Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA headed the Dawoodi Bohra community for half a century. Every year of the Burhani Era was marked with bounties and blessings which increased manifold after the restoration of al Jame al Anwar in Misr. As Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA stated, “Ever since we renovated the Jame Anwar there has been an abundance of barakaat in Dawat.”
The renovation of al Jame al Anwar was, by no means an easy task. UNESCO had refused to take up the project due to its sheer magnitude. Centuries of disrepair and misuse had brought the structure down to ruin. Due to lack of knowledge and sanctity for the edifice people had turned the place into a garbage dump. The actual architectural structure and the intricate Fatemi inscriptions were buried under layers of filth. To bring such a humongous task to fruition Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA relied on the one who would succeed him to the throne of Dawat ‐his son and heir Syedna Mufaddal SaifuddinTUS .
The first task that Syedna Mufaddal SaifuddinTUS undertook was to rid the masjid of the layers of filth and grime that had built up over the years. He made sure the task was taken up in earnest by shovelling the garbage himself. His zeal was such that those around him were also inspired to participate.
Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA narrates in his bayaan: After the inauguration of the Zarih of Maulatena Zainab, Mamlook o Aale Mohammed travelled to Kuwait. I left my son, qurrat ul ain, Mufaddal SaifuddinTUS in Misr.
He stayed back and initiated the process of cleaning the masjid. A foul odor hung around the qiblah of Al Jame Al Anwar. So he first determined the source of the odor. The forty families residing behind the qiblah used to dump their garbage and waste in a hole there. The stench was such that workers refused to clean it.
Finally, my son Mufaddal said, “I will clean it myself! The mehrab is in such a dire state, we have been oblivious so long ‐it is a grave transgression on our part!”
At that point other cleaners arrived and the dump site that was two to three meters deep was cleaned and incensed. Since that day the signs of abuse started to recede from al Jame al Anwar.
Today behold Mumeneen! The Jame al Anwar is fragrant with the scent of its mehrab. Imam Husain al Hakim has bestowed his Dai with the saffron of barakaat and the musk of sa’adat.
Today I pray for all khidmatguzars and their head Aqeequl Yeman, Aali Qadr, Mufaddal Saifuddin ‐ may Allah reward his efforts.
Due to the dua mubarak of Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA and the barakat of his Mansoos Syedna Mufaddal SaifuddinTUS the restoration of al Jame al Anwar was completed in record time. Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA hosted the grand inauguration ceremony in 1401H which was attended by the then President Anwar al Sadaat and many other dignitaries. Syedna BurhanuddinRA held the Ashara Mubarakah that year in al Jame al Anwar. Also for the first time in the history of dawat us satr a Dai bestowed upon mumeneen the barakat of Aimmat Fatemiyeen during Lailat ul Qadr in Jame Anwar in the company of his mansoos Aali QadrTUS.
The pages of history are witness to the fact that Syedna Mufaddal SaifuddinTUS has always been by his father’s side, steadfast in his efforts, tirelessly devoted in his desire to fulfill his Maula’s wishes. May Allah grace Syedna Mufaddal SaifuddinTUS with a long life and the courage and strength to accomplish all of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin’sRA aspirations.