In Memory of
Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin
(6th march 1915 – 17 january 2014
20th rabi al aakhar – 16th rabi al awwal)
It started like any other Friday. We were gathered at our masjid readying to hear a recorded video when a sudden hive of activity took place at the front. Some rushed out and most of us looked around in puzzlement as to what was happening. Then like a reascending tide, news started trickling through. Our father, our light, our captain, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin had passed away.
At first the news was unbelievable. Audible cries and wails started compounding through the masjid. And when this ground shattering news was confirmed, even those in denial could no longer be consoled. The Holy Quran became our solace and people started trickling into masjid, confirming what in their hearts they wished was not true.
The lucky ones managed to reach Mumbai and they joined thousands, hundreds of thousands who descended on the city of Mumbai. Roads that were the epicentre of the city’s traffic were closed, as a entourage of which never has ever been seen, crept slowly from Saifee Mahal to Saifee Masjid. A sea of white encased the truck that carried this holly spirit to its final resting place – fittingly next to his father, Syedna Taher Saifuddin.
40 days has passed since that fitful day. A moment that will be ingrained in us throughout our lives. I, like most, have memories whereby my moments with Sayedna Mohammed Burhanuddin are etched from the sharaf of his ziyafat, him saving my life in 1994, the countless opportunities he gave me to serve my community and his final gift of my title which he bestowed less then a year ago. Remembering Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin and all that has done for us will be our escape. However his greatest gift was his son, my new father, my dai, Syenda Aliqadr Mufaddal Saifuddin.
