Dawoodi Bohra Arzi Format Updated ((exclusive)) May 2026

Writing an Arzi (petition or letter) to the Al-Dai al-Mutlaq, currently His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, is a sacred tradition for Dawoodi Bohras. Whether you are seeking spiritual guidance, Raza (permission) for personal milestones, or reporting community matters, following the updated format ensures your request is handled with the appropriate respect and efficiency. Essential Components of a Modern Arzi

The format of an Arzi has evolved to stay concise while maintaining the traditional etiquette of Lisan ud-Dawat. 1. The Heading and Salutation

Every Arzi must begin with the proper spiritual titles for the Dai.

Standard Opening: Start with "Abdo-kum-ul-Mamluk" (Your humble servant) followed by your name and ITS ID.

Addressing His Holiness: Use the full titles such as "Al-Dai al-Ajal Syedna Aali Qadr Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS". 2. The Subject Line (Clear & Concise)

With the high volume of petitions received at the official Dawat office, a clear subject line is vital.

Example: "Arzi for Nikah Raza" or "Arzi for Business Barakat." 3. The Body (Nass)

Language: While Lisan ud-Dawat is preferred, Arzis can be written in English or Arabic if needed.

Brevity: Be direct. State the purpose of the Arzi in the first paragraph.

Tone: Maintain a tone of extreme humility and devotion (Araz). 4. The Conclusion and Signature

Close by seeking the Dai’s Dua and Shifa. Include your contact details, current location, and your local Jamaat name. Updated Submission Channels

As of 2024–2026, the community has integrated more digital options for submission:

ITS Portal: Most Arzis, especially for routine permissions like travel or educational Raza, are now submitted through the ITS (Istibsharat) website.

Local Jamaat Office: For significant matters, submitting a physical copy through your local Amil Saheb or Jamaat office remains the standard procedure.

Direct Email: In specific regions, dedicated email addresses are used for administrative queries. Best Practices for 2026

Handwriting vs. Typing: While typed Arzis are acceptable for digital portals, many Mumineen still prefer hand-written Arzis for personal matters as a mark of devotion.

Verification: Ensure all personal details, especially your ITS ID, are 100% accurate to avoid processing delays.

Follow-up: Check your status on the official community resources or through the Dawoodi Bohra App notifications. His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin - The Dawoodi Bohras

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)

Important Notes (Updated Guidelines):

  1. MIS Number is mandatory in most urban jamaats now. If you don’t have one, write "Not issued yet."
  2. Digital Arzi: Many jamaats now accept arzi via official email or community app. In that case, the same format can be typed and attached as PDF.
  3. Physical Arzi: Preferably handwritten in black/blue ink, submitted to Amil Saheb's office.
  4. For Ilm (Milad/Baras): Attach child's birth certificate and parents' marriage certificate/nikah nama.
  5. For Wasiyat (Funeral): Submit ASAP after wafaat; include hospital death summary if available.
  6. For Hidayat: Be clear and honest – Hidayat committees now require detailed reason.

If you need the Gujarati or Urdu version (using Arabic script), or a format for a specific purpose (Nikah, Ta'leef, etc.), let me know.

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. dawoodi bohra arzi format updated

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.

"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. Writing an Arzi (petition or letter) to the

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.

"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.

The Tasleem (Heading)Every arzi must begin with the traditional Arabic salutation to the Syedna. Arabic: "بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم"

Tasleem: "الداعي اللّٰه طع، ابنة/ابن (Your Father’s Name) (Your Name) (Surname) - عبيدكم/اماؤكم"

Note: Use "ابنة" (ibnat) for female and "ابن" (ibn) for male. Use "اماؤكم" (ama-o-kum) for female and "عبيدكم" (abid-o-kum) for male to denote humility.

Araz Details (The Body)The body of the arzi should be concise and divided into three parts:

Preamble: Express gratitude for Maula's dua mubarak and state your current state of health and khidmat.

