The uncle-nephew battle for supremacy over the small, but powerful, Bohra community has taken an unexpected turn with the death of Syedna claimant Khuzaima Qutbuddin in the US on Thursday. Qutbuddin had challenged the succession of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, son of late Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin, as the 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq in the Bombay High Court in January 2014, claiming that the Syedna had conferred nass (announcement of successor) on him. However, a large part of the community pledged allegiance to Syedna Saifuddin, with only a few coming out in support of Qutbuddin, driving a never-before wedge within the community.

Also read: Claimant to Syedna title, Khuzaima Qutbuddin dies in US