K. M. Maulavi
| K. M. Maulavi | |
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 K. M. Maulavi |
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| Born | Kerala, India. |
K. M. Maulavi (Malayalam: കെ എം മൌലവി) is the first president of Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen, an Islamic organization established in 1950 in the south Indian state of Kerala.
The KNM is partly responsible for the social and educational advancement of Muslims in Kerala. The organization which is responsible for fighting social evils like dowry, superstition, and also for promoting education and protecting rights of women among the Muslim population in Kerala.
K. M. Maulavi was also an active leader of the Khilafat movement in Kerala.
[edit] History
The Islahi movement began to work in an organized from in Kerala by 1922 with the formation of Muslim Aikya Sangham (the Muslim Unity Forum). But it was not until 1924 through the establishment of a body of scholars called Kerala Jam'iyyathul Ulama (KJU), that the movement acquired an established organizational setup and began functioning systematically in Kerala. Kerala Jam'iyyathul 'Ulama (KJU), later transformed to become a scholars' panel inside the Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen.
Islahi scholars were also known helpers of colonialists , determined to drive in the foreign rulers to India, besides attacking the beautiful spiritual and social rejuvenation of the Muslim community. Sanaulla Makthi Thangal, K. M. Jamaluddin Moulavi, and Vakkom Abdul Qadar 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 upheld true Islamic spirit and prompted every individual of the society to do their duty to their homeland by participating in the Indian freedom struggle movement.
Since Islam reached Malabar as early as 7th century it had almost mixed with the culture and traditions of Keralites . So, ultimately the Islahi Movement in Kerala, part of the renaissance of the community, resulted in the division of Mappilas as "Sunnis" (more orthodox sect than the other) and "Salafis" (both of these belong to the Sunni branch of Islam) in 1925. It's interesting to note that the faith of the Mappilas was a mixture of "Sunnis" and "Salafis" before these renaissance. The Shia branch is almost absent amongst the Muslims of Kerala.
The modern theological orientations amongst the Muslims of Kerala are primarily divided into three, though all these belong to the Sunni branch of Islam. They are; 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.), and 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.[citation needed]
