The University of Kufa has awarded an honorary doctorate to Sultan Al Bohra Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the leader of the global Dawoodi Bohra community, in recognition of his contributions to academic excellence, cultural preservation, and social welfare. The degree was presented during a ceremony held in Surat, India, by an Iraqi delegation led by Professor Dr. Hayder Abed Dhahad, Senior Undersecretary of Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Professor Dr. Alaa Naji Almawla, President of the University of Kufa.
Professor Dhahad described Surat—a city known as the “Diamond City” and Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin’s ancestral home—as a fitting location to confer the honour. Surat is also the principal seat of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah, the Dawoodi Bohra community’s premier educational institution. He emphasized that hosting the ceremony there highlighted a shared dedication to knowledge, culture, and humanitarian values.
Professor Almawla remarked that the honorary degree acknowledged Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin’s steadfast commitment to education, heritage preservation, and social upliftment. He noted that the recognition celebrates the connection between higher learning and selfless social service, presenting a model of compassionate, visionary leadership for academic communities worldwide. Almawla underscored the enduring linkage between classical scholarship and global humanitarian efforts symbolized by the award.
Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has long advocated for education as a foundation for societal progress. His leadership roles include serving as Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University and currently as Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia. He is also the patron of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah, an Arabic academy of the Dawoodi Bohra community, where he promotes an educational approach that integrates classical humanistic traditions with modern scientific knowledge.
Beyond academics, his leadership extends to environmental stewardship, healthcare accessibility, and community development. The University of Kufa, located in Iraq’s Najaf Governorate and operating under Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, serves approximately 40,000 students across diverse faculties, including medicine, humanities, jurisprudence, and natural sciences.