Abdul Husain Husamuddin

Syedna Abdul Husain Husamuddin () was born in Surat, India on 15 September 1823 (10 Moharram 1239H). In 1885 he became the 48th Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohra sect. He was the son of Syedna Tayyeb Zainuddin who was the 45th Da'i al-Mutlaq and belonged to family linage of Syedi Fakhruddin Shaheed. After the death of 47th Da'i al-Mutlaq Syedna Abdul Qadir Najmuddin, he became the 48th Da'i al-Mutlaq. He has guided the highly indebted community in his times through a difficult period when the enemies had brewed up a conspiracy against it.
Being the son of Syedna Tayyeb Zainuddin he was very closely accustomed to the culture, traditions and customs of Dawoodi Bohra sect. All through his childhood he was educated by his father in the books of knowledge and religion. He always remained by the side of his father till the age of 14 years when his father died. Thereafter he was educated by Syedi Abdeali Imaduddin. He then served the 46th Da'i al-Mutlaq Syedna Mohammed Badruddin who also educated him and later he also served Syedna Abdul Qadir Najmuddin.
When he became the 48th Da'i al-Mutlaq he was faced with a two pronged issue; one that of faith, which was shaken to a great extend by the conspiracy over the nas (the process of nominating a successor) over the Syedna Abdul Qadir Najmuddin and the second being the burden of debts over the community. But he stood steadfast in his efforts to lead the community out of this crisis. He travelled far and wide to the colonies of the members of the Dawoodi Bohra sect teaching and guiding them by increasing their faith and clearing their doubts, created by the enemies. At the same time he also strived very hard to clear the debts of the community.
He remained as the Da'i al-Mutlaq till 1891. While on a journey from Mumbai for resolving the crisis of the community, he become sick and when he reached Ahmedabad his illness worsened. He conferred nas upon his brother's son Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin,who was in Mumbai, before the important post holders of the community. He transferred all his struggle and determination into the hands of the Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin and died.
Early life
Syedna Abdul Husain Husamuddin was born to Syedna Tayyeb Zainuddin in Surat, a city in the state of Gujarat, India. His father was his teacher and mentor right from his infancy. His father imbibed in him the best qualities of learning and absorbing the knowledge taught from the religious books.
His father entrusted him to Syedi Abdeali Imaduddin to acquire certain knowledge imparted by 43rd Da'i al-Mutlaq Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin. Syedi Abdeali Imaduddin taught him that knowledge completely under an oath to disclose it only to his two sons Syedna Abdullah Badruddin and Syedi Abdeali Moiyuddin, such that it is imparted only to 51st Da'i al Mutlaq Syedna Taher Saifuddin.
His father the 45th Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohra sect, was an illustrious and well known leader not only among the Dawoodi Bohra community but also to the people from other sects and government administrators. They all came to him to seek his valuable advice. He had the tact of handling things in an wise manner such that major issues seem to become minor before him. His father died when he was just 14 years old. He remained devoted to his teacher Syedi Abdeali Imaduddin and used the teachings to serve the 46th Da'i al-Mutlaq Syedna Mohammed Badruddin who also taught him on various norms of Dawoodi Bohra sect. But Syedna Mohammed Badruddin died after remaining as Da'i al Mutlaq for just four years.
He was 18 years old and his brother Syedna Abdul Qadir Najmuddin became the 47th Da'i al-Mutlaq. When he was 32, his teacher Syedi Abdeali Imaduddin died and this was accompanied the hatching of a conspiracy by the enemies of the Dawoodi Bohra community stating that nas has not been conferred by the 46th Da'i al-Mutlaq Syedna Mohammed Badruddin upon the his brother. Throughout his life this conspiracy by the enemies of Dawoodi Bohra had a great impact on him such that even at the time of his death he was struggling to free the Dawoodi Bohra from the clutches of doubt in faith and also from the shakles of debt.
