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Sulaymanis are a Musta‘lī Ismaili community that predominantly reside in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Pakistan and India. They are also called Makrami.^[1] They number between several hundred thousand and one million in Saudi Arabia alone.^[2] They belong to Tayyibi Ismailis which bifurcated in various Bohras including major group Dawoodi Bohra.

History[link]

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Nizārī · Aga Khan IV Dawūdī  · Dr. Burhanuddin Sulaimanī  · Al-Fakhri Abdullah Alavī  · Ṭayyib Ziyā'u d-Dīn
v t e

The divisions of the Mustaali, sometimes referred to as Bohras.

This Ṭayyibī Isma'ilī community is named after their 27th Dā‘ī, Sulayman bin Hassan, who succeeded to this position after the death of the 26th dā‘ī muṭlaq, Dawūd ibn Ajabshah.

Sulayman ibn Hasan was Dawūd ibn Ajabshah's deputy in Yemen at the time of the latter's death and a heated dispute broke out because in India,as per the Sulaymanis, Dawūd Burhanu d-Dīn Qutb Shāh claimed the position of dā‘ī muṭlaq for himself and managed to win the support of the majority of the Indian Ṭayyibis.As per the Sulaymanis, Sulayman returned to India to claim the succession on the basis of the nass (explicit designation of succession by his predecessor) of Dawūd ibn Ajabshah. The heated succession dispute was brought before the Emperor Akbar at Lahore, but before his claim and the dispute came to any conclusion, Sulayman died under mysterious circumstances in Lahore.

The great majority of the Ṭayyibi Ismailis in Yemen and a small group of Indian Ṭayyibi Ismailis upheld the succession rights of Sulayman ibn Hasan. Henceforth the Sulaymanis and the Dawūdis followed different du‘āt (dā‘īs).

When Sulayman ibn Hasan was released from the Ottomans jail, he was contacted by the Yam tribe and specially by al-Fakih Ali ibn Hanthalah al-Yami, who was handling the da‘wah's affairs in Najran at the time, to move the center of the da‘wah from Yemen to Najran. However, Sulayman ibn Hasan visited Najran and had to leave to India to deal with urgent issue of sccession dispute. He appointed Muhammad ibn al-Fahad al-Makrami to handle the affairs of the da‘wah in Yemen and Ali ibn Hanthalah al-Yami to handle the affairs in Najran and sent al-Fakih Jabir ibn Hadi al-Waili to India ahead of him.

Sulayman ibn Hasan was succeeded by his elder son, Ja‘far ibn Sulayman, as 28th dā‘ī mutlaq. During his youth, Safī ud-Dīn Muhammad ibn al-Fahad, belonging to the influential Makrami family of the Yemeni Isma‘ili tribe of Yam, ran the affairs of the Sulaymani da‘wah as mustawda "acting dā‘ī". He was later designated as 29th dā‘ī al-mutlaq after Ja‘far ibn Sulayman.

The Sulaymani da‘wah headquarters was transferred to Najran in northeastern Yemen when the 31st Dā‘ī, Ibrāhīm ibn Muhammad ibn Fahad was appointed by Sulayman ibn Hasan's younger son, ‘Alī ibn Sulayman, who had succeeded by then as the 30th Dā‘ī al-Mutlaq.

Yemen and Najran[link]

Population[link]

The total number of Sulaymanis currently are around 300,000, mainly living in Najran, Saudi Arabia. Beside the Banu Yam of Najran, the Sulaymanis are in the eastern district of Haraz in the northwest of Yemen, among the inhabitants of the Jabal Maghriba and in Hawzan, Lahab and Attara, as well as in the district of Hamdan and in the vicinity of Yarim,and in the subcontinent of India and Pakistan too.

Support and coalition[link]

In Yemen, the Sulaymanis were supported by the powerful tribe of Banū Yam who, like the bulk of the Yemeni Isma'ilis, had sided with Sulayman ibn Hasan and the Sulaymani cause. Sulaymani du‘āt ruled Najran independently, usually from Badar.

The Sulaymani du‘āt fought battles with local Zaydi Imāms who ruled Yemen after expelling the Ottomans in 1045 AH (1635 CE). During the dā‘īship of Hibatullah ibn Ibrahim al-Makrami, the Zaydis formed a pact with the Sulaymanis which allowed the latter to control Haraz. In 1127, Dai Muhammed bin Ismail bin Ibrahim Almakrami left Taibah in Yemen to Najran as a result of the fierce fighting that was going on at the time, he settled with Yam tribe of Najran and formed a coalition with them (the coalition included the Makramai tribe, the Yam tribe and Ibn Abdullah tribe, and a local army of the Da'wa to protect them from hostile raids was formed. This army then sought to re-claim their land and properties in Yemen. The army however would only be able to go to Yemen through Tihaamah. This lead Dai Muhammad bin Ismail bin Dai Ibrahim Almakrami and his coalition to form another alliance with the rulers of the Al-mekhlaf Alsulsimani who reside in the Tihaamah region and control traffic to and from Yemen. The two parties then signed pacts of peace and cooperation against outsiders.

The Da'wa coalition was very strong and militarily advanced that the rulers of Al-mekhlaf Al-sulaimani (currently called Jizan in the southwestern part of Saudi Arabia) relied on them and asked for their assistance and back-up in their internal and external wars. Moreover, the Da'wa coalition led by Dai Muhammad bin Ismail bin Dai Ibrahim Almakrami engaged in many battles from Hadhramout (in Yemen) to Najd (in the center of Arabian Peninsula)

Taking control[link]

In the mid 12th century AH (18th century CE), the Sulaymanis, led by their du‘āt, were able to take control of the Mikhlafus-Sulaymani, which adjoins the Red Sea. Later, they went on to conquer Hadramout in 1170 AH (1756 CE) and attained political power in that area. It was at this time that they were faced by the rising power of the Sa‘ūdī family of Central Arabia. In the mid 12th century Hijri (18th century CE), it lay under the banner of the powerful Muhammad ibn Sa‘ūd; this marked the beginning of the Wahhabi State in Central Arabia.

