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The term Dā'ī al-Mutlaq (Arabic: الداعي المطلق) literally means "the absolute or unrestricted missionary". In the Fatimid era Ismā'īlī faith, the term dā'ī has been used to refer to important religious leaders other than the hereditary Imāms, and the Da'wa or "Mission" is a clerical-style organisation. "The Da'wa" was a term for the Ismā'īlī faith itself from early on. They are also called Dā'ī Syednas.
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History
According to Tayyabī Musta'lī Ismā'īlī tradition, before the last Mustaali Imam, Taiyab abi al-Qasim went into state of occultation, his father, the 20th Imām al-Amīr had instructed Queen Arwa al-Sulayhi/Al-Hurra Al-Malika in Yemen to anoint a vicegerent after the occultation - the Dāʻī al-Mutlaq, who as the Imām's vicegerent, has full authority to govern the community in all matters both spiritual and temporal. During the Imam's occultation, the Dā'ī al-Mutlaq is appointed by his predecessor in office. The Madhun (also spelt Mazoon) and Mukasir are in turn appointed by the Dā'ī al-Mutlaq. The first Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Taiyabi Ismaili sects was Syedna Zoeb bin Moosa.
The Dā'ī al-Mutlaq is recognised in English law as a corporation sole, by a private act of Parliament passed in 1993.
Dawoodi Bohras
Currently, within the Dawoodi Bohra sect, the 53rd Dā'ī al-Mutlaq is Syedna Aliqadar Mufaddal Saifuddin. The rightful successor to 52nd Dai al Mutlaq Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin.
Alavi Bohras
This title is also used in the Alavi Bohra community to refer to their leader (in the Persian form "Da'i-ye Motlæq") for similar reasons.