KARACHI: Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, has delivered the first sermon of “Ashara Mubaraka” in Taheri Masjid, Saddar.

According to a press release, Syedna addressed a gathering of “over 80,000 attendees” and mentioned how Bohra community members from diverse geographies and professions gathered in Karachi for a single purpose — the remembrance and commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Husain.

In the sermon, Syedna expounded upon a number of hadith by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which highlight the role of conviction and self-growth and success.

For instance, he quoted the Prophet’s statement regarding the honeybee which “consumes only that which is pure, and gives back only that which is pure”.

Based on this statement by the Prophet (PBUH), Syedna advocated for a self-awareness of consumption both in body and spirit, and a philosophy of internalisation that prioritised giving back to society as the ultimate objective of any endeavour. “Consume only that which is worthy of your time and benefits you as a whole and only give back to your families and society that which will help others. Both your input and your output should be pure,” he said, according to the statement.

The daily sermons touch upon various themes and disciplines and encourage community members to seek knowledge from the Holy Quran and emulate the noble qualities of the Prophet (PBUH) and the Ahl al-Bayt to reinvigorate their faith and navigate the complexities of modern life.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2024