By 1202 AH (1788 CE), all of Najd had been conquered by ibn Sa‘ūd's son and successor, ‘Abdul-‘Azīz, who was successful in repelling three expeditions sent against him by the Sulaymanis. However, in 1288 AH (1871 CE) the Ottomans reoccupied Yemen and curtailed the power of the Zaydi Imāms and expelled the Sulaymanis from Haraz. The 42nd Dā‘ī, al-Hasan ibn Ismail ash-Shibam, was killed at this time and their fortress at Attara was destroyed. It was this event that marked the end of the political power of the Sulaymanis and the Makrami dynasty in Yemen.

Sulaymani du‘āt and their community in Yemen withstood much hostility from the Zaydis; after accepting a peace settlement with the Sa‘ūdīs, their du‘āt moved permanently to Najran.

Boundary settlement[link]

In the 20th century CE, ‘Abdul-‘Azīz II became king of Sa‘ūdī Arabia and war broke out with Yemen over a boundary dispute. After defeating the Zaydi Imam Yahyá, the demarcation of the boundary was drawn up and Najran, seat of the Sulaymani du‘āt, was apportioned to Sa‘ūdī Arabia. Though times were turbulent, the 46th Dā‘ī, ‘Alī ibn Muhsin Shabaam, used all of his diplomatic skill and foresight to handle this dispute carefully, conferring with King ibn Sa‘ūd and the Zaydi Imām Yahyá.

Succession[link]

The 47th Sulaymani Dā‘ī was an Indian, Ghulam Husayn, who visited Yemen and Najran twice but died shortly after being a Dai, and is buried in Bombay . The 48th Dā‘ī was Dai Ash Sharafi al-Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Makrami, who eventually died in Ta'if. After him Ad Dai Ali bin Husain Ash Sharafi was designated as dai and for about 46 years served the Daiship and Da'wa, Da'watul Haq. After him Ad Dai Sayyadna As Sharafi Husain bin Hasan bin Abdullah Al-Makrami was a designated Dai, who served the Da'wa ilallahi Ta'aala in the best possible way. After him 51st Sayyadna Ad Dai Ash Sharafi became the Mansoos Alaihi, Rightful Dai and was instrumental in bold reforms for the betterment of Da'wa.

In recent years, after a long illness, the 51st Dā‘ī, ash-Sharfī Husayn ibn Isma'il died on 2 June 2005. He was succeeded by Al-Fakhrī Ad Dai' Sayyadna ‘Abdullāh ibn Muhammad bin Husain al-Makrami.

South Asia[link]

Population[link]

In Pakistan there is a well established Sulaymani community in Jazeera e Sindh( politically the Province of Punjab) some 15,000 Sulaymani's live in rural areas of Jazeera e Sindh. These Ismaili Sulaymani communities have been in Sindh from the time of Maulaana Ali bin Abi Taalib ,when he sent one of his Dai' named Hars bin Murrat ul Abdi to go there in Jazeera e Sindh and propagate the true Deen e Haq as enumerated by Maulaana Nabi and his Wasi Maulaana Ali, he died there in the village of Langarwah and was buried there.

The Fatimid Imām Mu‘izz liDīn in Allāh also sent his du‘āt to Sindh to propagate the da‘wah. The rest reside in KarachiPakistan. In India, there are around 5000–6000 Sulaymanis living mainly in Baroda, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Surat and Indore.

There are also about one thousand or so Sulaymanis scattered around the world; mainly from the South Asia, they are found in greatest numbers in the Persian Gulf states, USA, Canada, Thailand, Australia, Japan and UK.

As stated earlier, in 1973 AD, after the visit of 49th Dā‘ī-ul-Mutlaq,Sayyadna ‘Alī ibn Husayn, to India, Mumbai became the new center of the Da‘wah for all regions aside from Saudi Arabia and Yemen, replacing Baroda.

Ahmedabad was the centre of the Sulaymani Da‘wah in India during the Dā‘īship of Ja'far ibn Sulayman ibn Hassan and ‘Ali ibn Sulayman ibn Hasan but later relocated to Baroda. However because of the presence in Ahmdabad of the Rouza "mausoleums" of their Dā‘ī Sulayman ibn Hassan and his son ‘Ali ibn Sulayman ibn Hasan and many other earlier Dā‘ī's rouzas and graves, many Sulaymanis visit Ahmedabad as a centre of pilgrimage from all over the world, there is a Sulaymani centre in the city, with a mosque, jamatkhana and accommodation and other facilities for travelling pilgrims.

Ahmedabad still houses some Sulaymani families with an amil to look after the affairs of the community.

Baroda became the centre of the Sulaymani da‘wah and was the centre of Da‘wah for a long period before it was transferred to Mumbai in 1973 AD. It is still the largest Sulaymani centre with two mosques one of which is recently built, a large jamatkhana also a function hall, a library, a bank, a cooperative banking society, school for young children, a medical centre and many other welfare organizations. After the death of 30th Dai'Sayyadna ‘Ali ibn Sayyadna Ad Dai' Sulayman in 1088 AH,and was buried in Ahmadabad ,India the da‘wah's headquarters moved to Najran and the South Asian mission remained in the hands of Sayyadi Hassan Khan ibn ‘Abd ul-Malik, who was appointed by Sayyadna Ad Dai'Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn Fahad al-Makrami.

Manaseeb & Notable personalities[link]

The first mansūb "representative", or Dā‘ī Hind wa Sind "missionary to India and Sind" was Dawūd ibn Ahmad. He was appointed by the 32nd Dā‘ī Mutlaq. The second mansūb was Sheikh Dawūd ibn Fīr. Later, the responsibilities were taken away from him and Dawūd ibn Babu was appointed mansūb. Mansūbs were appointed separately for Sind during the time of Syedna Al-Dā‘ī Sulayman ibn Hassan and thereafter by Ja‘far ibn Sulayman and ‘Ali ibn Sulayman. The first Mansūb of Sindh was Dawūd ibn Babu. The last Mansūb in Sindh was Shēr Muhammad ibn Abdul-Khaliq.

