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Islam in Kerala

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Islam arrived in Kerala through Arab traders during the time of prophet Muhammad(AD 609 - AD 632). Kerala has a very ancient relation with the middle east even during the Pre-Islamic period. Muslim merchants (Malik Deenar) settled in Kerala by the 8th century AD and introduced Islam. The Cheraman Juma Masjid said to be the very first mosque in india situated in Kodungallur Taluk, in state of Kerala. According to a tradition, Cheraman Perumal, the last of the Chera kings, became Muslim and traveled to visit prophet Muhammad and this event helped the spread of Islam.

Cheraman Juma Masjid at Kodungallur


Help from Hindu Kings

The Zamorin of Kozhikode encouraging Muslim traders to settle down in his kingdom to flourish maritime trade perhaps accounts for the relatively high proportion of Muslims in Malabar. The Muslims also manned the Zamorin's navy and were so intensely pro-Zamorin that one of them issued an order to bring up one male member in every fishermen family in his kingdom as a Muslim so as to get sufficient numbers in his navy.[1] There is also a significant Muslim population living in the coastal regions of central and southern Kerala. Historians believe that Tipu Sultan also help to convert many people to Islam, during his invasion of North Kerala.

British Period

Prior to the independence of India, the present-day state of Kerala comprised the three areas known as Malabar District, Travancore and Cochin.[2] There had been considerable trade relations between Arabia and Kerala even before the time of Islamic prophet Muhammad. Islam might have been introduced in the region by the Arab traders in the 7th or 8th century AD. Like the Jews and Christians, the Arabs also settled down at Cranganore and established a separate colony of their part of the town. According to a tradition, Cheraman Perumal, the last of the Chera kings, became a convert to Islam and traveled to Mecca and this event helped the spread of Islam.[3][page needed]

Convocation at the Chemmad Madrassah

Mappila Riots

These conditions found expression in a recurrent form of violent protests known as the Malabar Rebellion.[4] The Muslim community of Kerala was also influenced by "the wind of change" in the 20th century. Social and religious leaders worked hard for social uplift and moral regeneration in society, exhorting Muslims to give up all un-Islamic practices and to take to Islamic education. They also promoted education of women.[5]

Tirurangadi Muslim Orphanage

Communities and denominations

The modern theological orientations amongst the Muslims of Kerala are primarily divided into three; Sunnis, Mujahids (Salafis) and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, though all these belong to the Sunni branch of Islam. The Sunnis referred here are identified by their conventional beliefs and practices and adherence to the Shafi'i madh'hab, while the other two theological orientations, the Mujahids and the Jama'ats, are seen as movements within the Sunni Islam. A minor group of followers may be found with Tablighi Jama'at. Both Sunnis and Salafis again have been split to sub-groups.

The Ahmadi community is severely persecuted in Pakistan. However Indian law regards Ahmadis as Muslims. A landmark ruling by the Kerala High Court on 8 December 1970 in the case of Shihabuddin Imbichi Koya Thangal vs K.P. Ahammed Koya, citation A.I.R. 1971 Ker 206 upheld their legal status as Muslims.[6][7] Ahmadis were not allowed to sit on the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, which is regarded in India as representative of Muslims in the country.[8][9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Pg 112, A short survey of Kerala History, A. Sreedhara Menon, Vishwanathan Publishers 2006
  2. ^ Fuller, C. J. (March 1976). "Kerala Christians and the Caste System". Man. New Series. 11 (1). Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland: 53–70. doi:10.2307/2800388. Retrieved 26 April 2012. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Menon, A. Sreedhara (1982). The Legacy of Kerala (Reprinted ed.). Department of Public Relations, Government of Kerala. ISBN 978-8-12643-798-6. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference google1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cultural heritage of Kerala - A Sreedhara Menon - Google Books. Books.google.co.in. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
  6. ^ Hoque, Ridwanul (21 March 2004). "On right to freedom of religion and the plight of Ahmadiyas". The Daily Star.
  7. ^ "Shihabuddin Imbichi Koya Thangal vs K.P. Ahammed Koya on 8 December, 1970 Kerala High Court".
  8. ^ Naqvi, Jawed (1 September 2008). "Religious violence hastens India's leap into deeper obscurantism". Dawn. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  9. ^ "IS THE AHMADI COMMUNITY JUST AS PERSECUTED IN OTHER MUSLIM-MAJORITY COUNTRIES?". Herald.Dawn. October 13, 2013. Retrieved 2014-12-29.

Further reading

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