Tamil Muslim

Indian Muslim

Regions with significant populations
Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Malaysia, Brunei, Myanmar and Singapore
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Indian Muslims, Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka, Dravidian people

Tamil Muslim mosque, in the village of Thiruppanandal, Thanjavur District, Tamil nadu

Tamil Muslim refers to those Muslims who have Tamil as their mother tongue. There are around 500,000 in Malaysia which is 2.6% of the total population of Malaysia and 20,000 in Singapore.^{[citation needed]}

Tamil Muslims are largely urban traders rather than farmers. There is a substantial diaspora of Tamil Muslims, particularly in South East Asia, which has seen their presence as early as the 13th century. In the late 20th century, the diaspora expanded to the North America and Western Europe. Atleast one-tenth of the populations of Vellore and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu were Muslims as per 2011 Indian census.

Racial identity

Tamil Muslims are identifiable by a common language and religion. Otherwise, they belong to multiple ethnicities such as Dravidian, Aryan, Oriental, Malay, Semitic, Turkish, Arabic, Moorish, et al.. Hence, their complexions range from fair to dark; facial bone structures range from sharp/oval to rounded. This was due to the frequent trading and marriage ties in South East Asia. These races, by the 20th century, began to be listed in official gazettes of different nations as Lebbai, Marakayar, Rowther, Kayalar (in Maharashtra), Rathas in South Africa, Chulia (in Singapore), etc. As a result, there is no uniformity in customs and ceremonies within and between districts and nations on occasions like births, marriages and deaths.

Legends and rituals

A typical minaret of mosques in Tamil Nadu as seen here of Erwadi in Ramanathapuram District.

The Aqidah of the Tamil Muslims is based on Sunnah basically influenced by the Sufis. Tamil Muslim families are patrilocal though their marriages incorporate Islamic mahr practice. For instance, it is common to see a groom pay the bride mahr sum of 10,000 rupees and the bride in turn would pay the groom a dowry sum of 10,000 rupees, though practice of dowry is banned by Islamic jurisprudence. Tamil Muslims practice monogamy and male circumcision. Like the thali of Tamil Hindu brides, Tamil Muslim women wear a chain strung with black beads called Karugamani which is tied by the groom's elder female relative to the bride's neck on the day of nikkah.

As a mark of modesty Tamil Muslim women usually wear white thuppatti (from Hindi/Urdu duppatta) instead of the black burqas (that are popular among Urdu-speaking Muslims) which is draped over their whole body on top of the saree. This has remained a hurdle in genealogical research. Almost all Tamil Muslims go to Qabr (Dargah) ziyarat which is an important Sunnah.

Economy

The global purchasing power of Tamil Muslims in 2005 was estimated at almost $8 billion viz. $3 billion in Tamil Nadu, $1 billion in Malaysia, $600 million in Singapore. Tamil Muslims have historically been money changers (not money lenders) throughout South and South East Asia.

Generally Tamil Muslims are involved in various trades like retail, Mutton shops, shops in Foreign bazaar. They are also involved in precious gem trade and leather industry. The Professional Couriers, Repute Group, Preston International College, Unity Public School, iSharp Technologies, iSpacehost.com, Flipeasy.in, ST Group, MM International, Farida Group, Neo Intex Mill, Zircon International, Air Dravida, Premier Travels, Nizam Group, Fathima Jewellers, LKS Gold House, Femina Group, Anil Semia, White House Group, Hanifa Textiles, Nizam Betelnuts are some prominent examples of successful business ventures of Tamil Muslim entrepreneurs.

Due to the GCC opportunities, tens of thousands of Tamil Muslim workers went to the Persian Gulf. There are about 400 millionaires within the community and at least one billionaire viz. B.S. Abdur Rahman (better known as the Buhari Group)who constructed the conglomerate ETA Star Group, Chennai Citi Centre, Chepauk Stadium, Marina Lighthouse, Valluvar Kottam, Government General Hospital, Gemini Flyover, Crescent Engineering College, et al.. He owns over 70 ocean-going vessels.