In recent times, during the dā‘īship of Sayyadna Husamuddarain Ad Dai'Ghulam Husain ibn Sayyadi Al Mansub Farhat Ali, his brother Almansub Sayyadi AlAalimul Awwah Fatehul uloom Fathullāh became 16th Mansūb Hind wa Sind (1341–1355 AH). He died in Baroda, India and the 19th Mansūb, Muhammad Husayn ibn Shamsu d-Dīn was appointed (1355–1360 AH) by Dai Sayyadna Husamuddarain Ghulam Husain bin Mansoob ul Jali Farhat Ali . The 20th Mansūb was Muhammad Ishaq ibn Maulvi Muhammad Ibrahim Ziaee (1356–1376 AH). He was appointed by Sayyadna Ash Sharafi Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Makrami and his time in office was quite eventful. The da‘wah began to expand, with many new buildings being constructed under his watch; the old mosque was rebuilt in Hyderabad,India, which was contemplated and started by Dai Sayyadna Husamud Daarain Ghulam Husain bin Farhat Ali. cooperative banks were established and many young Sulaymani's began to migrate heading to the Persian Gulf states, Saudi Arabia and to Western Countries.

After the death of Sayyadi Almansub Muhammad Ishaq Ziaee Saheb, Sayyadi Almansub Muhammad Shakir Zi‘a ibn Mullah Walī Muhammad Toorabally Saheb and Sayyadi Almansub Nasrullāh ibn Mulla Hibatullāh Husami became the 21st & 22nd Mansūbs, appointed simultaneously by Sayyadna Aljamali Ad Dai'‘Alī ibn Husayn al-Makrami. Sayyadi Muhammad Shakir Zi‘a ibn Walī Muhammad Toorabally Saheb was a renowned poet and scholar in Arabic, Persian and Urdu and was sent to Lucknow to study at Nadwatu l-Ulama' under the guidance of Maulana Shibli Naumani. He stayed there for four years and was later sent to Najran under the guidance of Sayyadi Almansub Fathullāh ibn Al Mansub Farhat Ali Saheb. After returning to India, he decided to travel to Bangkok, Thailand; he was the Amil of Bangkok for many years. He later moved to Japan to help his father in business and lived in Kobe for some time. There his father Mulla Walī Muhammad ibn Haji Toorabally was a well-known personality, fluent in Arabic, English as well as in Japanese. He traveled extensively before settling down in Japan in 1890. There he helped to establish the first mosque and was twice elected the president of the Japanese India Club. When he returned to Baroda, he was made Amil "Representative" of Baroda by AlMansub Sayyadi Muhammad Ishaq ibn Maulvi Muhammad Ibrahim Ziaee.

Sayyadi AlAalim ul Awwah AlMansub Nasrullah ibn Mulla Hibatullah Saheb Husami was a grandson of Sayyadi Almansub Fathullah ibn Almansub Farhat Ali, and along with Sayyadi Almansub Hakeem-ul-Waqt Zia Ali ibn Sayyadi Almansub Muhammad Ishaq Ziaee and his brother Sayyadi Almansub al-Fakhri Abdullah ibn Hibatullah Fathi,he was sent to Najran by Sayyadi Almansub Muhammad Ishaq ibn Maulvi Muhammad Ibrahim Ziaee for further religious studies called "Hijrat". There they resided for nine months.

Sayyadi Almansub Al Aa'lim ul Awwah Nasrullah ibn Hibatullah Husami,based his Da'wa in Bombay, India .He was an able administrator,a fine Orator of Religious discourses, a prolific exponent of Fiqh and of uloom e Ahle Bait of a very high form, a Qari of repute and a learned Master of Arts in Arabic and Urdu from Osmania University, Hyderabad, India. during his time in office and through his best persuasion, Sayyadna Ali bin Husain the 49th Dā‘ī-u l-Mutlaq Sayyadna Ali ibn Husayn al-Makrami visited India in 1973, followed by his visit to Jazeera e Sindh in Pakistan . This was the first visit of a Sulaymani al-Makrami Dā‘ī to India and Pakistan. following this visit, Mumbai became the centre of Indian Da'wah replacing Baroda. During his time extensive building expansion for the downtrodden members of the Community, renovations and new building constructions of Masaajid and Jamaat Khana were undertaken in all places of his jurisdiction in India and Pakistan and even facilitated the construction of A huge building called Ribaat in Makkae Muazzama and Madina e Munawwara. Many religious books and manuscripts were translated into Urdu and published in all Sulaymani centres in his time .

During the historic visit of Sayyadna ‘Ali ibn Husayn al-Makrami in 1973 AD (1393 AH) Sayyadi Muhammad Shakir Zia ibn Mullah Walī Muhammad Toorabally was taken seriously ill but was so excited by the historic arrival of Sayyadna ‘Ali ibn Husayn Al-Makrami that in spite of his illness he went to Mumbai to welcome his Dā‘ī-ul-Mutlaq personally. Soon after he died in Baroda on the 6th of Rajab 1393 AH at the grand age of 86.

Sayyadi Almansub Nasrullah ibn Hibatullah Husami died in 1399 AH (1979 AD)at a ripe age of just 58 years . Sayyadi Almansub Hakim-ul-Waqt Zia Ali ibn Sayyadi Almansub Muhammad Ishaq Ziaee become the 23rd Mansūb, being appointed by Husayn ibn Hasan Al-Makrami.

Sayyadi Alfakhri Abdullah is an Able Administrator, living his life by example to others and a keen Historian, with such a profound knowledge of uloom e Dawat that it keeps the Mumineen enthralled for hours. His Khidmaat is very Wasi' and large to be captured in mere sentences here. The two mansūbāin currently residing in India are Sayyadi Almansub al-Fakhri Abdullah ibn Hibatullah Fathi, the 24th Mansūb appointed in 1417 AH (1996 AD). On the historic day of Eid-e-Ghadeer in the Haj of 1419 AH (1999 AD), in the presence of Sayyadi Almansub al-Fakhri Abdullah ibn Hibatullah Fathi and other prominent rukn of Dawat-e-shareef, the then Dai - Sayyedna Husain bin Ismail appointed Sayyadi Almansub Muhammad Ibrahim ibn Sayyadi Muhammad Ishaq Ziaee as the 25th Mansūb of Hind and Sindh. Both these Manaseeb reside in Hyderabad, but travel extensively to look after the affairs of thier congregation in India and abroad. They are assisted and helped by their amils and Mufeedeens, (religious Teachers ) in the day to day affairs of the community in Deen and Duniya.

