jawharatusharaf Najmuddin, daughter of Yusuf Najmuddin, on 1 January 1970.

In 1971, he was conferred with the degree of al-Aleem al-Baari (the Outstanding Scholar).

Saifuddin's father, Mohammed Burhanuddin, conceived the Bhendi Bazaar Redevelopment Project, and a public charitable trust named the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust was created on 23 January 2009 with an initial corpus provided by settlors Shahzada Qaidjoher Ezzuddin and Shahzada Abbas Fakhruddin.

During his centenary birthday celebrations, in 2011, Mohammed Burhanuddin announced that a new Aljamea tus Saifiyah campus would be built in Nairobi, Kenya.

He is the second son of the 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq, Mohammed Burhanuddin, whom he succeeded in 2014.

He is the Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Miliya Islamia University situated in India.

He has led a number of cultural, social, and economic initiatives.

In Islamic Cairo, he rebuilt shrines of the Ahl al-Bayt and led the restoration of medieval Fatimid architecture, notably Al-Anwar Mosque, Al-Aqmar Mosque, Al-Juyushi Mosque, and Lulua Mosque.

In Yemen, he has spearheaded several campaigns to improve socio-economic conditions of the inhabitants of the Haraaz region, introducing sustainable agricultural systems, improving local infrastructure and providing equal access to education for children.

Saifuddin oversees community programs throughout the world, such as the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Project in Mumbai’s Bhendi Bazaar, Project Rise (a Dawoodi Bohra global philanthropic initiative), and the FMB community kitchen, which work towards socio-economic development, environmental conservation, food security and reducing food waste.

On 18 Dhu al-Hijjah 1435 (12 October 2014 AD), Saifuddin elevated his uncle Husain Husamuddin to the rank of Mazoon al-Dawat and appointed his uncle Qasim Hakimuddin as Mukasir al-Dawat at a religious gathering held in Mumbai.

Saifuddin also donated (US$621,553) to the Long Live Egypt Fund (Tahya Misr), matching his own donation from 2014.

The first phase was inaugurated by Saifuddin on 18 May 2016.

"About 250 dilapidated buildings in Bhendi Bazaar will be replaced with 17 new towers with wide roads, modern infrastructure, more open spaces and highly visible commercial areas."

This ambitious philanthropic enterprise "aims to rehabilitate 3200 families and 1250 businesses which are currently living in poor conditions."

It is expected to reach completion by 2025.

Saifuddin donated US$53,000 to Tanzanian public schools.

The same month, a local community led by Saifuddin donated TSh 545 million toward earthquake relief efforts in Tanzania.

The construction of this 14 acre campus commenced in 2013, and was inaugurated by Mufaddal Saifuddin and the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta on 20 April 2017.

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi inaugurated the fourth campus in Marol, Mumbai on February 10, 2023.

On 27 April 2017, Saifuddin donated KSh for Beyond Zero initiative towards maternal and child health to Margaret Kenyatta, First Lady of Kenya.

On 20 Rabi' al-Thani 1439H (7 January 2018 AD), Saifuddin elevated Qasim Hakimuddin to the rank of Mazoon and appointed his uncle Ali Asgar Kalimuddin as Mukasir at a religious gathering in Surat.

On 19 July 2018, Saifuddin met Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and expressed interest in investing in Egypt.

On 27 Jumada al-Thani 1440H (4 March 2019 AD), Saifuddin elevated Aliasgar Kalimuddin to the rank of Mazoon and appointed his brother Qaidjoher Ezzuddin as Mukasir at a religious gathering in Ahmedabad.