Tayyibi Ismaili community histories
A name with internal diversity
Bohra is associated with several Tayyibi Ismaili communities. Dawoodi Bohras are a major community within this history; the term should not erase differences between Dawoodi, Sulaymani and other lineages.
Dawoodi Bohra self-description
The official Dawoodi Bohra account identifies its tradition as Fatimi Ismaili Tayyibi. It affirms Allah, the Qur’an and the guidance of the Prophet’s household. It describes daily prayer, Qur’an recitation and Ramadan fasting as religious practices.
Leadership in this tradition
According to that account, the dai al-mutlaq exercises religious leadership on behalf of the concealed Imam. This is the community’s own theological description. It should not be confused with the Nizari understanding of a physically present Imam or treated as a statement shared by every Shi‘i branch.
Sources and further reading
The Dawoodi Bohras — official account of faith
Institute of Ismaili Studies — Modern Ismaili Communities (historical survey)
This source-attributed introduction is educational. A historical survey, a community’s statement of belief and a jurist’s ruling are different kinds of source. Their inclusion does not turn every interpretation into a consensus.