The Request (Maqsad): State clearly what you are seeking (e.g., permission for travel, business guidance, marriage blessings, or seeking shifa for health). Be specific but brief.

Vow of Obedience: Conclude by seeking Maula's dua and reiterating your commitment to farmans.

The Signature Block (Footer)Include your full identification to ensure the arzi is properly tracked. ITS Number: (Crucial for the updated format). Full Name: City/Jamaat:

Contact Number: (Optional but helpful for local follow-ups). Sample Arzi (Updated Format) بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الداعي اللّٰه طع، Begin with Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

ابن (Your Father's Name) (Your Name) (Surname) — عبيدكم

Araz:Maula, with your dua mubarak, my family and I are in good health and engaged in khidmat. I humbly seek your raza (permission) and dua mubarak for [State your specific reason here, e.g., starting a new business venture in London].

We pray for your long life and health until the day of Qayamat. Abid-e-Syedna (TUS),(Signature)

ITS Number: 12345678Jamaat: [Your City Name]Date: [Islamic/English Date] Submission Tips

Language: While English is acceptable, writing in Lisan ud-Dawat (Dawat ni Zaban) is preferred and more traditional.

Handwriting: If possible, write the arzi by hand. It is considered a mark of personal respect.

Online Portal: Most araz are now submitted or tracked through the ITS Portal or your local Jamaat office. Ensure your ITS profile is up-to-date before submitting.

2. Mandatory Reference Numbers

Previously, an Arzi could be submitted without a prior tracking number. The updated format now mandates:

Q3: Is there a fee for the new format?

A: No. The Arzi itself is free. However, if you require a Urgent Process (less than 48 hours for a health emergency), you must also submit a medical report. No expediting fee exists.

Sample Template of the Updated Arzi Format

For clarity, here is a simplified, valid example of the current format:

(On official letterhead or digital PDF with QR code)

To: His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS, through Aamil Saheb, [City Name]

Subject (Code 112): Permission for Naming Ceremony (Aqeeqa)

From: [Full Name], Misaaq ID: DB-xxxx-xxxx

Body:

  1. On [Gregorian date], [Hijri date], Almighty Allah blessed me with a male child.
  2. Name suggested: [Child’s name] as per Misaaq register.
  3. Aqeeqa to be performed on [date].
  4. Request Duas and permission to hold a small Walima.

Iltemas-e-Dua,
[Signature in Arabic script]
Mobile: +XX-XXX-XXXX
Email: name@example.com

Witness 1 Signature & ID
Witness 2 Signature & ID

(QR code and barcode at bottom right)

Key Components of the Updated Arzi Format

Whether you are writing an Arzi for Taubah (repentance for missed fasts/prayers), marriage permission, or a general query, the updated structure is as follows:

When Paper is Still Required (Exceptions)

Despite the update, a physical paper Arzi in the traditional folded (Tayy) format is still mandatory for three specific cases:

  1. Ilm (Knowledge) Requests: Seeking deep religious education or admission to Al Jamea tus Saifiyah requires a handwritten Arzi on green-tinted paper.
  2. Repentance (Taubah) Requests: For personal or family conflicts, the physical act of writing is considered part of the penitence.
  3. Sickness/Death Emergencies in remote areas with no internet.

For these, use the updated text structure above, but write it in blue ink only (black ink is rejected in the new rule) on A4 paper, folded into thirds twice, and handed unsealed to the Mukhi Saheb.

Why the Arzi Format Has Been Updated

Understanding the why behind the change is crucial. The Dawoodi Bohra leadership, under the current Dawat, has prioritized efficiency, accountability, and environmental consciousness. The older paper-based system often led to:

The updated format aims to solve these issues by standardizing data fields and integrating with the central IT Department of the Dawat. As of late 2024 and into 2025, the preferred method is a hybrid model: a structured digital form backed by a downloadable standardized PDF template for physical submission when necessary.