Islahi movements of Kerala

The renaissance of the ancient Sunni Muslim community in the Kerala state, South India mostly owes to the rise of Salafi ideas and scholars in the early 20th century, referred as Islahi movements of Kerala. Salafism is a puritanical and legalistic Islamic movement under the Sunni umbrella, and is the dominant form of Islam in Saudi Arabia. This movement coincided with the renaissance movements in Hindu, Christian societies in Kerala.

The main goals of the movement were standing against local priesthood dependency, provide proper education, remove the influence of Hinduism and non-Islamic native cultures from the Mappilas, one of the earliest Muslim population in Asia. The members see their role as a movement to restore Islam from what they perceive to be innovations, superstitions, deviances, heresies and idolatries.

The initiation of delivering Friday sermons (jumu'a khutuba) in local language, Malayalam, was another step taken by the movement. The movement encouraged women's education and their attendance in mosques, published Malayalam translation of the Qur'an and other religious books and played an important role in the renaissance of Kerala society.

Salafism is in general opposed to Sufism and Shi'a Islam, which they regard as heresies.

Vakkom Moulavi

K. M. Maulavi, the first president of Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen

Background and history

Islam had reached Malabar Coast during the period of Muhammad (ca.570–632) himself (probably by Malik ibn Dinar, a Tabi‘un). Arabian sea-traders who visited Kerala spread it, and they almost maintained a healthy trade relationship^{[citation needed]} with both the local Hindu people and the powerful Nair kings of Malabar, the Zamorins. As trade and commerce between Kerala and Arabia flourished and many traders settled down in Kerala, and their interaction with the local population helped Islam taking its roots on the south-western Indian coast of Kerala. The local legends even tell the mysterious disappearance and conversion to Islam by a Chera ruler which, however, is neither corroborated by any contemporary record.

Islahi movement introduced in Kerala during the early years of 20th century. . Women kept away from education, deceased Mappila priests were mostly considered as a middlemen to the God. No modern medicinal practices were in use, instead most of Mappilas consulted native "religious doctors". Even, Mujahid scholars accuse that the religious leaders lacked complete-awareness of Islam. Recitation of Qur'an was also considered for prosperity and curing diseases. Women were discouraged from acquiring any formal education.

Sayyid Sanaulla Makti Thangal, Shaykh Muhammad Maheen Hamadani Thangal, Vakkom Moulavi were the main leaders of the renaissance in the Muslim community of Kerala. Sayyid Sanaulla Makti Thangal was a cleric, who tried to uproot the dreadful practices. Both Shaykh Muhammad Maheen, Hamadani Thangal and Vakkom Moulavi tried hard to provide education realising that the cause backwardness of Muslim community is absence of proper education. As a part of it, Hamadani Thangal formed an organisation based at Kodungallur.^[1]

To highlight illiteracy in the community, Vakkom Moulavi began to print newspapers, magazines and books. The newspaper Swadeshabhimani by Vakkom Moulavi became a part of history of the entire region. But the newspaper was banned later. Then he began two more publications, calling for the education of Muslim children. He worked in many organisations like Travancore Muslim Mahasabha, Chirayinkil Taluk Muslim Samajam and the Muslim Aikya Sanghom (Muslim Unity Forum) of Kodungallur. The community owes Vakkom Moulavi for most of its early social and educational leaps.^[2]

Vakkom Abdul Qader, son of Vakkom Moulavi, began his career as editor of the newspaper Al-Ameen. Then, he became the editor of the newspaper Moplah Review. As a leader, Vakkom Abdul Qader formed two organisations called Navayuga Samskarika Samiti at Varkala and Iqbal Study Centre at Punalur.^[3]

Organisations like Ma'unat ul-Islam Sabha at Ponnani, Lajnat ul-Islam Sabha at Alappuzha, and the Muslim Aikya Sanghom (Muslim Unity Forum) of Kodungallur tried their best in improving educational and social status of the Muslims. Muslim Aikya Sanghom is the prototype of present day Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM).^[4]

An organisation called Muslim Educational Society (MES) played an important role in the development of higher education in Malabar.^[5] A member of Muslim Educational Society may or may not be a "mujahid" by the simple reason that Muslim Educational Society is not a religious outfit.

The Islahi movement has created an organizational setup in Kerala in 1922 with the formation of Muslim Aikya Sanghom. But it was in 1924, following the establishment of a body of scholars called Kerala Jam'iyyathul Ulama (KJU), that the Islahi movement acquired an organizational setup and began functioning systematically in Kerala. Some of the Islahi scholars were also leaders of Indian independence movement. Sanaulla Makthi Thangal, K. M. Jamaluddin Moulavi and Vakkom 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 were said to have prompted every individual of the society to do their duty to their homeland (India) by participating in the Indian freedom struggle movement.

