Extract from Muslim University Gazette Special Issue,
Aligarh, 13^th November 1965.

Born on 5 August 1884 His Holiness Dr. Syedna Taher Saifuddin was 81 when he passed away. His close association with this university [Aligarh Muslim University] began in 1946 when the university conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Theology and brought him into the fold of the academic community of Aligarh. His Holiness was elected as Chancellor of this university on 12 April 1953 and since then, for four consecutive terms, he held this office till his death.

During the tenure of his office as Chancellor he personally received distinguished guests, like the late Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, His Majesty King Saud of Saudi Arabia, His Majesty Shah Mohammed Raza Shah Pahalavi of Iran and President Gamal Abdul Nasser of U.A.R. to the university. He took keen and active interest in the affairs of the University in general and in the welfare of students in particular. The Saifee Trust was founded by him with the object of awarding scholarships to deserving students of this university. His latest donation to the university for the needy students was Rs.12'000 to the Vice-Chancellor's Fund.

The fact that His Holiness had more than 350 educational institutions, from primary schools to colleges, spread all over the country showed his abiding interest in the educational progress of the country. The famous Al-Jamea-tus-Saifiyah, the Arabic Academy at Surat, a seedling of Arabic thought and culture transplanted on Indian soil, and fully conditioned to meet the needs of changing times, received his lavishing care and great love.

His Holiness entered upon the high office of the spiritual head (51^st Dai-el-Mutlaq) of Dawoodi Bohras, an enterprising community of just over a million spread all over the world, in 1915. Since assuming the spiritual leadership of his community His Holiness attempted to introduce modernisation on the basis of constructive work and accomplished success to a remarkable degree. He pursued a programme of reconstruction and development. Removal of illiteracy, provision of facilities for education, introduction of technical bias in schools, training for worthwhile occupations, crafts and trades, accent on a life sweat, self-reliance and devoted service to fellowmen, medical aid and releif, stimulus to cooperative enterprise and the steady diversion of talent and resource to industry were some of the major aspects of the developmental work he had been carrying on.

His Holiness was a reputed scholar, thinker and writer, having numerous works of spiritual and philosophic significance to his credit. A fluent writer in Arabic, his writings have evoked wide admiration.

His Holiness was greatly respected not only in India but also in many other countries; particularly in the countries of West Asia, North and East Africa and South-East Asia. His Holiness had widely travelled keeping in touch with his followers in various parts of the world.

His Holiness was an outstanding philanthropist and had scores of business enterprises throughout the country. His compassionate heart responded to the cry of the needy, irrespective of caste, colour or creed, and he gave away large sums in charity. His loss is, therefore, mourned by all.