Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen

Kerala Nadwathul Mujahideen.

Founder(s)	K. M. Maulavi.
Founded	20 April 1950.
Location	Kerala, India.
Subsidiaries	Kerala Jam'iyyathul Ulema - (KJU). Ithihadu Shubanil Mujahideen - (ISM). Muslim Girls and women's Movement - (MGM). Mujahid Students Movement- (MSM).

Relationship of Moplah groups

Kerala Nadwathul Mujahideen (K. N. M.) is a Salafi Islamic organization and movement within Sunni Islam in Kerala, India. One faction of the organization is working in co-operation with Ahl al-Hadith (People of Hadith), an all-Subcontinental Islahi outfit. Salafism is a puritanical and legalistic Islamic movement under the Sunni umbrella, and is the dominant form of Islam in Saudi Arabia. Salafism is in general opposed to Sufism and Shi'a Islam, which they regard as heresies. They see their role as a movement to restore Islam from what they perceive to be innovations, superstitions, deviances, heresies and idolatries. They claim that they follow the interpretation of Islam as it was understood by the forerunners of the faith.

Founded on April 20, 1950 with K. M. Maulavi as the first President, it is common that the affiliates of the organization refer to themselves as Mujahids or Salafis. The Organization was split into two in 2002 when a faction led by Dr. Hussain Madavoor moved out and formed a new organization with a similar sounding name. The Madvur faction is affiliated to recently-formed Indian Islahi Movement and the AP faction is working in co-operation with Ahl al-Hadith.

Objectives

Kerala Nadwathul Mujahideen sees its primary objective to be conveying the message of Islam, which the KNM describes as being centered on monotheism. It also works against perceived social evils and all types of bid'ah (innovation without reference to shari'a ). Bodies affiliated to KNM put forward many social obligations like managing ambulance units, pain and palliative care centers, orphanages, zakat funds, family counseling, education support programmes and other charity wings. KNM is actively involved in many other social activities.{{Citation needed}

History

The Islahi movement began to work in an organized from in Kerala by 1922 with the formation of Muslim Aikya Sangham (the Muslim Unity Forum). But it was not until 1924 through the establishment of a body of scholars called Kerala Jam'iyyathul Ulama (KJU), that the movement acquired an established organizational setup and began functioning systematically in Kerala. Kerala Jam'iyyathul 'Ulama (KJU), later transformed to become a scholars' panel inside the Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen.

Islahi scholars were also known leaders of freedom struggle, determined to drive out the foreign rulers from India, besides attempting spiritual and social rejuvenation of the Muslim community. Sanaulla Makthi Thangal, K. M. Jamaluddin Moulavi, Chalilakath Kunhahammed Haji, and Vakkom Abdul Qadar Moulavi were some of the scholars who have worked towards this goal. Leaders like Mohammed Abdul rahiman Sahib, EK Moidu Moulavi and KM Seethi Sahib upheld true Islamic spirit and prompted every individual of the society to do their duty to their homeland by participating in the Indian freedom struggle movement.

Since Islam reached Malabar as early as 7th century it had almost mixed with the culture and traditions of Keralites . So, ultimately the Islahi Movement in Kerala, part of the renaissance of the community, resulted in the division of Mappilas as "Sunnis" (more orthodox sect than the other) and "Salafis" (both of these belong to the Sunni branch of Islam) in 1925. It's interesting to note that the faith of the Mappilas was a mixture of "Sunnis" and "Salafis" before these renaissance. The Shia branch is almost absent amongst the Muslims of Kerala.

Followers of Islahi movement call themselves ‘mujahids’. The term mujahid means 'one who strives for a noble cause.' The Islahi Movement in Kerala is against terrorism in all its forms.

The modern theological orientations amongst the Muslims of Kerala are primarily divided into three, though all these belong to the Sunni branch of Islam. They are; 1) Sunni orthodox sects of Shafi school (A. P. Sunni-Kanthapuram, E. K. Sunni etc.), 2) Adherents of Mujahid -Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (A. P. Mujahids, Madavur etc.), and 3) Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (simply Jama'at). The Sunni classification referred to here are identified by their conventional beliefs and practices and adherence to Shafi school of law, while the other two theological orientations,the Mujahids and the Jama'ats, are seen as reform movements within the community.^{[citation needed]}

Feeding organizations

The various organizations under KNM.

Kerala Jam'iyyathul Ulama (KJU)

This is the first Ulama (Religious Scholars) organization in Kerala formed in the year of 1924 in a meeting held at Aluway under the leadership of K.M.Moulavi, M.C.C. Abdu Rahman Moulavi and E.K.Moulavi. It guides the Muslim Community in Kerala through the light of quran and sunnah hareef in accordance with ‘Salafi Manhaj’ (The path of the Salafu Salih). It tries to eradicated superstitious belief and deeds prevailed among the Muslim Community in Kerala, and alert them against Shirk and Bidaa (new items added to Islam){{Citation needed}.

Ithihadu Shubbanul Mujahideen (ISM)

The youth wing of Kerala Nadwathul Mujahideen. In 1966, KNM formed its youth wing named as Ithihadu Shubbanul Mujahideen (ISM), with a view to lead the youth of Kerala in the light of Qur'an. The official ISM is with functioning along with the Madavoor faction of KNM. The head quarters of undivided ISM - Markazuddahwa - is the new headquarters of Madavoor faction. This faction of the ISM is famous for its innovative social welfare activities such as Pain and paliative care clinics spread across Malabar. They are publishing 'Shabab' the most popular Islamic weekly in Malayalam and 'Pudava', a monthly meant for families. The shabab weekly is being published for around 30 years.

