My Life as a Dawoodi Bohra Teenager
By Mufaddal M. Mustafa Jamali
As Salam Alaikum. Respected Members of the Church and Community, Respected Janab Saheb, Mumineen, Muminaat. My name is Mufaddal Jamali and I would like to welcome everyone to this special celebration event in honor of his Holiness, Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin (TUS). Today, I would like to present to you an inside look at my life, as a teenager living in America, and also as a very active participant in religious activities. Similar to a normal teenager, I go to school every day and I try to work hard to achieve the straight A’s in my report card that every parent hopes to see. I try to engage in after school activities such as volunteering to give back to the community. In the spring, I play tennis for my school, working hard to get better each day. I participate in these activities like a common American teen, but unlike an average American I also go to our markaz for prayer sessions on a regular basis. Sometimes it could be once a week, other weeks multiple times, or in rare cases such as in Ramadan, everyday for thirty days. In other religions a teenager this devoted to his religion would be hard to find, or perhaps even impossible. However, for a Dawoodi Bohra teenager, this characteristic is a commonality. Not finding a child like this in a Dawoodi Bohra family would be hard or perhaps even impossible.
There are two important reasons for why the culture of a Dawoodi Bohra teenager is so unique and unlike any other. One reason is how parents raise their children and teach them to prioritize certain activities. I remember how my parents would make me pray namaz and come to majlises starting from an early age. Sure, it was hard the first few years, but after those first few years it became like a normal habit. Now, religion is engraved in my life and if at anytime I decide to avoid it, a feeling of regret will arise.
The most important reason for a teenager’s success in a Dawoodi Bohra community is our spiritual leader Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin (TUS), the person whose salgira we celebrate today. Moula shows us the path that we need to take in order to lead a successful life. He does not say that religion is the only thing that matters, but instead emphasizes education and being an important figure in today’s world. Nevertheless he doesn’t abandon religion, because that is the key element which keeps a Dawoodi Bohra’s life in balance. It is not just a coincidence why Mumineen are never in trouble with the law or filling bankruptcy on a normal basis. It is because that is how we are brought up. Moula teaches our parents to live their lives in a certain way, the right way, and it is our duty to pass those teachings to our children to keep up and honor this tradition.
I know many may question how all of this may be possible. But, the truth is that the secret lies in the teachings of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (tus). He teaches our parents, and us, that the key to success is to have faith, and prioritize our Mohabbat and our beliefs. And believe me, when that is done, other things fall into place. My Maula teaches us that we can have it all - religion, social life, community involvement, professional goals, and more - So, why settle for anything less than that?? This is why I am standing today on this podium, giving this speech, because my parents brought me up the right way, and set me up to lead balanced life that will result in nothing short of success.
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