During the time of Ghulam Husayn ibn Farhat Ali, the late Mullah Gowhar Ali ibn Mullah Nūru d-Dīn Hakim was the Amil of Baroda, he was a prominent and well known personality and the advisor to the late Maharaja Gaekwad of Baroda, was also a member of the Muslim Council of Baroda and a Member of Parliament. He initiated and established a boarding school for young Sulaymani children.

Ra's l-Hudūd Maulvi Muhammad Abbas ibn Mullah Nūru l-Husayn Nadvi was another personality in Baroda, he was originally from Surat but made his home in Baroda, before moving to Hyderabad where he became the amil, a teacher by profession, he taught in many languages including Arabic, Persian and Urdu, at first teaching in schools and later at Osmania University. In his youth he was sent to Nadwatu l-‘Ulamā', a well known Muslim school of Theology in Lucknow with two other Sulaymanis by Fathullah ibn Farhati ‘Ali. After his retirement from teaching, he returned to Baroda, and died in 2000, at the age of 107.

Azim Hussain Tyabji was another Sulaymani from Baroda, an educationist and a reformer, he was a well known public figure, pioneer of the Urdu Academy he was also the founder member of Muslim Education society (MES) in 1936 which has established 15 schools for Muslim girls in Baroda, he was the president of the Sulaymani Co-operative Bank, the bank has been a very successful enterprise and used by Sulaymani's and other communities alike, at present his son Irshad Tyabji is the current chairman of the bank, his wife Amina Tyabji was a very active socialworker. Fatehali Huseinuddin Palejwala, a Sulaymani lawyer was the Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly.

Badruddin Tyabji was the son of Mullah Tyab Ali Bhai Miyan. He sent all of his six sons to Europe for further studies, at a time when English education was considered an anathema for Muslims in India. Badruddin Tyabji returned to India in 1858 as the first Indian Solicitor, one of the other brother was sent to Najran for religious studies. Apart from Badruddin Tyabji (who at one time was the vice-chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University), all of his other brothers were prominent and well respected members of Indian establishment. Their accomplishments included the first Muslim Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, the first Indian barrister and the first Muslim to qualify as an Engineer.

Asaf Ali Asghar Fyzee, another Sulaymani, was a scholar and an eminent writer and a legal luminary, as well as was the ambassador to Egypt. He translated in to English the famous work of al-Qāḍī al-Nu‘mān's Da'a'imu l-Islam", which is the authoritative Ismaili work of fiqh, used by all Ismailis as well as many other books on Ismaili subjects.

Atiya Fyzee was a Sulaymani social worker, writer and a poet. Abbas Tyabji was a prominent freedom fighter and played an important role in the struggle for Indian independence.

Dr. Salim Ali was another Sulaymani, the "Bird Man", an ornithologist and a writer of many popular and academic books on the subject. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1958 and then Padma Vibhushan in 1976, for his life long work and research on birds. He also received numerous awards internationally and elected Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy in 1958, was nominated a member of upper Houses of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) in 1985.

In recent days, Air-Vice Marshal Idris Hasan Latif was the Governor of the State of Maharashtra. Zafar Saifullah was the first Muslim Cabinet Secretary to the Government of India, Maqbūl Fida Husain (M. F. Husain) the internationally renowned and famous painter was awarded the Padmashree in 1966, the Padma Bhushan in 1973 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1986, he also nominated as a member of the Upper Houses of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) in 1986. He recently celebrate his 100 birthday as per Islamic calender (AH) and after a brief illness died in London on 8th. of June 2011 and buried there in Brookwood cemetery, Woking, UK.

The first Sulaymani family migrated to Hyderabad originated from Aurangabad and this occurred in the 17th century. In the 19th century, during the time of Mansub Fathullah, the Sulaymanis were a prosperous business community, however under the guidance of Mansub Fathullah and with his insistence, the community's emphasis began to shift to education.

The person who was the first Muslim to pass the examination of the Gazetted Officer for the finance department was Mohammed Akbar Hydari the son of Mullah Nazar Ali Hydari. He become the Finance Secretary and later Minister of Finance in Hyderabad, and within a few years the Prime Minister of Hyderabad. He was the most competent and ablest Prime Minister of the State of Hyderabad, he was Knighted by the British Government, and the Nizam gave him the title of "Haydar Nawaz Jung". In 1941 he was appointed as the member of the Executive Council of the Viceroy of India. He represented Hyderabad in three Round Table Conferences in London. His wife Lady Amina Hydari was renowned for her welfare and social work. Their elder son, Sir Muhammad Saleh Akbar Hydari, served as the Governor of Assam State after the Independence.

There were many personalities of the Sulaymani community residing in Hyderabad, which was considered to be the centre of Muslim culture. Hashim Mu‘izu d-Dīn (Hashim Yar Jung) was Legal Advisor to The Nizam of Hyderabad, later he become the Chief Justice of Hyderabad High Court. Hasan Latif was the Chief Engineer of the State and soon become the Principal of the College of Engineering of the Osmania University, his brother Alma Latif was the person, who first conceived the idea of esablising a university, using Urdu medium of instruction. Osmania University was established in 1918 with the guidance of Sir Mohammed Akbar Hydari and under the patronage of HEH The Nizam of Hyderabad.

Language and customs[link]

The Sulaymanis official day-to-day language was gradually changed from Gujarati to Urdu and all their religious discourses, lectures and correspondence are conducted in this language, apart from Namaz and religious gatherings. Sulaymanis follow no special dress code, blending with and adapting to the local norms of dress. There is no compulsion or coercion to make any payments to the religious authorities. All donations and other religious obligations are voluntary.

