Syedna Qutbuddin Shaheed was born in Ahmedabad during the era of the 26th Dai Syedna Daud ibn Ajab-Shah, on the night of 30th Zul-Qada 985 H. During his youth, he accompanied his father, the 27th Dai Syedna Daud ibn Qutub-Shah to Lahore to the court of the Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Akbar during the fitnat of Sulayman. Akbar had summoned Syedna Daud ibn Qutub-Shah to his court and ultimately issued a royal farmaan in his favor.
He was close-confidant to his brother, the 29th Dai Syedna Abdut-Tayyeb Zakiyuddin. The 30th Dai Syedna Ali Shamsuddin was based in Yemen, and Syedna Qutbuddin continued to serve him in India. The 31st Dai, Syedna Qasim-Khan Zainuddin appointed him as his Mazoon (2nd rank following Dai-al-Mutlaq), and then successor. [1]
Qutubuddin saheb became Da'i al-Mutlaq in 1054 AH / 1646AD. His period of Fatemi Dawat was from 1054 -1056 AH (1646-1648 AD). He was executed by Aurangzeb, then governor of Gujarat, for heresy.[2]
The following is a brief account of Qutbuddin’s martyrdom:[3]
In the month of Jumadal-Ula of the year 1056 H/1646 AD, false allegations of “rifadat” (rafidi, one who rejects the sunnat of Nabi Mohammad, and introductions of innovations (bid’at) in Islamic religious practice), were made to Abdul-Ghawi an official of Aurangzeb, Mughal governor of Ahmedabad. A Shia man named Shah-Beg was told to arrest Syedna Qutbuddin, On 28 Jumadal-Ula. Syedna Fir-Khan went along with him. Syedna Qutbuddin spent the next twenty days in prison, meanwhile, Abdul Ghawi instructed his scholars to peruse Syedna’s books, taken from his residence following an arrest, but was unable to discern meaning. On 21 Jumada-l-Ukhra, Syedna Qutbuddin was summoned to an audience in front of Aurangzeb. Abdul Ghawi said to Syedna Qutbuddin, “Admit that you are “rafzi”, repent your past sins, and the Prince will release you.” Syedna Qutbuddin proclaimed, “I am not Rafzi, nor were my forefathers Rafzi. We are truly upon the Sunnat of Prophet Mohammad. I declare that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet. I read the Quran, I pray namaaz, give zakaat, fast in the holy month of Ramadan, and perform hajj to the Baytullah. I am a Muslim. How is my blood legal for you to shed?” Unsuccessful in getting a real confession, Abdul Ghawi attempted to gather a group of notables from the city to sign their names to a false confession (mehzara). The majority signed, fearing retribution. The confession was placed in front of a judge, but it was ruled that no verdict could be made without a confirmed confession or testimonial. On 26 Jumada-l-Ukhra, Abdul Ghawi summoned two young children from Syedna Qutbuddin’s household to testify in court against Qutbuddin. They were told that their testimonial (that Qutbuddin was not on the sunnat of the Prophet, and "rafzi") would result in Qutbuddin would be released. When the judge heard this, he ruled in favor of Abdul Ghawi, and issued a death sentence.
On the morning of 27 Jumada-l-Ukhra, 1056 H, Aurangzeb approved the execution order. Abdul Ghawi instructed Shah-Beg to carry out the death sentence immediately.
He was succeeded by the 33rd Dai, Syedna Feer Khan Shujauddin. Present Dai Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin is from his progeny, as indicated in tree placed below.
