Dawoodi Bohra Arzi Format Updated Fixed May 2026

Writing an Arzi (petition) to His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin in 2026 combines traditional Fatimi etiquette with modern digital, utilizing the ITS portal for submission. The updated format requires a clear Sarnama, personal ITS-52 number, and concise, active-voice content in Lisan al-Dawat for seeking Raza or Dua. For more official resources or to download templates for various community initiatives, visit thedawoodibohras.com

1. Header (Bismillah & Salawat)

Begin with Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.
Follow with Salawat (Allahumma Salli ala Muhammad wa Aale Muhammad).
Address the Arzi to the designated Hadd (e.g., Hudood Dai-uz-Zaman, Shehzada Saheb, or Amil Saheb of your locality).

4. Enhanced Data Fields for Specific Requests

The updated format now includes expanded sections tailored to modern needs:

| Type of Arzi | New Required Fields | | --- | --- | | Nikah (Marriage) | T.B. (Tuberculosis) test reports of both parties; consent form for genetic screening. | | Tijarat (Business) | GST/VAT registration number; nature of halal compliance certification. | | Ilm/Ziyarat (Travel) | Passport number; vaccination status; bank statement for trip sponsorship. | | Ma’zerat (Exemption) | Doctor’s prescription (digital scan); reason for missing Waaz (sermon). |

Report: Dawoodi Bohra Arzi Format (Updated)

8. Recommendations for Clarity and Compliance

Keep the subject line explicit and brief.
Number points when listing facts or multiple requests.
Attach clear, legible copies of supporting documents and reference them in the body.
Use formal letterhead or jamaat-provided forms when available.
Retain a stamped copy or digital acknowledgment for records.

If you’d like, I can:

Provide a filled example for a specific request type (marriage, membership update, fee waiver, etc.).
Format this as a printable letter (A4) with placeholders filled.

An Arzi is a formal petition or letter of supplication addressed by a member of the Dawoodi Bohra community to the al-Dai al-Mutlaq (currently His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin). It is a sacred medium used to seek spiritual guidance, permission (raza), or blessings (du'a) for personal, professional, or religious matters.

The updated format for 2026 emphasizes clarity, humility, and adherence to traditional linguistic protocols. 1. The Header: Tasleem and Titles

The Arzi must begin with the traditional Fatemi protocol. This section is never omitted and is written with extreme reverence.

Abadat/Tasleem: Use the standard phrase: "Abdu Syedna (TUS) [Your Name] tasleem arz kare che." (The servant of Syedna [Name] offers his salutations).

Addressing His Holiness: Refer to Syedna using his full titles, typically: "Bawa Shafiq His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin (TUS)." 2. The Core Message (The "Arz")

Contemporary guidelines suggest keeping the body of the Arzi concise and structured to ensure it can be processed efficiently by the Office of the Al-Dai al-Mutlaq.

Purpose First: Clearly state why you are writing (e.g., Nikah raza, starting a new business, health issues, or seeking a name for a newborn).

Personal Details: Always include your ITS (Information Technology Services) ID. This is the primary identifier for all community members in the global database.

Current Context: If the Arzi is regarding a business or a new venture, briefly mention your current occupation or location. 3. Language Protocols

While Lisan ud-Dawat (the unique language of the community) is preferred, modern Arzis can be written in English or other languages if the individual is more comfortable, provided the opening and closing follow the traditional format.

Tone: The tone must be "Khuzu" (humble). Avoid using "I" or "me" excessively; instead, use "Aqa Moula no adna mureed" (this humble follower of Aqa Moula).

Specific Requests: Be specific in your request for du'a. For example, instead of "Please pray for me," use "Requesting special du'a for Shifa (healing) from [specific illness]." 4. Closing: Intezar-ul-Amr dawoodi bohra arzi format updated

The conclusion of the Arzi signifies your submission to the Dai’s guidance.

Standard Closing: "Je amr thaase emal karees." (I will act according to whatever command is given).

Final Salutation: End with a prayer for Syedna’s long life: "Allah Ta'ala Moula ni umr shareef ne qayamat na din lag daraz ane daraz kare. Ameen." 5. Submission Channels

Digital Submission: Most Arzis are now submitted via the official ITS portal or local Jamaat apps. This ensures they are tracked and reach the relevant department (Daftar).

Physical Arzi: If handing a physical copy during a Ziyarat or Bethak, ensure it is on clean, high-quality white paper, preferably placed in a simple, respectful envelope. Official Website of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim Community

Title: The Digital Resurrection

Yusuf uncle was a man of routine. Every Sunday morning, without fail, he would sit at his dusty study desk, pull out a fresh sheet of crisp, white paper, and uncork his fountain pen. For the Dawoodi Bohra community, the Arzi—a formal written petition to the Syedna, the spiritual leader—was a sacred tradition. It was the medium through which a believer sought guidance, blessings, or forgiveness.

For forty years, Yusuf had written Arzis for his family. He knew the format by heart: the invocation, the humble salutations, the intricate floral borders drawn by hand, and the respectful conclusion. His handwriting was calligraphy; his soul was poured into the ink.

But the world was changing.

One evening, his grandson, Huzaifa, a twenty-something software engineer, walked into the study holding a tablet. "Nana," he said, his voice tentative. "Did you see the message on the group chat?"

Yusuf peered over his spectacles. "Which group chat? The one where people send pictures of dinner?"

Huzaifa smiled. "No, the official one. The administration has announced something. They said the Dawoodi Bohra Arzi format has been updated."

Yusuf frowned, putting down his pen. "Updated? How can you update a prayer? It is a conversation between the soul and the Dai. You do not 'update' devotion."

