About the Dawoodi Bohra Community:
- The Dawoodi Bohras are members of the Muslim community’s Shia sect.
- In India, they are located mainly in Gujarat and were traditionally shopkeepers and traders.
- The main language of the community is Lisan al-Dawat, a dialect of Gujarati with inclusions from Arabic and Urdu.
- The leader of the community is known as the Al-Dai-Al-Mutlaq.
- For over 400 years, the leader has been based out of India, including the current and 53rd leader, His Holiness Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin.
What is Excommunicate?
- In practice, being excommunicated includes not being allowed to access a mosque belonging to the community or a burial dedicated to the community.
- The Bombay Prevention of Excommunication Act, of 1949 was enacted to stop the practice of excommunication prevalent in certain communities.
- This is because excommunication is said to deprive the legitimate rights and privileges of its members.
- The leader of the community has the right to excommunicate its members.
