Dawood Bin Qutubshah

Syedna Dawood Bin Qutubshah [1] (born 23 Rabi-Ul-Awwal 946 AH; died 15 Jumadil akhir 1021 AH / 1612 AD, Ahmedabad, India) was the 27th Da'i al-Mutlaq (Absolute Missionary) of the Dawoodi Bohra sect of Musta‘lī Islam. He succeeded, the 26th, Dai Syedna Dawood Bin Ajabshah, to the religious post.

Syedna Dawood Bin Qutubshah became Da'i al-Mutlaq in 999AH [2] (1591 AD). His period of Dawat was from 999-1021 AH (1591-1612 AD).

Sulayman bin Hassan was in Yemen when the 26th Dai Syedna Dawood Bin Ajabshah died; he sent a condolence message to Qutubshah, which was proof of his acknowledgement of Syedna Dawood as the rightful Dai and successor.

Syedna Daud bin Qutub Shah Burhanuddin (r. 997-1021H / 1589-1612 AD) was the 27th Tayyibi Dai al-mutlaq. We call ourselves Daudi Bohra because we accept Syedna Daud as the righLul Dai, and reject Sulayman. This summary account of Syedna Daud bin Qutub Shah’s tesQmony in Akbar Badhshah’s court during Sulayman’s fitnat, and Syedna Daud’s fateh mubeen, is from Syedna Taher Saifuddin’s Risalat Sharifah of 1371H, Ni’am-us-Sibghat-il-Ilahiyyah (pp. 424-455). A native of Ahmedabad, Syedna Daud bin Qutub Shah travelled to Yemen to seek ilm at the hands of the last Yemeni Dai, Syedna Muhammad Izzuddin, along with three other sahebs who would also become Dai: Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin, Syedna Jalal Shamsuddin, and Syedna Daud bin Ajab Shah Burhanuddin. Syedna Muhammad performed nass on Syedna Yusuf, a naQve of Sidhpur, who returned to Yemen to conclude Dawat affairs in that area. Syedna Yusuf performed nass on Syedna Jalal, a native of Ahmedabad, and with his accession, the seat of Dawat was transferred to India. Syedna Jalal performed nass on Syedna Daud bin Ajab Shah and did wasiyyat to him to perform nass on Syedna Daud bin Qutub Shah. During Syedna Daud bin Ajab Shah’s reign, Syedna Daud bin Qutub Shah was his mazoon and right hand. Syedna Daud bin Ajab Shah proclaimed nass publicly on Syedna Daud bin Qutub Shah. When Syedna Daud bin Ajab Shah passed away in 997H/1589 AD, Syedna Daud bin Qutub Shah succeeded him.

All mumineen in India gave misaaq to him, as did all mumineen in Yemen. Syedna Daud propagated Imam-uz-zamaan’s Dawat with great shaan like the Dais before him, establishing the Shariat and disseminating Dawat knowledge. Among the Yemenis who gave misaaq to Syedna Daud bin Qutub Shah as the new Dai was Sulayman bin Hasan. Sulayman initially wrote several letters in his own hand to Syedna Daud bin Qutub Shah in which he pledged allegiance and servitude. Three years later, he broke the misaaq he had given to Syedna Daud, and proclaimed himself Dai. The fitnat was contrived by Syedna Yusuf’s and Syedna Daud bin Ajab’s family members, and involved a`empts to seize Dawat funds. The plot was first hatched in Ahmedabad by Syedna Daud bin Ajab Shah’s two concubines, with the help of his personal scribe, the Kaatib Mohammed. The two ladies held Dawat property in their possession, which Syedna Daud bin Qutub asked them to return. In order to avoid doing so, they thought up this plan. They chose as their candidate Sulayman, a grandson of Syedna Yusuf, and a resident of Yemen, because they believed he was a person who was easily tempted by the promise of money and prominence.

The Kaatib Mohammed wrote a fraudulent letter, with the late Syedna Daud bin Ajab Shah’s seal, in which Syedna Daud bin Ajab Shah allegedly conferred nass on Sulayman. One of the ladies also convinced her two young sons Ibrahim and Ahmed, who were sons of Syedna Daud bin Ajab Shah, to bear false witness to the alleged nass on Sulayman. Another prominent family member who joined the fitnat was Zahra Aaisaheb, wife of Syedna Daud bin Ajab Shah and sister of Syedna Yusuf (Sulayman’s paternal aunt). Sulayman drove the fitnat iniQally in Yemen with the help of a shrewd man named Mohammad al-Makrami, while these members of the late Syedna’s family fuelled the fitnat in Ahmedabad Sulayman and his coterie came to Ahmedabad and bribed and cajoled local rulers to harass Syedna Daud bin Qutub Shah and his followers. Mumineen mukhliseen lived in great fear from this Qme unQl Allah gave his Dai fateh mubeen at Akbar Badshaah’s hand some years later.

During this time, large numbers of erstwhile mumineen defected to Sulayman, although they knew him to be false. Soon after Sulayman arrived in Ahmedabad, he and his group took the issue to the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar in Lahore. Among Akbar Badshaah’s aides was Nawaab Khaan-Khaanaan who harbored strong prejudice against the Shia, and in addiQon to monetary bribes, Sulayman promised him that he would turn the Bohra community Sunni if he won. Nawaab KhaanKhaanaan sent a military officer with Sulayman to Ahmedabad to summon Syedna Daud bin Qutub Shah to Lahore. At this Qme, Syedna Daud went into complete hiding; only a few select hudood knew of his whereabouts. His son (and later successor) Syedna Shaikh-Adam Safiyuddin took the lead in defending his father. The Mughal emperor’s officer arrested Syedna ShaikhAdam, Mawla Ali-Muhammad bin Firoz and several prominent hudood, and carried them in chains, torturing and beaQng them along the way. When they arrived in Lahore and Akbar Badshaah learned of their condiQon, he severely reprimanded the military officer and terminated his appointment. Akbar Badshaah had four trusted advisors, among them a deen-daar Shia noble named Hakeem Ali, and he turned them over to them. Several juridical sessions were held in their presence, where they questioned both sides in great detail.

