Qutbi Bohra

Qutbi Bohra also spelt as Kutbi Bohra or Kutbi Vohra or Qutbi Vohra) is a sub sect of Dawoodi Bohra Muslims.

In the year 2004 difference in thinking divided the Dawoodi Bohra sect secretly creating Qutbi Bohra sub sect. The spiritual leader of Qutbi Bohra sect is the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin who is the founder member. He serves as a representative of the people, who form the members of the community.

Qutbi Bohra has a blend of thinking process including modern, progressive, liberal and uncomplicated. The formation of Qutbi Bohra was not known publically as it was kept as a secret and disclosed to very few and trusted people. But this secret soon became the talk of the town, which can be clearly seen in the discussisions of the official site of tuhe PDB. They are a very tightly knit community made up of approximately a few hundred adherents worldwide with majority adherents residing in Udaipur. There are a few of them residing in Mumbai and Thane as well as a few scattered in other countries.

History

The Qutbi Bohra members believe that the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin has been appointed to lead their community by way of his progressive thinking. They believe that the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin is the ideal nominee to lead them in the current world scenario. Finally Qutbi Bohra got its identity and the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin became the first leader of Qutbi Bohra sub sect.

The formation of Qutbi Bohra and its leadership by the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin brought great hurt and pain in the heart of his brother His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA) the then Dai ul Mutlaq of Dawoodi Bohra sect, who fell gravely ill because of all this and eventually this led to His untimely demise.

Despite all that the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin believes that progressiveness is the foundation for any religion and that is what Qutbi Bohra stands for.

Qutbi Bohra schism and the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin dynasty

The then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin is commonly accepted by all Qutbi Bohra members who treat the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin as the first founder member of Qutbi Bohra sub sect, by naming the sub sect after him.

During the period of His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA), the then Dai ul Mutlaq of Dawoodi Bohra sect, the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin was placed in a position of great power and excellence but the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin bagan to aggressively oppose the policies of His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA). But due to strong love and affection for His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA) in the hearts of Dawoodi Bohra members the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin had to promote his Qutbi Bohra sub sect secretly. During this period he made many representatives to maintain and increase his following.

The names of these representatives are not known due to the fear of exposure. However the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin has all the names of his followers.

The then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin founded the Qutbi Bohra sect in 2004 in Udaipur starting a new progressive movement, which was the materialisation of a thought process that had started many years back. This formation was known to the elite of the PDB and a few selected members of Dawoodi Bohra sect. Then they together started to expand their hold secretly. Prominently among PDB was Asghar Ali Engineer Together they conquered the hearts of most of the members of break away factions especially PDB. After this achievement the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin started befriending the rich patrons and members of the Dawoodi Bohra sect, secretly asking them to join his Qutbi Bohra sub sect. The Qutbi Bohra founders and its members continued these operations till the death of Asghar Ali Engineer

After the death of Asghar Ali Engineer the whole operation and control of Qutbi Bohra sub sect fell into the hands of the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin, his wife from a Parsi family and his children.

The then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin's claim to Qutbi Bohra sub sect leadership was endorsed by members of PDB and some of the elite members of Dawoodi Bohra sect. Finally the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin was designated by majority as the leader of Qutbi Bohra sub sect and he began to work for the cause of the Qutbi Bohra members in a progressive manner. The members of the Qutbi Bohra sub sect believed that the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin, by virtue of being the son of His Holiness Syedna Taher Saifuddin (RA) and half brother of His Holiness Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin(RA) will have a strong candidature for maintaining and continuation of a new sub sect.

Inter Bohra Schisms

Divisions of Dawoodi Bohra sect

Dawoodi Bohra (1094)

Jafari Bohra (1426)

Sulaimani Bohra (1592)

Alavi Bohra (1625)

Hebtiah Bohra (1754)

Atba i Malak Bohra (1840)

Progressive Dawoodi Bohra (1977)

Qutbi Bohra (2004)

Following the sad demise of His Holiness Syedna Taher Saifuddin (RA) there was no dispute as to who was to be his successor. His Holiness Syedna Taher Saifuddin (RA) had already done nas (process of appointing a successor) on His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA) at a time when the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin was not even born. However after His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA) resumed the post of his father the so-called progressive thinking members of the Dawoodi Bohra sect did not approve of the policies of His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA) and confided with the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin, a well known liberal minded person holding the second highest powerful position in the Dawoodi Bohra sect for an optional sect, thus the idea for the formation of Qutbi Bohra sect was laid at that time.

Promotion in India and movement of persuasion.

In India promotion of Qutbi Bohra sub sect was suppressed by the position held by the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin making it impossible for him to publically promote Qutbi Bohra sub sect. He had to move from one place to another to promote his cause secretly and persuade people to join him. At educational grounds he had very different education than those that would be given to a leader of a community but to his advantage he had the support of four so called great teachers of the Dawoodi Bohra educational institute Al Jamea tus Saifiyah. They were his guide in all his activities. But unfortunately for the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin all the four teachers were removed from their services due to their non -complient religious teachings.

Expansion and recognision

The first members of Qutbi Bohra were from the PDB. Thereafter some elite members of the Dawoodi Bohra sect also promised their alliance. Later Dawoodi Bohra members from some foreign countries also promised their support. This increased the confidence of the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin who went ahead with planning a future for the Qutbi Bohra sub sect. The then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin used the money and power of position given to him by the Dawoodi Bohra sect to further the growth of Qutbi sect.

Present activities

Qutbi Bohra sect have initiated community services in the form of Zahara Hasanat which also has a medical unit, to improve the way of life of the members of Qutbi Bohra. Qutbi Bohra sect also runs Qarzan Hasana schemes for the development of the members of Qutbi Bohra sect. While participtating in the development programs of Dawoodi Bohra sect it always takes care that the members of the Qutbi Bohra sect benefit from it. The then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin has also handled some of the projects of the Dawoodi Bohra sect. He has also helped members of Dawoodi Bohra to form groups or committees and in turn tried to get enrollments and patrons for Qutbi Bohra sect.

Today Qutbi Bohra has members from PDB devoted to the development of Qutbi Bohra secretly and also some members of the Dawoodi Bohra sect promoting the same.

Customs

Qutbi Bohra aims to give up the distinct form of attire of Dawoodi Bohra both for men and women so that they can mix freely among the general population.

Religion

The Qutbi Bohra is following the progressive nature of modern religion that is not constrained by any laws or customs. Qutbi Bohra believe that dedication to the then Syedi Khuzima Qutbuddin as the most important pillar of their religion. It is the love and devotion for the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin which would confirm how much dedication the members have towards Qutbi Bohra sect. All the forms and interpretations of the Qutbi Bohra religion would be as per the decision of the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin.

Islamic Calender

Qutbi Bohra retains the Islamic Calender which they believe matches with the lunar cycle.

Religious Tolerance

Qutbi Bohra are inclined to be tolerant to other religions. Under the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin religious tolerance is given greater patronage. So much so that his wife is from a Parsi family. In this modern era the then Syedi Khuzaima Qutbuddin has maintained good relations with leaders of other religions.