Most of these changes occurred during the Dā‘īship of Sayyadna Husamuddarain Ghulam Husayn ibn Al Mansub Farhat Ali who was an eminent scholar, author of many books and an able administrator. His younger brother Sayyadi Almansub Fathullah ibn Almansub Farhat Ali was himself a well known scholar, a fine Orator, an exemplary Teacher and a finest example to his students who numbered in great numbers when they came to Hyderabad to learn deen e Haq . During the time of these two able brothers, the Sulaymani community transformed into a modern and progressive society.

Today Sulaymanis have their own mosques, community halls, cemeteries, religious schools, co-operative Banks, medical centers and other welfare and social organizations. After the Demise of Sayyadi Almansub Zia Ali, Sayyadi Almansub Alfakhri Abdullah bin Mulla Hibatillah bin Almansub Fathullah Saheb was elavated by a nass to Mansubiyat by Sayyadna Ad Dai Ash Sharafi Husain bin Ismail almakrami,and he was given a title of Saheb ul Jazeeratain by current Dai e Mutlaq Sayyadna Alfakhri Abdullah bin Muhmmad.

In Mumbai during the time of the 15th mansūb, Farhat ‘Ali and the 16th mansūb Zia ‘Ali (1892), the Sulaymani mosque and jamatkhana was located in Nagpada, which at the time was a rundown and undesirable area of Mumbai. However. as the Sulaymani community progressively developed so did their needs. It was at this time that Farhat ‘Ali decided to move the mosque from the Nagpada to Khetvadi. This was possible due to the generous aid and help from a well known and wealthy Sulaymani Badruddin Tyabji, and the centre named after him, Badarbagh.

After 11 years in 1905, the centre moved again to a new location, the present day centre, called new Badarbagh. This centre was only a bungalow at first, with a land which was purchased by Badruddin Taybji and given to the community in trust for the community to use. This has developed in to a large centre with jamatkana, mosque and many buildings for including residence for mansubs and amils, recently the centre is being redeveloped in to a modern up to date centre for Sulaymani community of Mumbai.

Extract from Farhad Daftary's "The Ismailis their history and doctrines",Page 323: "In sum, the Sulaymanis have come to represent a progressive group, approving of social change and enouraging modern secular education and the attainment of specialized training at the higher occidental institutions. It is not surprising, therefore, that the small Sulaymani community has produced, proportionately speaking , a significant number of prominent men & women".

Notes[link]

References[link]

1. [Farhad Daftary The Ismailis Their History & Doctrines1990 2. [Hollister. John N. The Shi'a of India London 1953 3. [Lokhandwalla. The Bohras. a Muslim community of Gujarat 1955 4. [Hazrat Mohammed Shakir Zia "Urdu translation from Arabic: [Biography of Dai- Mutlaq Sayedna Sulayman B. Hasan 1357H. 5. Mulla Saadullah bin Sayyadi Almansub Nasrullah Saheb,-References from scores of History books of Da'wa,including letters from Duat and Manaaseeb by and between them. 6. Mulla Masood M. Ali " Sulaymani Census and Survey in India & Pakistan 7. mulla Masood m. Ali " Extracted and translation in English of "Seerat-ul-Manaseeb" 1346H. 8. Asif A. Fyzee " Three Sulaymani Dai's 9. Hussain B. Tyabji " History of Badarbagh Trust" 1947 11. Syed Amin Jafri "Sulaimani Bohras" an article in Newtimes Hyderabad 1984 12. Zia-ul-Eimaan No.40 A in house sulaymani Journal 13. Mulla Ameeruddin "Urdu translation of Nuzhat-ul-Azhaan", the AutoBiography of Dai-mutlaq Sayedna Jafar b. Sayedna Sulayman B. Hasan

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Born	Zahida Malik, Veena Malik Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Nationality	Pakistani
Occupation	Actress, Model
Years active	2000 – present
Parents	Mohammad Ali Malik, Zeenat Malik

Veena Malik (Urdu: وينا ملک, born Zahida Malik) is a Pakistani actress, model and comedienne. Over a span of ten years, she has worked with news channels and in movies.

Early life[link]

Veena Malik was born in Rawalpindi in the province of Punjab,^[1] to Ali Malik, and his wife, Zeenat Malik.^[2] . She holds a BA in Sociology, Psychology and Persian.^[1]

Career[link]

Films[link]

Before starting her career off as an actress, Malik worked as a comedian for several television shows and series. She made her acting debut alongside Shaan and Zara Sheikh in Askari's Tere Pyar Mein (2000), which was a box office hit. She played a supporting role in the film and was barely acknowledged. However, she appeared in a supporting role in Javed Sheikh's Yeh Dil Aap Ka Huwa (2002).

In 2003, Malik appeared in Indo-Pak cross venture Punjabi film Pind Di Kuri which failed to do so well, however, the film turned out be the first Indo-Pak venture film with a budget of approximately 70 million rupees. She also appeared in Askari's Sassi Punno (2003) alongside Sana and Moammar Rana, however the film failed to do well at Lahore's cinemas and further screenings had stopped in cinemas after a week of its release. She then appeared in Rafique's Jageer.

In 2005, she appeared in a short Punjabi film Bau Badmash (2005) which did not garner any recognition due to the lack of big stars. She then appeared in Reema Khan's Koi Tujh Sa Kahan (2005) which was a commercial success in Pakistan.In 2007, she won her first Lux Style Award for being the most stylish celebrity on the red carpet.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008, Malik appeared in Rafique's Punjabi film, Mohabbatan Sachiyan, alongside ex-fiancee Babrik Shah and newcomers Maria Khan and Adnan Khan. The film went on to become a commercial success.^[3] The same year, she appeared in Raza's Kabhi Pyaar Na Karna in a supporting role, but the film was a flop. Her last film of 2008 was Altaf's Ishq Beparwah, which also failed to impress the audience.

