Hostel Legacy: Syedna Tahir Saifuddin (Riyaz Alam)

Quick Sketch

Full Name: Syedna wa Maulana Abu Mohammad Taher Saifuddin
Era Name: Saifi
Father: Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (49th Da’I al- Mutlaq)
Mother: Aaisaheba Amatullah Aaisaheba
Born: August 04, 1888
Died: November 12, 1965
Services: 51st Da’i-al-Mutlaq of Dawoodi Bohra Muslims Legacy:
STS High School (Minto Circle), AMU
Saifi Hostel, MM Hall, AMU
Chancellor of AMU for four consecutive terms

Syedna Taher Saifuddin was an Indian-born leader, the 51 st Da’I-al Mutlaq of Dawoodi Bohra sect. He became the 51st Da'i al-Mutlaq in 1915. He was known as the shams (sun) amongst the Da'i al- Mutlaq. He had the longest tenure of more than 52 years as the Da'i al-Mutlaq. In 1942 his speech in Arabic was broadcast on Radio Ceylon.

Taher Saifuddin was human serving man. In 1928, he sent foodstuffs and grains to Yemen during the drought.

He also concentrated on the spiritual growth of the members of the community. He completely restructured the Dars us Saifi in Surat and renamed it as Al-Jamia tus Saifia. He created a curriculum for learning, making knowledge available to every person in the community. He also perfected the syllabus of the madrasas.

He made many monumental structures in Islamic religious places and also replaced or made new artifacts used at the site of the tombs of Islamic religious heads and others. He also built many masjids and schools.

In 1953 he established Rasme Saifee, an event where marriage (nikah) of couples are solomised in group in the presence of Da'i al-Mutlaq and with his blessings. In the first event 100 marriages were performed.

Taher Saifuddin was the chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University for four consecutive terms.

Taher Saifuddin rebuilt or repaired many monuments of Fatemi Imams, Da'i al-Mutlaq and other prominent structures and artifacts. The major among them being: