Sultan Al Bohra, Dai el Fatimi Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Saheb, Head of the international Dawoodi Bohra Islamic Community arrived in Dubai yesterday (Monday) morning from Mumbai by Emirates on a very brief visit of a little over 24 hours.

He was escorted from the plane to the VIP lounge by Dr. Syedna's local representative Kinana Muder Bhaisaheb and received and welcomed by government officials, members of protocol, diplomats and Consuls of India, Pakistan, Yemen, Jordan and Syria, local dignitaries including Mr. Abdullah Al Ghurair and prominent community members.

Dr. Burhanuddin is accompanied by a 15 member delegation, among whom are his sons Shehzada Aaliqadr Mufaddal Saifuddin and Shehzada Aaliwaqar Idris Badruddin.

Eighty-eight years old Dr. Syedna Burhanuddin's life long mission is to build masjids wherever he travels across the globe. Last night (Monday night) after leading the Maghrib prayers, Dr. Burhanuddin proceeded to lay the foundations for two more Masaajid in the UAE - one at Ghusais in Dubai and the other in Sharjah. He returned later and addressed more than 8,000 members of the Dawoodi Bohra Islamic Community at the Masjid al Saifee in Dubai and advised them to conduct their lives in accordance with the Islamic Shariat and be good muslims. He urged them to recite in day and at night the verses of the Holy Quraan and do Hifz (memorization) of this Holy Book of Allah, closely observe the Quranic injunctions to abstain from "riba" interest and practice "Qardan Hasanah" (loan without interest), help fellow citizens and strive hard for the progress and prosperity of the U.A.E. where they presently reside.

Dr. Syedna Burhanuddin praised the wise and benign leadership of President of the U.A.E, Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan al Nahyan, and recalled the bond of freindship and fraternity that exists between him and the leaders and people of the U.A.E. This is Dr. Syedna's 40th visit to this land since 1972. Over the period of last 28 years Dr. Burhanuddin has always been welcomed with warmth and affection by the President, by the late His Highness Sh. Rashid Bin Saeed al Maktoum and by Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the U.A.E. and members of the Dubai Ruling family.

Today (Tuesday) Dr. Burhanuddin will receive local dignitaries and his followers before he departs for London in the afternoon.

This incredibly short stay of a little over 24 hours in Dubai will be remembered for its many achievements. Dr. Burhanuddin's love, affection and prayers for all fellow muslims will be cherished and his urge to complete the tasks of early completion of the two masajid whose foundations were laid by Dr. Burhanuddin last night will be carried out with dedication and hard work by members of the community.

Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin has constructed and inaugurated 117 masajid (mosques) throughout the world so far and about 135 masajids are either at the planning or foundation stages or are under construction in many countries. In the United States and Canada, Dr. Syedna has already built and inaugurated a masjid each in Detroit, Dallas, Chicago and Toronto. Plans are udner way for the construction of 20 more masajid all over the United States including New York and Washington DC.

In the Gulf the first masjid built by Dr. Burhanuddin was in Dubai in 1983, followed by another new masjid in Bahrain.

Before arriving in Dubai yesterday, Dr. Syedna earlier returned to Mumbai from a Far eastern tour to Australia and Singapore. In Sydney Dr. Burhanuddin was given the formal traditional red carpet welcome by the Australian Government. Dr. Burhanuddin threw open to his faithful followers of Islam the gates of the newly constructed masjid in Sydney and spread the message of peace and harmony for all Muslims living on this continent. Later he flew to Carins and later to Singapore. In Singapore, Dr. Burhanuddin inaugurated a newly reconstructed masjid amongst the presence of thousands of Muslims residing in the Far east. He urged them to conduct their lives in adhrerence to Islamic Shariat and remain totally committed to Islam.

Press & Media Relations Coordinator,
Anjuman E Najmi, (Dawoodi Bohra Islami Jamaat),
Dubai, U.A.E.

Press Release by Shk Abdulhusain Zakir.