Kerala

The name Kerala may be derived from Chera the name of the earliest ruling dynasty or from 'kerum' an abbreviated term for coconut. Thus Kerala may signify 'The land of the Chaeras' or "The land of Coconuts'.

Geographically it stretches north-south a distance of 360miles never exceeding 70 miles in width, comprising of 3 belts -the Coastal planes, the low to medium elevation lateritic plateau and the high interior range of archaic hills (Ghats). This location gave Kerala  the westward openness t the sea has resulted in the continuing impact of a variety of influences from the west including the Arabs as well as trade history with West Asia. On the other hand the Western Ghat forms- as described by  A. Sreedhara Menon in A Survey of Kerala History-" The state has from the dawn of history  enjoyed a kind of insularity which has given it welcome immunity from the political convulsions which shook North India. the Malabar Muslims were separated though not completely and consistently, from the making the   This thus helped  the  unique development of the Malabar Muslims Culture distinct though not completely, from  the Muslim and Urdu culture in the rest of India.

Certain aspects of Kerala history gives it a 'South East Asian Personality' - as described by Charles A. Fisher in South East Asia:  a Social, Economic and political Geography-the tropical climate, the plentiful water supply and regular monsoons, dispersed settlement and communication by the river, the large degree of rice and coconut cultivation, and port cities functioning as entreports for the passage of merchandise from the West and East

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 )

"Early masjids in Kerala"
6-8-2008

"New Models of Islamic Education in Kerala"
14-3-2008

"Genesis and Growth of the Mappila Community"
15-2-2006

"The Naluketu architecture of Kerala"
18-1-2006

"Famous Masjids in Kerala"
17-1-2006

"Early Masjid architecture in Kerala"
17-1-2006

"Muslim woman blazes e-Literacy trail."
28-8-2004

"Kerala News: Prayers for people of Marad"
19-5-2004

"From Bombay to Kerala.. A train ride of a life time."
7-2-2004

"Kerala Food"
12-10-2003