Life before Da'i al-Mutlaq
At the age of 18 when Syedna Abdul Husain Husamuddin's brother Syedna Abdul Qadir Najmuddin became the
47th Da'i al-Mutlaq, the conspiracy by the enemies brought the Dawoodi Bohra sect into the well of a crisis. But due to the presence of Syedi Abdeali Imaduddin the Mukasir e Dawat, the enemies were on their backfoot and did not come into the open. But as soon as Syedi Abdeali Imaduddin died the enemies began to show their true colors. His brother remained silent and his silence seemed to encourage the enemies. But to the contrary the enemies were not getting the their fuel of hatred, word slinging and other rivalery that would happen in such situation. It seemed like they were striking allegations against the wall with no reaction.
At the same time Syedna Abdul Qadir Najmuddin travelled to the colonies of the members of the community and taught them, clearing their doubts regarding nas and brought back the people who had gone astray back into the folds of the Dawoodi Bohra sect. His brother also gave permission to the learned of the Dawoodi Bohra sect to do the same. He too took up this opportunity to implement the knowledge he has acquired and began to teach people and brought many people from the darkness of doubt to the brightness of faith.
Once when asked why his brother is remaining silent and not answering his enemies. To this his brother replied that the fifth Da'i al-Mutlaq from him will answer his enemies. He was referring to Syedna Taher Saifuddin.
Such was his devotion and determination that when Syedi Abdeali Imaduddin, who was the Mukasir e Dawat (a third ranking position in Dawoodi Bohra sect) died his brother appointed him as the Mukasir e Dawat. He was just 32 years old then.
After four years when the Mazoon e Dawat (the second highest position in the Dawoodi Bohra sect) Syedi Hebatullah Jamaluddin passed away, his brother appointed him in the position of Mazoon e Dawat.
In 1891 he decided to travel to Mumbai. At the time of departure he said, "I am leaving my successor and the one dearest to my heart, behind me." referring to the 49th Da'i al-Mutlaq Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin. In this way he conferred nas upon his brother's son and then left for Mumbai. During the onward journey from Mumbai he fell sick, but due to the crisis in the community he decided to continue his journey. He visited many places but when he reached Ahmedabad his condition worsened.
On 27 July 1891 (27 Zilhajjah 1308H) after the Fajr (morning) namaz (prayer) he held a misaq (pledge) madlis (get together) wherein he again did nas on Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin before important post holders of the community and left behind all the struggles of the world and died in peace
Achievements
Syedna Abdul Husain Husamuddin was instrumental in imparting the knowledge of the 43rd Da'i al-Mutlaq Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin to the 51st Da'i al-Mutlaq Syedna Taher Saifuddin. Apart from him the four others involved in this vallant effort were Syedi Abdeali Imaduddin, Syedna Abdul Qadir Najmuddin, Syedna Abdullah Badruddin and Syedi Abdeali Moiyuddin. The five of them together formed a chain in different eras and succeeded in achieving this daunting task right under the noses of the learned enemies of the Dawoodi Bohra community. Among the above Syedna Abdullah Badruddin and Syedi Abdeali Moiyuddin were his sons. during the times of his brother 47th Da'i al-Mutlaq Syedna Abdul Qadir Najmuddin, he stood by his brother and did everything within his power to face the enemies. As per the instructions of his brother, he travelled to the colonies of the members of Dawoodi Bohra community to educate people so as to shield them from the attacks of the enemies and to bring back any unfortunate members who may disillutioned by the enemy's claims.
There were huge debts on the Dawoodi Bohra sect due to the conspiracy hatched by the enemies. In his travels to the colonies of the members of the Dawoodi Bohra sect he also educated them as to the payment of the dues to the rightful. He also gave references of their ancestors, how they prospered and secured the safety of their wealth by paying to the rightful.
In his demise the members of the Dawoodi Bohra community lost a leader who took great care of them and nurtured them with fatherly love and affection.<ref name=p20 />

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