Are Dawoodi Buhra Muslims? In what sense would their beliefs contradict Islam?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

Al-Buhra is one of the sects of Ismaa'iliyyah which is traced back to Imaam Ismaa'eel Ibn J'afar As-Saadiq. It is also called as Daawoodiyyah, tracing back to a person called Shaah Daawood. They are mainly concentrated in India and Pakistan. This sect is, as so many deviant sects who claim their relations to Islam, have beliefs that contradict Islam.

Here are some beliefs of Ismaa'iliyyah in general; the sect Al-Buhra is one of them:

First, they believe that an infallible leader (Imaam) should always exist whose name should be known.

Second, they attribute Allaah's qualities to this Imaam.

Third, they believe that whoever dies and did not give the pledge of allegiance to the Imaam of his period, dies as a disbeliever.

There are many other false beliefs which are mentioned in the books that address the issue of deviant sects.

Allaah Knows best.