A CURSORY GLANCE INTO
THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF MALABAR MUSLIMS
Introduction
|
|
Malabar Muslims or Mappilas
better known as Malabaris in Malaysia are Muslims originating from the narrow
belt along the southwest coast of India , identified with the present State of Kerala. Majority of these people come from the
northern region of this State , known as Malabar.
Kerala's openness to the Arabian Sea has created an uninterrupted impact of a
variety of influences from Arabia and other western countries.
|
Malabar coast
was in constant trade with Greece, Egypt, Arabia and Middle -Eastern countries
since Phoenician times. Kodungallur(Muziris)
was then its major port.
In the year 40 AD. a greek merchant called Hippalus is said to have
realised that seasonal monsoons could be used to get from Egypt to the
pepper-producing Malabar coast of India. It will, therefore, be pertinent to deduce that
traders from Arabia carried the message of Islam to Malabar during the very
time of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W )
(More maps of the
region )
The Beginning
Though historians and scholars vary in opinion on the exact time of the
advent of Islam to Malabar coast, an analytical scrutiny of the
legend of Cheraman Perumal has
culminated in its partial acceptance as history.
Cheraman Perumal was a king of
Kerala and the last of the Perumal dynasty. Kesari A. Balakrishna Pilla , an
internationally reputed historian, states that Cheraman Perumal had also received a
letter in the year 628 AD from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) along with many other
rulers of the then known world.
It has been established that this last Perumal travelled to Mecca and embraced
Islam and that had his 'Kalimatul Shahadat' at the hands of the Holy
Prophet(S.A.W.) himself. He thus became the first royal Malabari convert to
Islam and his Muslim name was Tajuddin. Cheraman Perumal passed away in Shahar
Mukhalla reportedly in Hijrah 10.
At time time of his death , there were a few at his death-bed, who accompanied
him on his return journey. He entrusted his co-travellers with a letter , as he
told them, would be honoured if presented at Kodungallur,
Panthalayani or Dhardamadam. He also warned them not to divulge the news of his
death in case he succumbed to his illness.
However , after his demise, his entourage did not proceed with their journey as
they had planned earlier . After a lapse of time the party traveled to Kerala
with renewed vigour and enthusiasm under the leadership of Malik bin Dinar. His
team comprised of his wife ,children , a few relatives and 22 religious scholars.
They landed at the Kodungallur in the year AD 642-643. This was during the
reign of Khalifah. Umar (R.A.) the second of the "Khulafa- ul
-Rashidin".
(Read
Also This Link ' Is "Farmas" The same as "Perumal")
The first mosque in India.
Malik bin Dinar met the then King of Kodungallur and handed over to him the
royal letter which Cheraman Perumal
had entrusted with his entourage before his death. The King honoured the letter
and received the Muslims well. He gave them proper accommodation and took
personal interest in their welfare. He undertook himself the supervision of the
" Muslim colony " . He gave them every assistance for the construction
of their first mosque in Kodungallur itself by providing land building
materials and later maintenance of the mosque.
|
The
Cheraman Jumaa Masjid. The first mosque in India |
Incidentally this was the first
mosque in the sub continent of India. It can be rightly said that Islam grew
and spread in Malabar under royal patronage. This was indeed an impetus to
Islam especially in its infancy. Gradually, the pioneers established Muslim
colonies and built several other mosques in other places such as Southern Kollam,Srikandapuram, Dharmadam, Panthalayini etc . Islam grew as it began, peacefully and steadily in sharp contrast with
the spread of Islam in the Northern India. There were mutual economic interest
and and religious tolerance. |
Other factors involved in the growth of Islam include immigration,
intermarriages, missionary activity and the support of the Zamorin.
THE FIRST MUSLIM ROYAL DYNASTY IN MALABAR.
Arakkal dynasty minted and circulated silver coins in the years Hijrah 122
and 163. This shows the said dynasty was in existence very much earlier than
Hijrah 122 and that Islam started spreading its influence in Malabar in the
7th century itself
ZAMORINS
AND MUSLIMS
Malabaris were a martial set of people ,brave and dynamic. The 11th to the 16th century of the Malabar Muslim history is intimately linked
to the rise of the Zamorin of Calicut among the other kings of northern Kerala
such as the Kolattiri Raja, Cochin raja and the Walluvanad Raja. The rise of
the Zamorin was aided by its coalition with the Malabar Muslims , which
benefited both parties. The navy of
the Zamorin was mostly manned by them .The Muslims succeeded in totally controlling the trade
in the Arabian Sea while the Zamorin whose main source of income was the
custom duties were able to monopolize the trade outlets. In addition to
that the zamorins did not oppose to conversion to Islam and occasionally
supported it. The Zamorin desire to build up his Navy, one that would have a
good working relation with the Arabs encouraged this conversion
especially of the fisherman who lived along the Cochin coast.
Later reports show that other low castes also converted to Islam
partly due to the wealth of the Muslims, also because they were subjected to
less restrictions in trade and socail life. They were also readily
accepted into the Muslim community.
In North Malabar the rise of Arakkal Muslim Dynasty also
strengthened the progress of the Malabar Muslims.
ISLAMIC CENTRES IN KERALA
Ponnani, a township on the West coast of Malabar, has been
a centre of Islamic learning since 16th century AD. It attracted students
from Indonesia and the then Malaya besides those from places within Kerala
and the adjoining districts of Tamil Nadu. The world famous Islamic scholar,
historian and author, Sheikh Ahmad Zainuddin (R.) lived in Ponnani. His FATHUL
MU'EEN, an authoritative work of 'Fiqh' is famous throughout the Muslim world
and many arabic scholars have written annotations to it.. THUHFATHUL MUJAHIDEEN
is another work of his which is internationally acclaimed as an authoritative
historical account of Kerala and of the Portuguese wars in that area
. Both these works have been translated into many languages , Indian and
foreign.. Certain quarters hesitated to believe that he was a Malabar
Muslim!