In 2010, she worked in Rafique's Main Jeena Tere Naal, and Beyg's debut comedy film Miss Duniya.^[4]

Television[link]

In 2002, she was called by Prime TV to host a show called Prime Gupshup^[5] for them ushering a new direction for her comedic skills and she improvised on the hour-long show occasionally mimicking actors.

She hosted the Geo TV show Hum Sub Umeed Say Hain, in which she was hailed for her comedic parodies.^[6]

Veena Malik performing to the tunes of Naheed Akhtar at the Lux Style Awards 2007.^[7]

In 2007, she graced the red carpet event of the Lux Style Awards and was awarded as being the ‘most stylish celebrity on the carpet’.^[7]

In October 2010, Malik appeared in the Indian television reality show Bigg Boss Season 4.^[8] She was evicted two weeks before the finals, and was one of the final six contestants out of the original fourteen who had participated.^[9] Malik was also part of the finale of the show.^[10] After her Bigg Boss stay, she was mentioned in the media as the voice of liberal muslims, including leading dailies, Daily Times,^[11] Express Tribune,^[12] and The Australian.^[13] Sabbah Hajim, from the Haji Amina Charity Trust in Jammu and Kashmir, writing in the magazine Tehelka, when comparing her with liberal rector of Darul Uloom Deoband, Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi said, "these two newly public figures might teach Muslims to stop feeling eternally outraged."^[14]

In February 2011,^[15] Veena Malik became part of the Cricket World Cup reality show^[16] in Delhi, India, called "Big Toss." Big Toss was a reality game show with contestants and Malik as the captain of one team, against Rakhi Sawant^[17] and her team.

In March 2011, Malik engaged in a passionate debate with a mufti, who claimed she had engaged in immoral behaviour as a contestant on Bigg Boss, even though he admitted to not having watched the show. Malik countered pointing out the double standards of Pakistani media against women among other rebuttals.^[18]

FHM Images[link]

Controversy resulted in Pakistan over a nude image of Malik on the cover of FHM magazine India edition in which she had "ISI" written on her upper arm – the initials of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency. ^[19] Malik says she was topless^[20] but did not pose completely nude,^[21] and has sued the magazine over the images.^[22]

Other works[link]

Malik has worked as a representative at the World Health Organization for two years. She also sponsors a child at the SOS Children's Village, an NGO based in Pakistan working with orphaned children.^[23]

Filmography[link]

Veena Malik on the sets of "Movers and Shakers"

Television[link]

Reality television[link]

As Contestant

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Veena Malik

• Official Website
• Veena, Vida, ViciExpress Tribune
• Veena Malik at the Internet Movie Database

Panchi Bora
Born	(1985-12-24) 24 December 1985 (age 26) Assam, India
Occupation	Model, actress

Panchi Bora (Assamese:পঞ্চী বৰা) , (born 24 December 1985) is an Indian television actress and model from Assam. She also used to play a lead role in the Balaji Telefilms soap Kayamath.

Television work[link]

Panchi started her undergraduate course in law at ILS Law College in Pune, but put her studies on hold during her second year to pursue a career in television. She played the central role of Prachi in Kayamath on Star Plus. She became famous for her onscreen chemistry with lead actor Shabbir Ahluwalia who played Milind in this serial. After Kayamath she had a break (2009-2012) then she came back with Badi Aii that is an hit show on STAR Plus.

Earlier, she worked in the MTV soap Kitni Mast Hai Zindagi and also featured in advertisements. ^[1]

Personal life[link]

Panchi's father is a former Army officer, and her parents currently live in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She has one elder sister who is married and settled in Australia. Her Guru (spiritual guide) lives in Vasishtha Ashram near Guwahati, Assam, India.^[1][2]

Shows And Appearances[link]

• Kitni Mast Hai Zindagi ~ Ananya
• Kahiin to Hoga ~ Prachi Shah (last episode cameo)
• Kayamath ~ Prachi Milind Mishra
• Badi Aii ~ Sanjana Khanna
• Saath Nibhaana Saathiya ~ Herself Sanjana Cameo

Movies[link]

• It's My Life
• Akashame Haddu
• Uu Kodathara? Ulikki Padathara?
• Damarukam

International Projects[link]

• Show: Russia- The Hindu(2010): as Maya starring opposite the lead Marat Basharov a famous Russian actor
• Commercials : Done number of advertisements for Brands belonging to Pakistan n Middle East countries

Commercials[link]

• Coca-Cola:(2009)along side with Aamir Khan (Aamir's Catoon ad)
• Videocon Mobile Service:(2010) With Ritesh Deshmukh
• Ford Figo:(2010)a 3 part advertisement campaign along with Barun Sobti
• NIIT- GNIIT(Career Program):(2010)
• Kalash^{[disambiguation needed ]} - Soya Oil:(2010)along with Kinshuk Mahajan
• Elmore-hair Removing Cream:(2010)
• Fair&Lovely:(2009)
• Tata Indicom:(2009)
• Godrej Group- No.1 Soap:(2009)
• Big Bazaar:(2009)
• Samsung- Guru Mobile:(2009)along with Raj Singh Arora
• Fortune^{[disambiguation needed ]}-Naturelle Coconut Hair Oil:(2008)
• KalaZone:(2008–2009)
• Cadbury:(2007)
• Colgate:(2005–2006)
• Johnson & Johnson- Whisper :(2005–2006)
• Lifebuoy
• Mustard Oil
• Malayalam-Malabar Taste Masala:(2010)
• Tamil-Lions Date Syrup:(2009)
• Telugu-Fashion Mantra:2009

Footnotes[link]

Shabana Azmi
Shabana Azmi at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, 2006
Born	(1950-09-18) 18 September 1950 (age 61) Hyderabad, Hyderabad State, India (now in Andhra Pradesh, India)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1972–present
Spouse	Javed Akhtar

Shabana Azmi (Hindi: शबाना आज़मी, Urdu: شبانہ اعظمی; born 18 September 1950) is an Indian actress of film, television and theatre. An alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India of Pune, she made her film debut in 1974 and soon became one of the leading actresses of parallel cinema, an Indian New Wave movement known for its serious content and neo-realism.^[1][2] Regarded as one of the finest actresses in India, Azmi's performances in films in a variety of genres have generally earned her praise and awards, which include a record of five wins of the National Film Award for Best Actress and several international honours.^[1][3] She has also received four Filmfare Awards.

