Activities
Burhanuddin supervises the curriculum of the Arabic academy Al Jamea tus Saifiyah and has emphasized education, both religious and secular, and modernization for both men and women of the community. The Jamea is an Islamic Arabic Academy situated in the heart of Surat, India, and is a leading theological university for Dawoodi Bohras. It was founded in 1814 by the 43rd Dai Abdeali Saifuddin. In 1920, Taher Saifuddin transformed this institution into a university that also promoted education for Bohra girls. The university has seen tremendous expansion and now has state-of-the-art facilities and a competent International Baccalaureate Office (IBO) with acceptance worldwide.
His era has also been marked by a widespread programme of construction of mosques, mausoleums and community buildings in Bohra centres around the world. These include the Raudat Tahera, the mausoleum of his father Taher Saifuddin in Mumbai. The mausoleum has the entire Qur'an engraved on its four walls. This has been done in gold leaf on marble with precious gems encrusted in all the 'Bismillahs' (the opening verses of each individual chapter of the Qur'an). He has also made a contribution to the shrine of the Shiah Imam Ali. In 1980, he completed the renovation and restoration of the Mosque of al-Ḥākim in Cairo and since then, several other Fatimid era mosques of Cairo have been restored. In the wake of this endeavour, Bohra communities across the world have sought to build their own mosques in their hometowns and Bohra mosques have been constructed as far afield as North America, Europe, Africa and Australia. These community centres and places of worship have fostered both a local and worldwide sense of togetherness and brotherhood which is seen most vividly in the annual gathering to commemorate the martyrdom of Muhammad's grandson, Husayn ibn Ali at Karbala in the seventh century AD. Burhanuddin also contributed towards the renovation of the Saifee Hospital in Mumbai in June 2005.
He delivers nine days of sermons 'Ashura (Imam Husain's) function every year to the gathering of Dawoodi Bohra (invited from all over world), the event taking place in a different city each time. The prominent location amongst them are Surat (1997,2000,2005), Mecca (1969), Cairo (1980 and 1981), Karachi (1977, 1983, 1987, and 1996), Nairobi (1984 and 1998), Darussalam (1990), Mombasa (2009), Mumbai (2010,2011,2012), Houston (2001), Colombo (1970, 1991, 1999, 2007, and 2008) and Dubai (2004).
He also gives scholarships to students in India. He has developed a Trust in Mumbai for this purpose and many Dawoodi Bohra students have been assisted.
On the occasion of Burhanuddin's 100th birthday, a record-breaking 52,000 specially designed sparrow feeders were systematically distributed across the world by the Foundation that was registered in the Guinness World Record.
Taking into regard the need for the redevelopment of a specific area in Bhendi Bazaar in Greater Mumbai where several communities co-exist peacefully, Burhanuddin envisioned the upliftment of over 20,000 people residing in this highly congested area. A public charitable Trust has been formed by Burhanuddin by the name of Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT), which intends to turn this vision into reality. This purely philanthropic project - the largest renewal project in India, recently launched to commemorate the 100-year celebration of Burhanuddin has started in a phased-out development of the 16.5 acres area. It will provide 3,300 quality, fully furnished homes with green areas, recreational facilities, proper civic facilities, environmentally friendly and efficient sewage treatment, rainwater harvesting and garbage disposal facilities. The ambitious project will also provide quality space for 1,250 businesses in the vicinity, including a 60,000 sq mt. underground public car park to accommodate 1,400 vehicles. As intended by Burhanuddin, the project will be both a renewal of space and spirit.
Burhanuddin has also initiated and involved with several notable Islamic projects including:
- The repair and renovation of the Aqmar Mosque, Lulua Mosque and Juyushi Mosque in Egypt.
- The gold plating/renovation of Zarih of the Shiah Imam Ali, Najaf and Imam Husayn & Maulana Abbas e Alamdaar, Karbala.
- The ‘The Makhallifat-al-Rasool’ (next to Rasul Hussain,Imam Husain Masjid, Cairo), where some of the Fatimid Imams are buried.
- The construction of Rasul Husayn, Maulatena Zaynab bint Ali and Sayyeda Ruqayya's Zarih at Cairo, Egypt and Ja'far at-Tayyar's Zarih, Jordan.
- The construction/renovation of The Grand Mosque of Kufa.
- Zarih of Raous-us-Sohda-e-Karbala,Damuscus,Syria
- Open Mosque at The burial place of Imam Husayn's head in Askelan, Israel.
- Mosque Imam Abadullah, Salamia, Syria.
- Mausoleum of Sayedna Hatim and a mosque in Hutaib, mausoleum of Syedna Ali Shamshuddin Bin Abdullah in Shareka and of Syedna Idris in Shibam, Yemen.
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