Politics

P. Kalifullah (1888–1950), was a politician of the Madras Presidency, British India. He served as the minister for public works in the short lived ministry of Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu during April–July 1937. He was a Tamil Muslim belonging to the Rowther community. His father T.A. Pitchai Rowther was a wealthy businessman of Tiruchirapalli. He belonged to the All-India Muslim League and was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly from Tiruchirappalli in the 1937 elections. He was sympathetic to the cause of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy (Periyar) and his Self-Respect Movement. In 1937, he spoke against the introduction of compulsory Hindi classes in the Madras legislature and later participated in the anti-Hindi agitation started by Periyar. He was a lawyer by profession and was known by his honorifics as Khan Bahadur P. Khalifulla Sahib Bahadur. He was also a member of the Madras Legislative Council during the early 1930s. He was the Dewan of Pudukottai after his withdrawal from political work.

In Tamil Nadu, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) led by Quaid-e-Millath M. Muhammad Ismail Saheb was famous among Tamil Muslims till the early 1990s. After the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, a feeling of insecurity gripped the community. Tamil Muslim youths swayed from general apathy to more involvement and interest in active politics. The older people continued to support IUML.

Subsequent to the events arising out of the Babri Masjid Demolition, the Indian National League was formed under the aegis of Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait who split from the Indian Union Muslim League.

In Tamil Nadu, where the Tamil Muslims are concentrated, Indian Union Muslim League also split and the Indian National League was formed under Abdul Latheef. Indian Union Muslim League was headed by Adbus Samad. These two leaders continued to head the respective parties till their death. In Jan, 2011, the Tamil Nadu State Unit of Indian Nation League was dissolved.

After the demolition of the Babri Masjid, the Ahle-Hadith (Ghair Muqallid) movements started to take the front stage. This movement was spearheaded by one P.Jainulabdeen and consequently the Organization, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazagham was started in 1995 to advocate the Ahle-Hadith (Ghair Muqallid) beliefs among Muslims. And Jawahirullah headed the Organization.

This Organization started gaining popularity among the Tamil Muslim youths while the Indian National League was losing its spectrum. Though it was a Non-Political Organization it started to take part in political activities and social services.

So when Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazagham wanted to take part in active politics, the Organization split due to different reasons. And the Organization Tamil Nadu Towheed Jamath was formed under P.Jainulabdeen.

Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazagham created Manidhaneya Makkal Katchi as a political party in 2009 and contested in four seats but did not win any seat.

The Tamil Nadu Muslim vote bank is not a monolithic mass. They vote for all parties like Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), ADMK, Congress etc. as per their liking. TMMK tries to build a strong Muslim vote bank which can play an important bargaining role in Tamil Nadu future elections.

DMK tries to maintain it's substantial Muslim vote bank since its founding, which was built on strong personal friendship with the Quaid-e-Millath. Various schemes for Muslims like 3.5% separate reservation for Muslims in education and government jobs, Ulemas Welfare Board, and Quaid-e-Millath Memorial Place have been given.

Education

After independence, the Tamil Muslims begun to create lot of schools, colleges of their own. Jamal Mohamed College in Trichy, New College in Chennai, Waqf Board College in Madurai, are some of famous service based colleges. In mid 1980s lot of self-financing colleges were started. Now crescent Engineering college became BS Abdur Rahman University, the first Muslim university in Tamil Nadu.

In Tamil Nadu, the school education of the Muslims is on par and its level is relatively equal to general literacy level. But in higher education Muslims lack, due to their family members and relatives taking them for overseas jobs in their young age itself. And as the Muslims are generally involved in trade, their children also get interested in that and therefore miss higher education. But now the picture is changing slowly.

These are some of the Muslim educational institutes in Tamil Nadu:

