Sacred Facts · At a Glance
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📷 Dirk Beyer · [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Religions
Sulaymani Bohras
Sulaymani Bohra (Tayyibi Shiism)
Sulaymani Bohra (Tayyibi Shiism)
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The Sulaymanis are the second branch of Tayyibi Ismaili Shiism — some 700,000 worldwide, but only 3,000–5,000 in India (Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Surat), guided by a mansub (representative) in Hyderabad. Their story is the Dawoodi story's mirror image.
The 1592 split: on the death of the 26th Dai (Dawood bin Ajabshah, 1589/1592), India recognised Dawood bin Qutubshah (Dawoodis); Yemen recognised Sulayman bin Hassan (Sulaymanis). From 1677 the Sulaymani Dai al-Mutlaq passed hereditarily through the Makrami family at Badr, Najran — ruling it with Banu Yam support until Saudi annexation (1934); the present 51st Dai lives under surveillance, and Najran Sulaymanis face severe restriction.
Indian character: unlike the tightly organised Dawoodis, Indian Sulaymanis live closer to Sunni neighbours in dress, language, and custom — no central dress code, Gujarati daily life, quiet piety. The Alavi Bohras (1621 split, Vadodara-centred, few thousand) are their closest cousins and merit their own entry.
DivineLens presents perspectives from within this tradition, curated for authenticity. For personal spiritual direction, advanced study, or questions about tradition-specific practice, we recommend finding a qualified teacher in Islam. Our Advisory Council reviews all content for theological accuracy.
Recommended reviewers: A historian of Ismailism in South Asia.
