1 Kerala Muslims: A Note Islam has become woven into the very fabric of Indian civilization and culture.

Muslims arrived in India during the life of Prophet Muhammad, establishing mosques and organizing missionary endeavours in the seventh century C.E. Those efforts proved successful, rooting Islam firmly into Indian life. Arabs had had a presence in India before the birth of Muhammad. That probably facilitated making inroads for Islam, since Arab traders established in India who converted to Islam already had a base of operations established. Kerala had a long history of relations with Arabia from the time of Solomon. Arabs traded with Kerala for gold, ivory, monkeys and peacocks. Arab merchants came to Kerala from Egypt long before the Romans. The main port was Alexandria and Kodungallore for Egyptians and Keralites. Ancient references to black pepper, swords from India and teak in Arab poetry indicate trade connection to Kerala. It took around 30 to 40 days for Arabs to make the journey to Kerala. Kerala Muslims have always believed that their origins go back to 7th century AD when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) preached the religion.

Islam arrived in South Asia long before Muslim invasions of India; the first influence came during the early seventh century with Arab traders. Arab traders visited the Malabar region, linking them with the ports of South East Asia, even before Islam established in Arabia. With the advent of Islam, Arabs became a prominent cultural force. Arab merchants and traders became the carriers of the new religion and they propagated it wherever they went. Malik Bin Deenar built the first Indian mosque in Kodungallur in 612 C.E., at the behest of Cheraman Perumal, during the life time of Prophet Muhammad (c. 571632) Malik Bin Deenar established the first mosque in the Indian subcontinent in 629 C.E. Islamic scholars consider the mosque the second in the world to offer Jumma Prayer after the mosque in Medina. Malik Bin Deenars missionary team built ten additional mosques along the Malabar coast, including Kollam, Chaliyam, Pantalayini Kollam/Quilandi, Madayi/Pazhayangadi, Srikandhapuram, Dharmadom, Kasaragode,Mangalore, and Barkur. Reportedly, they built the mosques at Chombal, Kottayam, Poovar and Thengapattanam during that period.

2 During the time of the Samuthiries the Muslims of Malabar played major role in the local army and fleet as well as ambassadors to Arabia and China. Even before this period they had settlements in Perumathura, Thakkala, Thengapattanam, Poovar and Thiruvankottu in southern Travancore. It was during the time of Samuthiris that the title of 'Marakkar' was created. During the reign of the four marakkars played significant role in trade. During the time the second Marakkar Muslims spread from port areas to hiiilsides of Valapattanam, Theekkodi, Pandalayani, Kakkadu, Kozocodu, Ponnani. From there many migrated to Palakkadu. Muslim influence reached its peak at the time of Kunjali Marakkar (4th).After Kunjali Marakkar and Samuthiri parted company Muslim influence declined. Kerala's only Muslim kingdom was Kannanore's Arakkal family. Historians disagree as to the time period of Arakkal rulers. Some claim that ancient coins date the Arakkal rulers to the 8th century. One of the last kings Arakkal Abdu Rahiman Ali Raja (1881 -1946) was active in helping his subjects. The last ruler was Ali Raja Mariumma Beevi Thangal. After her time the family broke up. During the time of Hyderali and Tippu Sultan there was a revival amongst Muslims of Malabar. The Arakkal king signed a treaty with Hyderali. Samathuri followed up with his own treaty with Hyder. Muslim Organizations There are about 8 million Muslims in Kerala and the experts and almost everybody are attached to any Muslim organization. Kerala is full of competing Muslim religious, social, and political organizations that are very active in the state. Kerala has long history of Muslim organizations. Many organizations were formed during the turn of the last century when community leaders realized that the community was lagging behind in social and economic front. Some of the prominent Muslim organizations are: Samastha Kerala Jameyyat ul-Ulama : Popularly known as Samastha is the largest Muslim organization of Kerala. It was launched in 1924 by Kerala Muslim Aikya Sangham. This

3 organization represents the traditional ulema of Kerala who are fiercely opposed to the so-called Wahabi ideology. It runs an excellent system of Madrasa education throughout Kerala and a few outside the state as well. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind: JIHs Kerala unit is the most active unit of the organization established in 1941 by Syed Abul Ala Maududi. JIH runs a number of organizations in the state- Students Islamic Organisation, Girls Islamic Organisation, Solidarity Youth Movement. Jamaat publishes Madhyamam, a prominent daily newspaper in Malayalam, Prabodhanam, a weekly magazine among others. Jamaat also has a very active womens cell in the state. The Tablighi Jamaat (Outreach Society): became active after the 1940s as a movement, primarily among the ulema (religious leaders), stressing personal renewal, prayer, a missionary spirit, and attention to orthodoxy. It has been highly critical of the kind of activities that occur in and around Sufi shrines and remains a minor, if respected, force in the training of the ulema. Kerala Nadwathul Mujahideen: This organization also find its origin in Kerala Muslim Aikya Sangham. It was officially formed in 1950 and is affiliated to the All India Ahl-e-Hadith. Mujahid movement runs a number off madrasas and Arabic Colleges. Mujahid group was one of the first Muslim organization to encourage education of girls. Muslim League never indulged in communal politics in Kerala and even though it championed the cause of Muslims but always positioned itself as a secular party. IUML also has its origin in Aikya Sangham. Sangham leader K.M. Seethi Sahib was the founder leader of Muslim League in Kerala. Seethi sahib was the leader of Congress but by 1934 he was in Muslim League camp. He brought with him many of his supporters to the ML. Since winning a seat in 1934, Muslim League has firmly established itself in Kerala politics.

A number of new Muslim organizations have come up recently showing the restlessness among the Muslim youth. Political conservatism of Muslim League has led to the establishment of new groups e.g. Political Front of India, Abdul Nasser Madanis Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

4 Though these organizations are bitterly competitive but always come together for the benefit of the community on issues affecting the Muslims. A globalized Islamophobia is also affecting the thousand years old inter-community relations in Kerala and Muslims here are feeling the heat. Hindutva groups are very active here and making inroads in Kerala society. A majority of Muslims in India declare either Sunni Deobandi or Sunni Barelwi allegiance, although some declare allegiance to Shia, Sufi, Salafi and other smaller sects. Darul-Uloom Deoband has the most influential Islamic seminary in India, considered second only to Egypt's AlAzhar in its global influence. It is well known that Western powers sought to aggravate and accentuate all the differences they could find and make use of among the Muslims over whom they ruled whether it was Sunnism and Shiism, Arab Turkish rivalries, dynastic claims, tribal differences or something else of similar nature. Any talk of obstacles to Islamic unity cannot disregard a realistic appraisal of the very powerful interests which wish to prevent such a unity that is often depicted in the West as the rising danger of a so-called "fundamentalist" Islam at the very moment when Europe, that cradle of modern nationalism, is becoming united into a single economic if not political block.