It was the year 1332H(1915AD) when Syedna Taher SaifuddinRA ascended to the throne of Dawat. At the young age of 28, Syedna Taher SaifuddinRA took command of the reigns of Dawat and guided Dawat and its children through some of the most trying times in its history.
When Syedna Abdullah BadruddinRA conferred nass upon Syedna Taher SaifuddinRA, he stated “the clouds of dissent are bearing down – and you are all alone. Imam uz Zaman’sSA hand is upon your back.”
Shortly after his ascension, Dawat faced perhaps the toughest legal battle in its history: the Chandabhai Gulla case. The enemies of Dawat, armed with vast wealth, attempted to legally destroy the most fundamental tenet of Dawat – the position of Dai al Mutlaq. Syedna Taher SaifuddinRA was steadfast throughout, confident of Imam Uz Zaman’s taeed, and emerged victorious – and those enemies are penniless today and nowhere to be seen.
Aside from the Gulla case, Syedna Taher SaifuddinRA fought 27 other legal battles. In each one, Dawat prevailed, and Dawat’s enemies were subdued.
While all of these trials and tribulations were happening in Dawat, the world at large was also seeing periods of tumult. Syedna Taher Saifuddin’sRA early years saw the Great War, and later on, World War II left unimaginable destruction and devastation in its wake.
All throughout, he remained focus on his mission, which was to ensure the salvation of all mumineen. In a period where the world was seeing major changes and paradigm shifts, from the roles of men and women, the global economy, education, scientific development, and a general shift in religious perspectives, Syedna Taher SaifuddinRA worked tirelessly to bring mumineen closer to him – at one point in time, he conducted 28 sabaqs every single day.
Syedna Taher SaifuddinRA travelled throughout the world, visiting mumineen wherever they lived, be it a small village in India or a developing city in Africa.Due to his unending efforts, his immense outreach, the glory of his benevolent visage, and the love for all that emanated from him, people from all walks of life, mumin and others alike flocked to his side for guidance, advice and pure devotion.
He laid the groundwork for the years to come in a beautifully arranged mosaic of religious values, love of Dawat and the Dai and a strong base in business and education for the Dawoodi Bohra community.
We are seeing the fruits of His 53 years of khidmat as Dai al Mutlaq, as his era merged seamlessly with that of his most illustrious son and successor and beloved Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA, who’s 50 golden years on the arsh of Dawat were both a continuation of his fathers legacy and an era of prosperity and progress for mumeneen.
Today, Syedna Mufaddal SaifuddinTUS continues the work of his father and grandfather before him, taking the community ever forward in all aspects of life, deen, duniya and aakherat. May he have a long and healthy life till the day of qiyamat.