• Aalim Muhammed Salegh Polytechnic College, Avadi, Chennai
• A.M.S. College Of Engineering, Chennai
• A.I.M.A.N. College For Women - Trichy
• A.J.College of Pharmacy - Chennai
• Al-Ameen Polytechnic College, Erode
• Al Islamiya Polytechnic College, PENNAGARAM
• Annai Arts & Science College - Kumabakonam
• Annai Hajira Women's College, Melapalayam - Tirunelveli
• B.S.Abdur Rahman University - Chennai
• C.Abdul Hakeem College of Arts and Science - Melvisharam
• C.Abdul Hakeem College of Engineering and Technology - Melvisharam
• Dhanish Ahmadh College of Engineering - Chennai.
• Muqayyath Sha Sirguro Wakf Board College - Madurai.
• Dr.Zakir Husain College - Ilayankudi.
• Hajee Karutha Rowther Howdia College - Uthamapalayam.
• Haji Sheik Ismail Polytechnic College, KEEZHAIYUR
• Institute of safety management - Chennai
• Islamiah College - Vaniyambadi
• Islamiah Women's Arts and Science College - Vellore
• Islamiyah Matriculation Higher Secondary School - Coimbatore
• Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous) - Trichy
• Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women - chennai
• Khader Mohideen College - Adirampattinam.
• MEASI Academy Of Architecture, Chennai
• M.I.E.T. Arts and Science College - Trichy
• M.A.R. Engineering college - Trichy.
• M.A.M. Engineering college - Trichy
• M.S.S.Wakf Board College - Madurai (Only college in India run by a state wakf board)
• Mazharul-Uloom College - Aambur
• M.M.E.S Women's' College - Melvisharam
• Mohamed Sathak A.J.College of Engineering - Chennai
• Mohamed Sathak Colloge of Arts and Science - Chennai
• Mohamed Sathak Polytechnic College, MAYAKULAM
• Muslim Arts College - Thiruvithancode
• National Engineering College, Tirunelveli
• Naina Mohamed College of Arts and Science - Aranthangi
• Noorul Islam College of Engg, Thackkalay
• Noorul Islam Polytechnic College, THIRUVITHAMCODE, Nagercoil
• Nizam Oriental Arabic High School - Pudukottai
• The New College - Chennai
• Measi Academy of Architecture - Chennai
• New College Institute of management - Chennai
• Popular Engineering College, Tirunelveli
• PET Engg College, Vallioor
• Quaide Milleth College - Chennai
• Rabiammal Ahmed Mohideen College for Women - Thiruvarur
• RajaGiri Dawood Batcha college of Arts and Sciences - Thanjavur
• Sethu Institute Of Technology, Kariapatti, Virudhunagar Dist
• S.B.A.College of Science and Management - Arni
• S.M.Kader Engineering College - Maduramangalam
• Sadakathullah Appa College - Tirunelveli
• Sulthana Abdullah Rowther College for Women - Needamangalam
• Syed Hameedha Arts & science college - Kilakarai
• Thassim Beevi Abdul Kader College for Women - kilakarai
• Mohamed Sathak Polytechnic College(MSPC) - Kilakarai
• Texcity Arts and Science College - Coimbatore

Law and politics

In early 19th century, Munshi Abdullah's provocative essays on good governance and education reforms began to shape the modern Malaysian political system.

Sir Mohammad Usman was the most prominent among the early political leaders of the community. In 1930, Jamal Mohammad became the first Tamil Muslim president of the Madras Presidency Muslim League. Until then, the party was dominated by Urdu-speaking Muslims from the Nizamat of Hyderabad. Yakub Hasan Sait was an Urdu-speaking Gujarati Muslim who settled in Tamil Nadu and served as a minister in the Rajaji government. Allama.Karim Gani, veteran Freedom Fighter and a close associate of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, who hailed from Ilayangudi, served as Information Minister in Netaji BAMA Ministry during 1930's.

Since late 20th century, politicians like Quaid E Millath and Dawood Shah and Daud Sharifa Khanum have been active in pioneering social reforms like independent mosques for Tamil Muslim women.

The prominent Justice M.M.Ismail was a former Acting Governor of Tamil Nadu and former Madras High Court Chief Justice. He was appointed additional judge of the Delhi High Court in February 1967 and was transferred to the Madras High Court in November 1967. He became Chief Justice on November 6, 1979. On October 27, 1980 Mr. Justice Ismail was sworn in Acting Governor of Tamil Nadu in the place of Prabhudas Patwari.

As Kamban Kazhagam president, he was responsible for organising literary festivals, which focussed on classical Tamil literature. In a message, the Governor, Surjit Singh Barnala, said the former Chief Justice was a legal luminary and contributed a lot to the judiciary.

"He evinced keen interest in Tamil literature and established the Kamban Kazhagam to popularise Ramayana." Mr. Barnala described his death as a loss to the judiciary and Tamil literature.

Tamil Muslim representatives such as J. M. Haroon, Abdul Rahman, Jinna, Khaleelur Rahman, Ubayadullah, Hussan Ali and T. P. M. Mohideen Khan are found across all major Dravidian political parties like Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), as well as the Indian National Congress (INC).

