Qutub Khan Qutubuddin

Syedna Qutbuddin was born in Ahmedabad during the era of the 26th Dai, Dawood ibn Ajab Shah, on the night of 30th Dhu al-Qadah 985 AH. During his youth, he accompanied his father, the 27th Dai, Dawood Bin Qutubshah to Lahore to the court of the Mughal Emperor, Jalal-ud-din Akbar, during the fitnah of Sulayman bin Hassan. Akbar had summoned Qutub Shah to his court to address the dispute of succession raised by Sulayman, but ultimately issued a royal decree in Qutub Shah's favor.

Qutubuddin was close-confidant to his brother, the 29th Da'i, Abd al-Tayyib Zakiuddin I. After his brother's death, Qutubuddin continued to serve the 30th Da'i, Ali Shams al-Din IV, who was based in Yemen. Later, the 31st Da'i, Kasim Khan Zainuddin, appointed Qutubuddin as his Mazoon (second-in-command), and a while later, his Mansoos (successor).[2]

Qutubuddin became Da'i al-Mutlaq in 1054 AH (1646 AD). He held the office for 1 year and 8 months before he was slain on the order of Aurangzeb, the Mughal governor of Gujarat, on the grounds of heresy.[3]

In the month of Jumada al-Ula 1056 AH (1646 AD), false allegations of rafida (one who rejects the sunnat of Muhammad, introduces innovations viz. bidat, and practices exaggeration viz. ghulat), were made to Abdul Ghawi, an office bearer of the governorate. On 28 Jumada al-Ula, Shah Beg arrested Qutubuddin and Feer Khan Shujauddin.[4]

Qutubuddin and Shujauddin spent the next twenty days in prison, meanwhile, Abdul Ghawi instructed his scholars to peruse books ceased from Qutubuddin's personal library but was unable to discern anything blasphemous or apostastic. On 21 Jumada al-Akhir, Qutubuddin was summoned to an audience in front of Aurangzeb where Abdul Ghawi asked him to enter guilty plea and repent for his sins in exchange for pardon. Qutubuddin retorted, "I am not rafzi, nor were my forefathers. We are truly upon the sunnat of prophet Muhammad. I declare that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger. I read the holy book, I offer daily prayers, give zakat, fast in the holy month of Ramadan, and perform hajj to the Bayt al-Allah. I am a Muslim. How is my blood legal for you to shed?"[4]

Abdul Ghawi had a group of elites from the city sign their names to a false confession (mehzara) under duress. The confession was introduced as evidence but the judge demanded an in-person testimonial. On 26 Jumada al-Akhir, Abdul Ghawi summoned two children from Qutubuddin's household who confessed under the false-pretense that Qutubuddin would be released. The judge instead issued a death sentence.[4]

On the morning of 27 Jumada al-Akhir 1056 H, Aurangzeb approved the execution order. Abdul Ghawi had Shah Beg carry out the death sentence immediately.[4]

Qutubuddin was succeeded by Feer Khan Shujauddin. Mufaddal Saifuddin, the current Da'i al-Mutlaq, is from his progeny.[5]

• Dawoodi Bohras
• Ismaili
• Shia
• Islam
• Mustali
• Taiyabi

• Daftary, Farhad, The Ismaili, Their History and Doctrine(Chapter -Mustalian Ismailism-p. 300-310)
• Lathan, Young, Religion, Learning and Science
• Bacharach, Joseph W. Meri, Medieval Islamic Civilisation
• Luqmani, Ahmed Ismail. "A Short History of Fatemi Duaat"

• List of Duat al-Mutlaqeen
• A Chronological List of Duat al-Mutlaqeen
• A short biography of Qutub Khan as-Shaheed