History of Muslims in Malabar
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The First
Malabari Muslim
The
Malabar Muslims are one of the earliest group to profess Islam in the Indian
subcontinent. Unlike the rest of India where Islam gained foothold through conquest
via land from the neighboring countries, the Malabar coast received Islam
directly form Arabia via the sea and trade. Since Kerala is separated by the
Ghats from the rest of India, Islam grew in partial isolation from the rest of
India yet in contact with the rest of the Islamic world such as Arabia and South
East Asia through trade. As such certain differences can be observed in the way
Islam is practiced. While in most of the Indian subcontinent the Hanafi Mazhab
is observed, in Kerala, like in Malaysia the Shafie Mazhab is observed. This is
not surprising as the Malabaris were part of the 'team' spreading Islam to this
region
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 )
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.
Perumals were the titular leaders who ruled the powerful Chera dynasty. There
are varying opinion regarding their appointment whether they were appointed by
the leaders of various independent dynasties, selected by the Brahmins or were
foreign appointees of the Chola and Pandiya kings. Originally they ruled for
twelve year periods but later they extended this period. 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.
Cheraman Perumal , according to Sheikh Zainuddin Al Malbari, is said to have divided his land to 12 rulers before he left for Mecca. 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 , Cheraman Perumal entrusted his co-travelers with a
letter , as he told them, would be honoured if presented at
Kodungallur, Panthalayani or Dhardamadam.
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.