- Labbay
ethnic group
group=Labbay
poptime=about 1 Million
popplace=Tamil Nadu ,Kerala ,Karnataka ,Andhra Pradesh ,UAE &USA
rels=Hanafi Islam
langs=Tamil,Urdu Labbay, "Labbai", "Labba" (Tamil : லப்பய் ,
Urdu : ﻟﺐ ﺑﮯ) is a distinctive Islamic community from Southern India. A Trading Community spread through the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Labbays follow either the Hanafi or Shafi'i school of Fiqh.Identity and origins
The Name of the Community Labbay is derived from the Arabic phrase "Labbay'k" (
Arabic : لبیک ), which translated means - "Here I am."This is, in reference to the popular belief that the Labbay Community is one of the first trading communities to arrive at the Corramandel & Malabar Coasts from abroad.History
Labbays are said to have descended from the Traders from the Persian Gulf, and also many converts from the Southern States. Since the late 13th century, Labbays were a trading and entrepreneurial community specializing in the trade and manufacture of leather, tobacco, grains and spices as far as China and South East Asia.
Labbays today
Labbays are a modern and progressive community, who have diversified into various Fields of Industry and Profession. Labbays have also contributed to Southern India, with help in the construction of many Educational and Health care Institutions, notably, the New College, Chennai; Justice Basheer Ahmed Syed College for Women, Chennai etc.
Distinguishing features
Female names in the Labbay community typically end with the suffix "Banu". Also, Labbays are fair complexioned with oval facial bone structures inherited from intermarriage with other Oriental races.
Lebbas in Kerala are mostly spread in southern districts, especially in ‘Middle Travancore’. But, later some of them migrated to Kozhikode District (Koodaranhi, Thiruvampady, Mukkom areas).
References
* "Religions and Communities of India" -P. N. Chopra.
External links
* [http://www.everyculture.com/South-Asia/Labbai.html EveryCulture's Articles on Labbai's better sources.]
* [http://www.tamilmuslim.co.uk/default.htm tamilmuslim.co.uk] , Tamil Muslim website from the United Kingdom.
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