Former Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad as well Malaysian politicians Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, Zainuddin Maidin, Anwar Ibrahim, Khairy Jamaluddin, Nor Mohamed Yakcop and Zambry Abdul Kadir too are of Tamil Muslim origins.

Broadly speaking, Tamil Muslims tend to support laissez faire and free trade and have been unimpressed by Communism as a public policy though fringe groups often call for affirmative action in the last quarter of 20th century^{[citation needed]}.

Literature

Indian Tamil Muslim culture and literature are heavily influenced by the Qadiri flavour of Sufism. Their domain range from mystical to medical, from fictional to political, from philosophical to legal.

The earliest Tamil Muslim literary works could be traced to 14th century in the form of Palsanthmalai, a small work of eight stanzas. In 1572, Seyku Issaku, better known as Vanna Parimala Pulavar, published Aayira Masala Venru Vazhankum Adisaya Puranam detailing the Islamic principles and beliefs in a FAQ format. In 1592, Aali Pulavar wrote the Mikurasu Malai. The epic Seerapuranam by Umaru Pulavar is dated to 17th century and still considered as the crowning achievement of Tamil Muslim literature. Other significant works of 17th century include Thiruneri Neetham by Sufi master Pir Mohammad, Kanakabhisheka Malai by Seyku Nainar Khan (alias Kanakavirayar), Tirumana Katchi by Sekathi Nainan and the Iraq war ballad Sackoon Pataippor. Notable publications of 18th century include Yakobu Sithat Patal, a medical primer on Siddha Vaithyam (distinguished from Ayurvedic medicine).

Nevertheless, an independent Tamil Muslim identity evolved only in the last quarter of the 20th century triggered by the rise of Dravidian politics as well as the introduction of new mass communications and lithographic technologies. The world's first Tamil Islamic Literature Conference was held in Trichy in 1973. In early 2000. the Department of Tamil Islamic Literature was set up in the University of Madras. Literati such as Kavikko Abdur Rahman, Mu Metha, Jainulabudeen, Pavalar Inqulab, A. Rokkiah and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India, helped push the frontiers of enlightenment into the 21st century. The pioneering fortnightly journal Samarasam was established in 1981 to highlight and cater to the ethnic Tamil Muslim community's issues by the Islamic Foundation Trust.

Vocabulary

Tamil Muslim vocabulary includes several Malay loanwords that cannot be found among other Tamils like thuppatti (veil), thozhugai (prayer), nabi (prophet), nonbu (fasting), kayili (lungi), baapu (father), buvva (mother), peribaapu (elder paternal uncle), peribuvva (wife of elder paternal uncle), chicha (younger paternal uncle), chichani (wife of younger paternal uncle), pallivaasal (mosque), aanam (curry), etc.

Medicine

Unani physician Akbar Kousar was awarded by the southern governments of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka for his work on kasini herbs.

Art and architecture

Artistes like Nagore E.M. Hanifa, Nassar (actor), Shaam (actor), Ameer Sultan, Abdul Kaader, B. H. Abdul Hameed, Shahul Hameed, A. R. Rahman, Jamshad and Late Pakoda Kader are popular in the Tamil film industry.

Tamil mosques are typically of small scale and almost always painted white and green (reflecting peace and prosperity). The first Tamil mosque, Kadarkarai Masjid, was built in early

Cuisine

Tamil Muslim cuisine is a syncretic mixture of Tamil Hindu and North Indian Muslim recipes and flavours. Its distinguishing feature is the total absence of hot kebab and pungent colorful spices that tend to permeate most Indian non-vegetarian food. The spice used is called rampe or pandan leaves. This leaf gives out a distinct flavour only when cooked.

Tamil Muslim cuisine also includes the use of Masi or cured/dried tuna fish, which is powdered and used with many different items. But this is limited to the coastal regions. They also use ada urugai, which is whole lime pickled in salt but with no chillies; this is mashed and mixed with the Masi powder. The combination gives a sour taste and a distinctly different flavor. The diet of Tamil Muslims is non-vegetarian and they do eat beef. Coconut oil is used for hair-dressing while many chew betel tobacco after a heavy lunch.

See also

• Abiramam
• Adirampattinam
• Erwadi
• Ilayangudi
• Kamuthi
• Kayalpatnam
• Koothanallur
• Kilakarai
• Madurai
• Nagore
• Udangudi