Bohra Waaz — Rawzat

What Is the Waaz?

Waaz (وَعظ — literally “exhortation” or “admonishment”) is the formal religious discourse delivered in the Bohra community by authorized representatives of the Dawat. It is the primary vehicle through which theological knowledge, historical narrative, esoteric interpretation (ta’wil), and spiritual guidance are transmitted from the Dai al-Mutlaq to the mumineen.

In the broader Islamic tradition, wa’iz (the one who gives waaz) and maw’iza (the sermon or counsel) refer to any religious address meant to move hearts and guide conduct. But in the Bohra Dawat tradition, the waaz carries a more specific and weightier meaning — it is the direct transmission of the Imam’s knowledge through the authorized chain of the Dawat.

The Quran speaks of this practice:

ادعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالحِكمَةِ وَالمَوعِظَةِ الحَسَنَة “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction (maw’iza hasana).” (Quran 16:125)

The Dai’s Waaz — The Highest Form

The waaz of the Dai al-Mutlaq himself is the pinnacle of this tradition. When the Dai speaks — whether in Ashara Mubaraka, at a Lailat al-Qadr gathering, or at a milestone occasion — his words carry the authority of the Imam’s delegated teaching (ta’lim).

The Dai’s waaz typically consists of:

Opening (Iftitah) — the discourse begins with specific formulas: praise of Allah, salawat upon the Prophet (SAW) and the Imams, and an opening that establishes the spiritual register of what is to follow. The opening often includes Quranic verses recited in a distinctive Bohra melodic mode.

The Ayat recitation — Quranic verses are recited with the characteristic Fatimid tartil (recitation style) developed within the Dawat. The pronunciation follows the riwayah (recitation tradition) preserved through the Imams.

The Main Body — the heart of the waaz covers:

Historical narrative — events from the Prophet’s life, the lives of the Imams, the Duat Mutlaqeen, and Bohra history
Ta’wil — esoteric interpretation of Quranic verses, ritual practices, and historical events, revealing their inner spiritual meaning
Theological teaching — the doctrines of the Dawat: walayah, the Imamate, the Dai’s authority, the concept of ‘ilm (knowledge)
Moral guidance — practical spiritual counsel for daily life

The Closing — specific duas, salawat, and benedictions close the discourse. The congregants respond at prescribed moments — “Ameen,” “Salawat,” “Nizar” (victory/triumph) — in a call-and-response pattern that transforms the waaz from a monologue into a communal spiritual experience.

Ashara Waaz — The Great Discourse of Muharram

The most anticipated and spiritually charged waaz of the Bohra year is the Ashara Mubaraka waaz — ten consecutive discourses delivered by the Dai al-Mutlaq (or his appointed Naib, deputy) on each of the first ten days of Muharram.

The Ashara waaz is unique in several ways:

Length and depth — each waaz runs for several hours, covering far more material than routine religious discourses. The Dai uses these ten days to deliver a comprehensive theological, historical, and esoteric survey of topics central to Bohra faith.

The Karbala narrative — each waaz builds toward the climax of Ashura (10 Muharram), with the events of Karbala woven through ten days of discourse. The historical account of Imam Husain’s (AS) journey, arrival at Karbala, the cutting off of water, the events of each day, and the final tragedy of Ashura are narrated with extraordinary emotional power.

Ta’wil of Karbala — the Imam’s shahadat is not only narrated historically but interpreted esoterically. The desert of Karbala becomes a map of the spiritual path; Imam Husain (AS) becomes the embodiment of truth facing falsehood; his thirst represents the soul’s longing for divine knowledge; his sacrifice represents the price of divine guidance.

Collective grief — the Ashara waaz produces bukaa (weeping) — not ordinary sadness but a spiritually elevated grief that is understood as drawing the mumin closer to the Imam and the Prophet (SAW). Tears shed for Imam Husain (AS) during the waaz are understood as a form of ibadah (worship).