Mujahids

Followers of Islahi movement in Kerala call themselves ‘mujahids’ (Arabic: مجاهد‎). The term mujahid means 'one who strives'. The term which is used to denote any follower of this movement, comes from its present-day organizational form called Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen, the successor-outfit of Muslim Aikya Sanghom, the reformist movement of 1920s. It is important to note that the Islahi movement in Kerala is against terrorism in all its forms.

Splits

Since Islam reached Malabar as early as 7th century it had almost mixed with the culture and traditions of the people of Kerala. So, ultimately the renaissance in the Muslim community resulted in the division of Muslims as "Sunnis" (more orthodox sect than the other) and "Salafis" in 1925 (though both of these belong to the Sunni branch of Islam). In 1950 Salafis formed their organization Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM). It's interesting to note that the faith of the Kerala Muslims was a mixture of "Sunnis" and "Salafis" before the so-called renaissance^{[citation needed]}.

In 1942 a part of Salafis came out as Kerala unit of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, and around 1985, some formed the Chekannur sect namely Qur’an Sunnat Society and ultimately in 2002, it split into two after some years of internal differences, called A. P. Mujahid and Madavurs. Both organisational as well as theological differences were raised as a reason for the split which is still a matter of disagreement among the factions. The official "AP faction", has TP Abdulla Koya Madani as President and AP Abdul Qader Moulavi as General Secretary and the "Madavur faction" is led by Dr. EK Ahammad Kutty as President and CP Ummar Sullami as General Secretary. Both factions are well functional, popular and active but The Madavur faction is seen more flexible than the AP faction in social and political circles. The Madvur faction is affiliated to recently-formed Indian Islahi Movement and the AP faction is working in co-operation with Ahl al-Hadith, an all-India Islahi outfit.

Relationship of Moplah groups

Modern Muslim divisions in Kerala

Theological orientations amongst the Mappilas are primarily divided into three, though all these belong to the Sunni branch of Islam.

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.).
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. The Shia school is almost absent amongst the Muslims of Kerala.

Activities

See also: Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen

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, madrasahs, or religious schools, were started in various parts of the state in a meticulous way with modern amenities, and these 'madrasahs' are entirely different from those exist in other parts of India.

It is an observation that the inspiration behind the 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 if the Islahi movement.

They have established orphanages in few parts of the state, and conducted campaigns against dowry, and other social evils. Through their books, magazines, and public speeches, the Islahi movement asked the Muslim public to distance themselves from un-Islamic practices to avoid local culture and to stick to the principles of Islam. Establishment of 'Qur'an Learning Schools' (QLS) in almost every part of north and central Kerala was considered to be an attempt to spread Qur'anic learning among adults.

The birth anniversary of Mohammed is only celebrated by various Sunni faction mahal committees and madrasas in Kerala. A mass ziyarat (visit) to the graves of martyrs and Syeds will be held. Even when majority Sunnis are celebrating the Milad day, Salafi groups have been critical of the celebrations. According to Salafi scholars, celebrating Prophet Mohammed's birth anniversary is ‘un-Islamic' and against the tenets of the Koran and the Hadith^[6].

Political agenda

Islahi movement in Kerala did not show any political ambitions in the past and were not affiliated with any political party. Although the organization do not have a political stand, their members are active in different political parties and are helped by the movement. The organizational form of the movement Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen is sympathetic to Indian Union Muslim League but it is not official. In recent elections in Kerala, the Madavaur faction of Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen was unofficially with the Left parties and opposed to the Muslim League.

Overseas branches

Indian Islahi Centers are the platforms of the followers of Islahi movement living outside Kerala. There are active Indian Islahi Centers in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain (see Al Furqan Centre), and Kuwait. Recently Indian Islahi Centers have been set up in other cities in India, like Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai

References

1. ^ Balarama Digest Weekly- Oct. 11, 2008, Malayala Manorama group
2. ^ Balarama Digest Weekly- Oct. 11, 2008, Malayala Manorama group
3. ^ Balarama Digest Weekly- Oct. 11, 2008, Malayala Manorama group
4. ^ Balarama Digest Weekly- Oct. 11, 2008, Malayala Manorama Group
5. ^ Balarama Digest Weekly- Oct. 11, 2008, Malayala Manorama Group
6. ^ http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/15/stories/2011021559270300.htm

External links

• K.M. Seethi Sahib A veteran Islahi leader & Second speaker of the Kerala state Assembly
• Shabab Weekly - A leading publication of Islahi Movement