Mujahid Students' Movement (MSM)

MSM is the student wing of Kerala Nadwathul Mujahideen (KNM). Initially, Islahi minded students had been enrolled in the students' wing of ISM, known as ISM-SW. Later, in 1971 a separate wing by name Mujahid Students Movement was formed. The first president of MSM was Dr. MCC Abdulla. MSM's chief objective is to propagate Islamic ideals and principles among the student community in schools and campuses.

Mujahid Girls' and Women's Movement (MGM)

MGM, the women's wing of KNM was organized in 1987. Some of them came forward to learn Islam and propagate its values. This situation necessitated a platform for coordination of their activities. Previously, women had been organized behind the banner of MSM Girls' Wing^{[clarification needed]}. The foundation of MGM enabled larger participation and convenient functioningUNIQ13c541042e0d8fa1-math-00000002-QINU.

MGM enjoins Muslim women to promote religious values among themselves. Study classes and family gatherings are arranged to impart religious knowledge. It has a special concern for charity activities like housing for poor and distribution of equipment for self-employment. MGM claims to uphold dignity of women and to respond to any move to distort it. It says its identity is differentiated from among the modern feministic platforms by deliberate deviation towards morality and its values.yes

Other associated wings/organizations

Education

Islahi scholars had initially identified that one of the basic requirements of the Muslim community during those days was educational reform, and they set up an Education Board to work towards this goal. Under this board, Madrasas, or religious schools, were started in various parts of the state in a meticulous way with modern amenities. Establishment of major educational institutions in Kerala including a number of Arabic colleges, arts and science colleges, technical institutes, and schools was actually the activities of the Islahi movement.

The Council for Islamic Education and Research (CIER) is the council that handle the education system of the Madavoor faction of KNM. This is the first and only existing board of Islamic Education in the world, who have adopted a student-centred education system. Thie modernization was put forward during the same period when Kerala Government introduced the new student-centred education system in its schools. Another innovative Islamic Eduction platform introduced by Madavoor faction of Mujahids is islahiclasroom.

Publishing wings

One of the major achievement of this movement is the publication of Islamic books on various aspects under KNM Publishing wing. The milestone was the publication of famous Qur'an translation by Muhammed Amani Moulavi, which is considered as the most authentic one written in Malayalam consisting of 4 bounded volumes. Even the critics of Islahi movements consider this translation (tafsir) as a reference. The Markazudawa houses 'Yuvatha' publishing house which is one of the major publishers of Islamic literature.

Vichinthanam, a weekly publication along with the monthly publication of Al Manar are the two official mouthpiece of KNM

Board Of Islamic Service And Missionary Information (BISMI)

This wing of KNM is organized to assist the society with guidance and service in socio-cultural fronts.

However, for many years BISMI has been focusing its facilities to fight the evil practices associated with marriage and family life. Conditions grew so worse that marriage became only a daydream for a large number of poor girls, or in other cases married life proved to be a term of tortures.

BISMI has been actively campaigning to enlighten the society against the anti-Islamic factors that has been predominant in Muslim marriages in Kerala like dowry, extravagance and fancy for gold and ornaments. Also it has been organizing ideal marriage congregations, in which a number of couples enter into wed locks at the same venue. Conducted in strict accordance with Islamic principles and practices, these marriages are noted for high degrees of modesty and low levels of expenses. No dowry demanded or received by the male partners, nor financial status of the girls considered, no gold and ornaments encouraged nor pompous shows and extravagance executed and not innovated customs anticipated. The only concern is for ideological identity of both sides.{{Citation needed}

BISMI provides proper guidance through seminars, study classes, books and cassettes so as to help maintaining a peaceful and pleasurable family life as performed by Muhammad.

Due to the impact of BISMI’s activities, the term BISMI marriage is nowadays used synonymous to any modest and ideal marriage celebrations among the Muslims of Kerala.

Issues addressed

In their campaign as per the ideology of Salafiyya and not Salafiyyah, some of the issues that the scholars of the KNM address are:

• Combating of shirk in all its forms, opposing worship of graves and fake godmen among Muslims.
• Opposing all forms of bid'ah officially and any matter that is contrary to the sunnah of the Prophet.
• Promoting the khutba (Friday sermon) in the local language, Malayalam
• Safeguarding the right of the Muslim woman to pray inside the mosque, which is often denied in Kerala
• Denouncing terrorism and violence
• Combating social evils such as dowry system, denial of education to girls, etc.

The organisation won vital achievements in religious and social level, at the cost of the putting the organization above the religion. For example - Several decades ago, school education was denied to Muslim girls based on the fatwa issued by the Sufi clergymen in Kerala. The continued efforts of the KNM has resulted in the elimination of this practice and in the name of development of the Muslim society in Kerala, they have gone into mixed education even though this is vehemently opposed in Salafiyya. Over the years, the KNM has been instrumental in the eradication of many social evils, bid'ah, and shirk among Muslims. The Sufi clerics had even opposed the translation of the Qur'an, which is the holy book of the Muslims.

See also

• Islahi Movement in Kerala
• Salafi

External links

"Organisation History". Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen. http://salaficonference.in/english/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=73. Retrieved 2008-05-23.