When it was established that Sulayman had written letters in his own hand to Syedna Daud bin Qutub Shah acceptng him as his Mawla, and that he had given misaaq to him for three years after Syedna Daud bin Qutub Shah became Dai, the tribunal was convinced that the Sulaymani claim was false, and that Syedna Daud was the righLul Dai. The sons of Syedna Daud bin Ajab Shah Ibrahim and Ahmed also claimed that Syedna Daud bin Qutub Shah owed them a huge amount of money, and they brought false witnesses to testify, but their falseness was also soon exposed. The Sulaymanis then said to Akbar Badshaah that Syedna Daud bin Qutub does not trust you, and that is why he sends delegates and does not come himself. Syedna Shaikh-Adam and the hudood expressed concern for Syedna Daud’s safety; Akbar Badshaah promised safe passage, and wrote letters to his governors with instructions to this effect. Syedna Shaikh-Adam and Mawla Ali-Muhammad bin Firoz swiftly returned to Ahmedabad, and Syedna Daud bin Qutub Shah accompanied them back to Lahore. The Mughal vizier Hakim-Ali sent a silver palanquin to honor Syedna Daud, and housed him in one of the royal palaces. Three days after Syedna Daud arrived in Lahore, Sulayman fell ill and died, with worms infesting the tongue that had spoken falsehood against Allah’s Dai. This is a great ayat of Syedna Daud’s rightfulness, and a place of ibrat for all would-be dushmans. Meanwhile, Akbar Badshaah had moved his court to Kashmir for the summer months, and Syedna Daud travelled there. Akbar Badshaah gave him a place of honor close to his own throne. He would say to his courtiers that, “I see Allah’s light in Shaikh Daud’s face.” Syedna Daud was a hafiz-ul-Quran, and his habit was to recite 10 siparas every day. Even when he was at Akbar Badshaah’s court, he would focus on reciting the Quran. Akbar Badshaah was so enraptured by Syedna Daud’s noorani countenance that he would keep looking at him. The emperor’s preference became famous, so much so that if a person wished for Akbar Badshaah’s glance, he would stand in court behind Syedna Daud. Debates between Syedna’s hudood and the Sulaymanis had continued.

After a considerable period Suayman plotted against Syedna Dawood. False claims were made by Sulayman bin Hassan’s man to the prince of Akbar Shahmurad, who was governing Ahmedabad. Maulai Ali Mohammed, Maulai Shaikh Adam and other noted associates of Syedna were arrested and later released when Shah Murad came to know the truth.

At the time of Ahdi Kamal Khan, one of the darbaris of Akbar, the case was raised again. As kamal Khan was against the Dawoodi Bohra, being Fatimid ,their Pious person were arrested, many Bohra looted and many fled city due to atrocity. When Akbar came to know about this he enquired about the case and punished Ahdi Kamal Khan.

Emperor Akbar wanted to meet Syedna Dawood in 1005 AH at Lahore. He called Maulai shaikh Adam, Maulai Ali Mohammed, Maulai Mamuji and Maulai Khanji through Vazir Hakim Ali and enquired from them about Syedna and sent a "shawl" to Syedna to show his respect. Syedna went to Lahore and then to Kashmir to meet Akbar. Akbar respected Syedna as honorable guest. When Syedna returned to Ahmedabad, full protection was given with royal 'farman'(Order) in Syedna's honour, ordering the officials at Ahmedabad to show him every attention.

Text of Emperor Akbar's farman:[3]

"Allaho-akbar. This glorious farman is issued graciously to satisfy the wishes of sardar of Dawoodi Bohras after considering and calling him to our darbar so that the deputies of Gujarat especially authorities of Ahmedabad and Sidhpur and areas in connection to them, not obstruct them in their ways and let them come to us according to their will. And (the authorities) should not object them and his followers especially in their religious traditions, systems and taxes and about prohibited things and they should return their properties which are sealed, after removing the seals giving them back. Not to restrict them from any business or occupation they are willing. They should give facilities to them and authorities should not be covetous for any thing. They should return all the properties which are seized because in near future their case is to be taken under consideration. Karories, Jagirdars and all responsible Mutasaddirs of Gujarat are required to extend all facilities to the mentioned pious persons while passing through their territories.If he wants any guide then provide him with it for safety against robbery and all dangers of the way so that they may reach to their safe place. To respect them must be considered a duty. 1st Rabiul-Awwal 1005 A.D. Capitol Lahore."

In the era of Emperor Jhangir, again there were atrocity by Shadman, the new Hakim of Ahmedabad. Syedna was to leave Ahmedabad. When this was made known to emperor, the Hakim was replaced with sheikh Farid, who was friendly with Syedna till the end of his tenure.

Syedna Sheikh Aadam Safiuddin succeeded him as 28th Dai.

References

http://www.bohra.net/archive/ahmedabad.html/

Reference List

  1. ↑ List of Syednas
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ http://www.bohra.net/archive/ahmedabad.html History of Duat Mutlakin's of Ahmedabad

See also

Preceded by
Dawood Bin Ajabshah		 Dā'ī al-Mutlaq
1591-1612 AD 		Succeeded by
Sheikh Aadam Safiuddin
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