The global gathering — the Dai announces the location for each year’s Ashara Mubaraka, and hundreds of thousands of mumineen travel from across the world to attend in person. Cities that have hosted include Mumbai, Nairobi, Chicago, London, Singapore, Sydney, and many others. The announcement itself is a community-wide event.

Modes and Occasions of Waaz

Beyond Ashara, waaz is delivered on multiple occasions throughout the year:

Wiladat waaz — on the birthdays of the Prophet (SAW), the Imams, and the Duat Mutlaqeen, a waaz is delivered focusing on the life, significance, and spiritual legacy of the person being celebrated. These are joyful discourses with more salawat and fewer tears than mourning occasions.

Urs waaz — on the death anniversaries (urs) of the Duat Mutlaqeen, a discourse commemorates their life, scholarship, and service to the Dawat.

Ramadan waaz — special discourses during Ramadan, particularly on the nights of Laylat al-Qadr (the odd nights of the last ten days).

Majlis — smaller, more intimate religious gatherings in which the local Aamil Saheb (the appointed community representative) delivers waaz on any topic. Majalis are held throughout the year and are the primary way most mumineen in their home city engage with religious discourse outside of special occasions.

Milad waaz — especially at the milad (birthday) of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin (TUS), the living Dai, an elaborate celebration with waaz is held.

The Language of the Waaz

The waaz is delivered primarily in Lisan ud-Dawat (لِسَانُ الدَّعوَة — the Language of the Dawat), the Indo-Arabic hybrid language that developed as the Dawat’s distinctive medium of religious expression over centuries. Lisan ud-Dawat blends:

Arabic (the sacred language of Quran and the Imam’s knowledge)
Gujarati (the vernacular of the community’s Gujarat heartland)
Persian and other influences from the Indian subcontinent

The language has a distinctive melodic quality when used in waaz — the Dai’s rhythm, cadence, and intonation are themselves a form of art. Many phrases from the Dai’s waaz become treasured formulations that mumineen repeat and remember across generations.

Quranic verses are recited in Arabic (and translated/interpreted in Lisan ud-Dawat). Quotations from the Imams and early Islamic sources are also in Arabic. The main discourse, examples, stories, and explanations are in Lisan ud-Dawat.

The Aamil’s Waaz — Community-Level Discourse

Every Bohra community of sufficient size has an Aamil Saheb — a religious scholar appointed by the Dai al-Mutlaq as the community’s religious leader. The Aamil is authorized to deliver waaz, solemnize marriages, oversee aqiqah and other rites, and represent the Dai’s authority in the local community.

The Aamil’s waaz is less elaborate than the Dai’s, but follows the same tradition: the same formats, the same call-and-response, the same emphasis on Quranic exegesis, ta’wil, and historical narrative. Through the Aamil, mumineen in every Bohra community worldwide remain connected to the living tradition of the waaz.

Listening to the Waaz — The Mumin’s Posture

The traditional Bohra posture for listening to waaz:

Sitting on the floor (musalla or carpet), facing the speaker
Men in the daura-topi; women in rida
Complete attention, no conversation
Responding verbally at cued moments: “Ameen,” “Salawat,” “Nizar,” “Mawla”
Weeping openly at emotional moments — tears are welcomed, not suppressed
Maintaining wudhu (ritual purity) during the waaz, particularly for Ashara

The waaz is treated with the reverence given to the Imam’s knowledge itself — because in the theology of the Dawat, the Dai’s words carry the Imam’s delegated authority, and the Imam’s knowledge flows from the Prophet’s inner transmission.

The Waaz as Written Corpus

The waaz tradition is not only oral. The great Duat Mutlaqeen wrote extensively:

Syedna Taher Saifuddin (RA) — authored hundreds of qasaid (religious poems), treatises, and works in Arabic and Lisan ud-Dawat
Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA) — continued this literary tradition alongside his waaz

Many of the most beloved phrases and formulations in the Bohra religious vocabulary come from the Ashara waaz of past Dais — phrases that have been transmitted through the community’s memory and become part of shared Bohra speech.

Bohra Waaz — The Religious Discourse of the Dawat