Azmi has appeared in over 120 Hindi films in both mainstream and independent cinema, and since 1988 she has acted in several foreign projects. In addition to acting, Azmi is a social and women's rights activist, a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), and a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament.^[4] She is married to Indian poet and screenwriter Javed Akhtar.^[5]

Early life and background[link]

Shabana Azmi was born in a Muslim family. Her parents are Kaifi Azmi (an Indian poet) and Shaukat Azmi (a veteran Indian People's Theatre Association stage actress),^[4] both of whom were members of the Communist Party of India. Her brother, Baba Azmi, is a cinematographer. Her parents had an active social life, and their home was always thriving with people and activities of the communist party. It was not unusual for her to wake up in the morning and find members of the communist party sleeping about, from a previous night's communist social that ran late. Early in childhood, the environment in her home was inculcated into her a respect for family ties, social and human values; and her parents always supported her to develop a passion for intellectual stimulation and growth.^[6][7][8]

Azmi did her schooling at the premier girl's school, Queen Mary School, Mumbai. She completed a graduate degree in Psychology from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, and followed it with a course in acting at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.^[4] She described the reason she decided to attend the film institute, saying, "I had had the privilege of watching Jaya Bhaduri in a (Diploma) film, Suman, and I was completely enchanted by her performance because it was unlike the other performances I had seen. I really marvelled at that and said, 'My god, if by going to the Film Institute I can achieve that, that's what I want to do.'" Azmi eventually topped the list of successful candidates of 1972.^[9]

Career[link]

Azmi graduated from the FTII in 1973 and went on to sign on Khwaja Ahmad Abbas' Faasla and began work on Kanti Lal Rathod's Parinay as well. Her first release, however, was Shyam Benegal's directorial debut Ankur (1974). Belonging to the arthouse genre of neo-realistic films, Ankur is based on a true story which occurred in Hyderabad. Azmi played Lakshmi, a married servant and villager who drifts into an affair with a college student who visits the countryside. Azmi was not the original choice for the film, and several leading actresses of that time refused to do it. The film went on to become a major critical success, and Azmi won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her performances. Upperstall.com described her work in the film as "an outstanding psychologically penetrating performance very different from those seen normally till then in mainstream Hindi cinema", and famous independent filmmaker Satyajit Ray commented, "In Ankur she may not have fitted immediately into her rustic surroundings, but her poise and personality are never in doubt. In two high pitched scenes, she pulls out the stops to firmly establish herself as one of our finest dramatic actresses".^[10]

She went on to receive the National Film Award consecutively for three years from 1983 to 1985 for her roles in movies, Arth, Khandhar and Paar. Another film Godmother (1999) earned her another National Film Award, taking her tally to five.

Azmi’s acting has been characterized by a real-life depiction of the roles played by her. In Mandi, she acted as a madam of a whorehouse. For this role, she put on weight and even chewed betel. Real life portrayals continued in almost all her movies. These included the role of a woman named Jamini resigned to her destiny in Khandhar, and a typical urban Indian wife, homemaker and mother in Masoom.

She also acted in experimental and parallel Indian cinema. Deepa Mehta’s 1996 film Fire depicts her as a lonely woman, Radha, in love with her sister-in-law. The on-screen depiction of lesbianism (perhaps the first in Indian cinema) drew severe protests and threats from many social groups as well as by the Indian authorities. Her role as Radha brought her international recognition with the Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress at the 32nd Chicago Film Festival and Jury Award for Best Actress at Outfest, Los Angeles.^[4]

Some of her notable films include Shyam Benegal's Nishant (1975), Junoon (1978), Susman (1986), and Antarnaad (1992); Satyajit Ray’s Shatranj Ke Khiladi; Mrinal Sen’s Khandhar, Genesis, Ek Din Achanak; Saeed Mirza’s Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai; Sai Paranjpye’s Sparsh and Disha; Gautam Ghose’s Paar; Aparna Sen’s Picnic and Sati ; Mahesh Bhatt’s Arth; Vinay Shukla’s Godmother. Her other films include the commercially successful Manmohan Desai's Amar Akbar Anthony, and Parvarish and Prakash Mehra’s Jwalamukhi. Azmi starred in Hollywood productions such as John Schlesinger’s Madame Sousatzka (1988) and Roland Joffe’s City of Joy (1992).

Azmi debuted on the small screen in a soap opera titled Anupama. She portrayed a modern Indian woman who, while endorsing traditional Indian ethos and values, negotiated more freedom for herself. She had also participated in many stage plays, and notable among them include M. S. Sathyu’s Safed Kundali (1980), based on The Caucasian Chalk Circle; and Feroz Abbas Khan's Tumhari Amrita along with actor Farooq Sheikh, which ran for five years. She toured Singapore on an assignment with the Singapore Repertory Theatre Company, acting in Ingmar Bergman’s adaptation of Ibsen’s A Doll's House, which was directed by Rey Buono. Pointing out the differences in all these media, she once remarked that theatre was really the actor’s medium; the stage was actor’s space; cinema was the director’s medium; and television was a writer’s medium.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life[link]

In the initial stage of her career, she was linked to film director Shekhar Kapur.^{[citation needed]} She married Javed Akhtar, a lyricist, poet and Bollywood scriptwriter^[5] on 9 December 1984, making her a member of the Akhtar-Azmi film family.^[11] It was Akhtar’s second marriage, the first being with Bollywood scriptwriter, Honey Irani.^[12] Indian actresses Farah Naaz and Tabu are her nieces.

Social activism[link]

Shabana Azmi has been a committed social activist, active in supporting child survival and fighting AIDS and injustice in real life.^[13][14] Azmi has voiced her opinion on a variety of issues. Initially, her activism drew skepticism and was dubbed by some as a publicity gimmick. However, she proved her critics wrong and used her celebrity status to emerge as a high-profile social activist.