"It’s not about devotion, Nana. It’s about logistics," Huzaifa explained, sitting on the edge of the desk. He swiped the screen and handed the tablet over. "Look. The central office has digitized the process. There is a new template now. A standard font, a specific margin, and a digital submission portal."

Yusuf stared at the glowing screen. It looked sterile. Gone were the personal flourishes, the slight tremble in the ink that betrayed a heavy heart, the elaborate hand-drawn borders that took an hour to complete. It was a form. A standardized, Times New Roman form. Writing an Arzi (petition) to His Holiness Syedna

"It lacks warmth," Yusuf muttered, pushing the tablet away. "It feels like filing a tax return, not asking for the Shahzada’s grace."

"It’s faster," Huzaifa countered gently. "It translates everything automatically. And see here—the new format has a section for specific file attachments. Medical reports, travel documents. It streamlines the process so the office can process thousands of requests faster."

Yusuf sighed, looking at his blank sheet of paper. He felt a sudden, heavy pang of obsolescence. He was the designated writer for half the elders in his building. They came to him because they trusted his hand to carry their words. If a machine could do it, what was his place?

"Try it, Nana," Huzaifa urged. "Just once. For Uncle Farid. He needs a health arzi urgently. If we send it tonight, they see it tomorrow morning. The paper mail takes a week."

Yusuf looked at the photo of Farid on the shelf—a man who had been by his side since childhood, now frail and ailing. The thought of a week’s delay stung his conscience.

"Show me," Yusuf conceded gruffly.

Huzaifa opened the portal. He typed in the details. Name, Address, Age. The cursor blinked with rhythmic impatience. Then came the main body.

"You type the message here," Huzaifa said.

Yusuf hesitated. He didn't know how to type fast. He felt clumsy, his fingers hovering over the keys like strangers in a new land. "I..." He faltered. "I cannot write like this. My thoughts do not flow through plastic keys."

Huzaifa had a solution. "Dictate it to me, Nana. Tell me what to say."

Yusuf closed his eyes. He thought of Farid. He thought of their youth, their shared struggles, and the peace they sought in their twilight years. He ignored the technology and spoke from the heart.

"Mention that he is the son of Bhaijan," Yusuf began, his voice gaining strength. "Tell the Moula that he has served the community with a smile for decades. Tell him that his legs have grown weak, but his faith stands tall. Ask for the Nazarat... ask for the healing gaze."

Huzaifa typed furiously, transcribing the words. But the software was smart. It auto-corrected. It aligned the text into the 'Updated Format.' It centered the title. It bolded the salutations.

When Huzaifa turned the screen back around, Yusuf stared.

It wasn't the same. It didn't have the smell of paper or the scratch of the nib. But on the screen, in a clean, elegant Arabic script font, was his message. It looked official. It looked like it belonged in the grand halls of the administration. Begin with Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

"It looks... proper," Yusuf admitted, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Ready to send?" Huzaifa asked.

Yusuf looked at his fountain pen, resting in its case. Then he looked at the screen, where the 'Submit' button glowed like a beacon.

"Send it," Yusuf said.

Huzaifa tapped the screen. A small animation played—a checkmark in a circle. "Arzi Submitted Successfully."

Three days later, a reply came. It wasn't a letter in the post. It was a notification on the app, followed by a phone call from a local Amil. The news was good. The Arzi had been seen, and the blessings had been granted. Farid was overcome with joy, clutching the phone as if it were gold.

That Sunday, Yusuf sat at his desk again. He took out his pen and paper. He began to draw a border. But halfway through, he stopped.

He pulled the tablet toward him. He opened the new format.

"Humanity updates its tools," he whispered to himself, "but the intent remains."

He clicked 'New Arzi.' He didn't need to write a petition today, but he wanted to practice. He wanted to master this new vessel, so that he could fill it with the same old spirit. The format had changed, the ink had turned to pixels, but the prayer, he realized, was eternal.

2. Petitioner’s Identification (The Critical Update)

The new format requires a personal information block:

Full Name (as per community records)
Father’s Name & Spouse’s Name (if applicable)
HOF Number (Head of Family – a unique 6-7 digit code)
Misal Number (Individual community ID)
Local Jamaat (city and region)
Current Address & Contact Number

Note: Without HOF and Misal numbers, modern digital Arzis are often auto-rejected by the administrative system.

Q4: What if I don’t have a printer for the PDF format?

A: You can hand-copy the exact field names onto a blank paper. The system’s human reviewers look for the keywords: Misaal, Subject, Justification, Declaration.

The Complete Guide to the Updated Dawoodi Bohra Arzi Format (2025): Structure, Purpose, and Digital Transition

In the intricate socio-religious framework of the Dawoodi Bohra community, the Arzi (عرضی) is far more than a simple letter. Traditionally, it is a formal petition or request submitted to the Dawat-e-Hadiyah—specifically to the Al-Dai al-Mutlaq (the current head of the community)—seeking guidance, permission, or blessings for major life events.

For generations, these Arzis were handwritten on specific paper, folded in a distinct manner (the Tayy method), and physically handed over at the Darul Imarat (administrative headquarters) or local Markaz. However, in the last three years, the community has undergone a significant digital and procedural transformation. This article provides an exhaustive look at the updated Dawoodi Bohra Arzi format, including new digital protocols, key structural changes, and a step-by-step guide to drafting one correctly.

Q2: Can I follow up on my Arzi?

A: Yes, but only after 15 days. Use the Tracking ID. In the new system, writing a second Arzi before the first is processed results in an automatic 30-day delay penalty.