Dawoodi Bohras: Encyclopedia II - Dawoodi Bohras - Fatimid Origins

Dawoodi Bohras - Fatimid Origins

After the seclusion of the 21st Fatimid Imam in Egypt, Queen al-Hurra al-Maleka, by the instructions of the secluded Imam, appointed the first Da'i in Yemen in the mid-twelfth century A.D. The Fatimid Dawat (state) was to remain headquartered in Yemen, India and Pakistan (Sindh) under the leadership of the Da'i al Mutlaq.

After acute persecution from the Sunni majority in Yemen, the Dawat shifted to India and some followers also relocated. However, a large population of Dawoodi Bohras remained in Yemen and do so today.

Some Bohras' ancestors were converts from Hinduism to Islam in Gujarat, India. Their conversion was the result of the work of some Fatimid missionaries from Egypt and Yemen which took place before the seclusion of the 21st Fatimid Imam, some time during the caliphate of Imam Mustansir. The converted were largely from the Hindu middle and upper castes, many of whom were engaged in trade and commerce. Later, indigenous converts undertook the missionary activities in other regions such as the areas that today constitute Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The word Bohra itself is derived from the Gujarati word Vehwahar which is interpreted as trading. Thus, the community even today indulges mostly in business and trade.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Fatimid Origins", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki