Hyderabad: Since the death of their 52nd spiritual leader, Sydena Dr Mohammed Burhanuddin, there has been a split in the business community of Dawoodi Bohras. Dr Burhanuddin’s brother Qutbuddin has laid claim to the title of Sydena and has filed a petition at the Mumbai High Court.

His son, Aziz Qutbuddin was in the city to meet followers and apprise them of the situation. He asked them not to get scared of the other faction of Bohras, which has debarred them socially.

The split has led to huge problems within the community as marriages, social relationships and even business ventures are at stake.

Only 30 of the 500-plus families in the city have decided to follow Mr Qutbuddin, while the rest have sworn allegiance to his nephew Muffadal Saifuddin.

A member of the Qutbuddin faction said, “Marriages are at stake due to these factions. Nuptials are being performed only after the question of who owns allegiance to who is cleared.

There are divorce cases because the bride and her family follow the Saifuddin faction while the groom and his family follow the Qutbuddin faction.”

While some of them are silent and do not want to take sides, issues pertaining to business ventures, social commitments like going to the mosque, visiting mausoleums and also visiting religious sites require a clarity on allegiance.