It was really a telling Aameen for Fatemi history. The commencement of vicegerency of the 51^st Dai-al-Mutlaq, with all its challenges, his historic efforts in meeting those challenges, and his great accomplishment in taking the Dawah organization to its highest pinnacle, all this was destined to coincide with the commencement of the life of a successor now to come under his father’s care and training. Allah had planned the coarse of history in such a way that every small detail of its canvas seemed to fit in admirably. The commencement of the rule of the most illustrious Dai, the 51^st in line, and the commencement of the young successor’s life, both were interwined and complementary to each other. It is this view of a historical fact-not a mere coincidence –that is presented through the narration of important milestones in the 75 years of the life of Syedna Mohammed Burhannuddin T.U.S. the 52^nd Dai-al-Mutlaq. The narration covers two Phases:

The First phase relates to the 53 years spent alongside the illustrious father, being trained personally by him while sitting next to him and witnessing the great ascendancy of the Dawah, in an unprecedented way.

The second phase relates to the period after the sad demise of the 51^st Dai al Mutlaq Syedna Taher Saifuddin, on the 12^th Nov 1965. To succeed him and fulfill the great expectations of the followers who already were raised to a position never before acquire by the community in its history of nine centuries; educationally properly equipped, economically well organized and above all religiously firmly rooted. This could be regarded as the take off stage for the vicegerancy of the 52^nd Dai al Mutlaq.
 
 

Education and Upbringing:-

He set about forming 'HALQAS' and himself undertook to teach the fortunate recipient, every conceivable manuscript, from cover to cover. He would go about it from early morning till midnight covering almost over 25 'Halqas' per day. Besides, a discourse every Thursday, the Friday Prayer and Waaz(sermon) every Sunday became the practice.

Syedna Taher Saifuddin who had in the year 1347 AH completed 14 years of his Daiship, decided to celebrate the Misaq of his son, to coincide with the great educational uplift of the Bohra community. For this, he chose the city Surat, the official seat of the Dawah, and in which he himself would be personally involved.

On Misaq being administered, the son was given the laqab of Burhannuddin and elevated to the rank of' 'MOOMIN BALIGH'. The year 1349 marks another milestone in the progress of the beloved progeny. On the completion of this training period, he was elevated to the high rank of the 'HADDIYAH'.

The appointment of the successor by Syedna Taher Saifuddin brought to the Dawat Great celestial blessings, As Syedna Taher Saifuddin Says: "Je Din See Aa Maulood Janaya chai te din see Daawat ma barakaat barakaat chai". Within a year from that day, the 51^st Dai was enabled to perform the Ziyarat of Karbala and Najaf Ashraf in Iraq. In itself, it was a great event. Due to the barakat of this Maulud Syedna Taher Saifuddin achieved the victory against the Hypocrites of Dawat in the False Allegations; Particularly Burhanpur Dargah is the significant event which clearly proved the NAS of Syedna Abdul Qadir Najmuddin by Syedna Mohammed Badruddin RA .

Further more he made the Qubbas for the Mashads of Imam Husein SA, and Amirul Mominin Ali SA in Gold and Silver and presented them to the two sacred shrines.

Syedna Taher Saifuddin decided in 1382/1961 to allow his son the heir apparent, to visit Yemen to perform the Ziyarat of the Fatimi Dais there and to meet the followers. There was great jubilation amongst the followers all over the world over this VISIT. It was the First visit after 400 years since the center of the DAWAT was transferred from Yemen to India, undertaken by a dignitary of the Dawat, destined to become a Dai himself.

After his Visit from Yemen Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA conferred on the heir apparent the TITLE of " MANSOOR -UL- YEMEN " , A significant title meaning ' the one who was given all succour by Allah in Yemen' .

RAUDAT TAHERA:-

Syedna Burhanuddin's first important decision was to conceive the design and the dimensions of the mausoleum to mark the memory of a great predecessor. He gave the Architect his own concept. It was to be a mausoleum in white marble. A simple structure, incorporating many interesting features of Fatimi Architecture and calligraphy.

The design and the features of the Qubba Mubarakah were conceived to record the Dai's great personality, his scholarship in Islamic lore, his philosophy and the outstanding events of his life and his special effort to train and mould a successor like him. On the Four walls, the inscription of the entire Quran engraved in Gold was planned. This in itself was an admirable feat. Below the Quran were engraved the Arabic writings, both prose and poetry of the late 51^st Dai.

The Qubba's base has the length of 51ft sq. and 80 ft height, which indicates the length of his incumbency and his age respectively.

The Fatimi Architectural features incorporated in the Raudat Tahera pay eloquent tribute to Fatimi Egypt And a Fatimi Dai, Ten centuries remote in time from Fatimi Imams, Yet splendidly blended into one long chain of learning, piety and dedication to Islam.

In 1965 Syedna Burhanuddin visited Cairo, on the special invitation of the Egyptian Government. The renowned university ALAZHAR honored him the degree of DOCTORATE (Honoris Causa).Likewise ALIGARH Muslim University also presented His Holiness the very degree. In Karachi, Pakistan he was presented with the city key for his luminous personality.
 

This oldest center of Islamic learning in the sub-continent was given a new direction by the 51^st Dai al Fatemi, when he initiated a fresh educational upsurge and freed it from the clutches of the so called self styled Ulamaas. Al Dars us Saifi was developed on new lines and became aptly known as ALJAMEA TUS SAIFIYAH.

Syedna Burhanuddin has taken his taken his keen interest in this 180 years old structure Academy and enlarged its campus and equipped it with modern educational needs and equipments. He also made it known Internationally by its participation in international seminars and conferences, by it's degrees being recognized by various eminent universities and firm rooted academies, and by it's effective program of expansion of it's teaching services.
 

The personality of the 52^nd Dai has a magnetism of it's own. Wherever he goes, he draws huge crowds who come to receive his blessings and seek his guidance and advice. Physically He has evolved a lifestyle, which allows him enough time, even after his prayers and religious program, to deal with the files that are submitted for his directions. It is said that no file ever remains with him for more than 24 hrs. Among the institutions founded by the predecessor was the "Saify Foundation" established in many parts of the world with generous endowments. The successor has followed the pattern of public charity and established "Memorial Foundation" "Burhani Foundation" and the QARZAN HASANA foundation.

His Holiness's lofty personality can be understood by the fact that he's the one who rediscovered AL MAGHRIB- the historic land of Fatemi dynasty upon which Aemmat Fatemiyeen ruled.

His Holiness possesses enormous strength not easy to imagine. He has the virtues, which are virgin, and some, which are still unknown to mankind. The prosperous and enrich lives of his followers is a clear sign of his great endurance and strive for the upliftment of his community worldwide. May Allah bestow him a happy and long life till eternity.