She had participated in several plays and demonstrations denouncing communalism. In 1989, along with Swami Agnivesh and Asghar Ali Engineer, she undertook a four-day march for communal harmony from New Delhi to Meerut. Among the social groups whose causes she has advocated are slum dwellers, displaced Kashmiri Pandit migrants and victims of the earthquake at Latur (Maharashtra, India). The 1993 Mumbai riots appalled her and she emerged as a forceful critic of religious extremism. After the 11 September 2001 attacks, she opposed the advice of the grand mufti of Jama Masjid calling upon the Muslims of India to join the people of Afghanistan in their fight by retorting that the leader go there alone.^[15]

She has campaigned against ostracism of victims of AIDS.^[13] A small film clip issued by the Government of India depicts an HIV positive child cuddled in her arms and saying: "She does not need your rejection, she needs your love". In a Bengali film named Meghla Aakash she played the role of a physician treating AIDS patients.

She has also given her voice to an HIV/AIDS education animated software tutorial created by the nonprofit organization TeachAIDS.^[16]

Since 1989, she has been a member of the National Integration Council headed by the Prime Minister of India; a member of National AIDS Commission (of India); and was nominated (in 1997) as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament. In 1998, the United Nations Population Fund appointed her as its Goodwill Ambassador for India.^[13]

Selected filmography[link]

She has acted in more than one hundred Hindi films, both in the mainstream as well as in parallel cinema. Several of her films have received attention in the international arena, including at the Norwegian Film Institute, the Smithsonian Institution and the American Film Institute. She has appeared in a number of foreign films, most of which have won international acclaim, including John Schlesinger’s Madame Sousatzka, Nicholas Klotz’s Bengali Night, Roland Joffe’s City of Joy, Channel 4’s Immaculate Conception, Blake Edwards' Son of the Pink Panther, and Ismail Merchant’s In Custody.

• Ankur (1974) - Laxmi
• Nishant (1976) - Sushila
• Fakira (1976) Geeta / Neeta C I D Police Inspector
• Shatranj Ke Khiladi (1977) - Khurshid
• Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) - Laxmi
• Junoon (1978) - Firdaus
• Swami (1978) -
• Sparsh (1980) - Kavita
• Arth (1982) - Mrs. Pooja Inder Malhotra
• Masoom (1983) - Indu D. Malhotra
• Mandi (1983) - Rukmini Bai
• Shart (1986)- Kiran Dutt
• The Bengali Night (1988) - Mrs. Sen
• Madame Sousatzka (1988) - Sushila
• City of Joy (1992) - Kamla Pal
• In Custody (1993) - Imtiaz Begum
• Son of the Pink Panther (1993) - Queen
• Fire (1996) - Radha
• Saaz (1997) - Bansidhar (Bansi) Vrundavan
• Side Streets (1998) - Mrs. Chandra Bipin Raj
• Earth (1998) - voice of older Lenny
• Godmother (1999) - Rambhi
• Makdee (2002) - Makdee
• Tehzeeb (2003) - Rukhsana Jamal
• Morning Raga (2004) - Swarnlatha
• 15 Park Avenue (2005) - Anjali "Anju" Mathur
• Waterborne (2005) - Heera Bhatti
• Umrao Jaan (2006) - Khannum Jaan
• Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. (2007) - Nahid
• Loins of Punjab Presents (2007) - Rita Kapoor
• Sorry Bhai! (2008) - Mother Gayatri
• It's a Wonderful Afterlife (2010) - Mrs. Sethi

Awards and honors[link]

National Awards[link]

Azmi has received the National Film Award for Best Actress five times, making her the overall most-awarded actor in the function:^[4]

• 1975 - National Film Award for Best Actress, Ankur
• 1983 - National Film Award for Best Actress, Arth
• 1984 - National Film Award for Best Actress, Khandhar
• 1985 - National Film Award for Best Actress, Paar
• 1999 - National Film Award for Best Actress, Godmother

Filmfare Awards[link]

Winner:

• 1978 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Swami
• 1984 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Arth
• 1985 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Bhavna
• 2006 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award

Nominated:

• 1975 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Ankur
• 1981 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Thodisi Bewafaii
• 1984 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Masoom
• 1984 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Avtaar
• 1984 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Mandi
• 1985 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Sparsh
• 2003 - Filmfare Best Villain Award for Makdee
• 2004 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Tehzeeb

International awards[link]

• 1993: Best Actress award for Libaas in North Korea
• 1994: Best Actress award for Gautam Ghose’s Patang at the Taormina Arte Festival in Italy
• 1996: Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress for Fire at the Chicago International Film Festival^[4]
• 1996: Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film, for Fire in L.A. Outfest^[4]

Other awards[link]

• Azmi won the award for Best Actress (Hindi) at the Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards (BFJA) for Ankur in 1975, Paar in 1984, Ek Pal in 1987, and Godmother in 1999. She won the Best Supporting Actress (Hindi) award for Tehzeeb in 2003.^[17]
• 1998: Star Screen Award Best Supporting Actress for Mrityudand.
• 2004: Zee Cine Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role- Female for Tehzeeb.
• 2005: Star Screen Awards - Best Performance in an Indian Film in English for Morning Raga

Honours and recognitions[link]

• 1988: Awarded the Padma Shri from the Government of India.
• 1988: Yash Bhartiya Award by the Government of Uttar Pradesh for highlighting women’s issues in her work as an actress and activist.
• 1994: Rajiv Gandhi Award for "Excellence of Secularism"
• 1999: Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image, Significant Contribution to Indian Cinema.^[18]
• 2002: Martin Luther King Professorship award by the University of Michigan conferred on her in recognition of her contribution to arts, culture and society.
• 2006: Gandhi International Peace Award, awarded by Gandhi Foundation, London.^[19]
• 2007: She was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Art by Chancellor of the University Brandan Foster by the Leeds Metropolitan University in Yorkshire^[20]
• 2009: She was honoured with the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award ^[21]
• 2012: Awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.

Notes[link]