Syedna’s death won’t affect succession row in High Court

A week after the death of Khuzaima Qutbuddin, who had been claiming succession to the position of Dai al-Mutlaq of Dawoodi Bohras since the death of his half-brother late Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin, his family has announced that his funeral will take place in Thane district on Sunday. Qutbuddin breathed his last at the age of 75 in California, U.S.A., on March 31.

According to a statement released by the family, his successor Syedna Taher Fakhruddin would lead his funeral and the burial would take place at 1 pm on April 10 in Darus Sakina.

Apart from details of religious rituals, it is also clarified in the statement that the succession row in the Bombay high court would continue because Syedna Khuzaima Qutbuddin has conferred nass (announcement of successor) on his son Syedna Taher Fakhruddin. To clarify, the family stated, “It is hereby clarified that the high court has not passed any order declaring that the suit filed by Syedna Qutbuddin has abated. The high court has merely cancelled the dates which were reserved for hearing of the suit.” It further said, “As per legal advice received by us, the scheme of the law is that legal representative of the original plaintiff (in this case the legal representative of Syedna Qutbuddin) can make an application to be brought on record as plaintiff within 90 days. The law provides that the suit abates only on the expiry of the 90 days from the date of the death of Syedna Qutbuddin if no such application is made.” This explained that the legal fight challenging Mufaddal’s appointment as Syedna would continue.