Tamil Muslim: Difference between revisions
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The [[Aqidah]] of the Tamil Muslims is based on [[Sunnah]] basically influenced by the [[Sufi]]s. 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 of $100 and the bride in turn would pay the groom a dowry of $1,000, though practice of dowry is banned by Islam. 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]]. |
The [[Aqidah]] of the Tamil Muslims is based on [[Sunnah]] basically influenced by the [[Sufi]]s. 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 of $100 and the bride in turn would pay the groom a dowry of $1,000, though practice of dowry is banned by Islam. 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]]. |
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Outside homes and workplaces, Tamil Muslim women typically wear white ''thuppatti'' instead of the black burqas (that are popular among Urdu-speakers) which is draped over their whole body on top of the saree. They also retain their birth names even after marriage ''i.e.'' the concept of [[surname]] is non-existent. This has remained a hurdle in [[genealogy|genealogical research]]. Almost all Tamil Muslims go to [[Dargah]]. |
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==Economy== |
==Economy== |
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Revision as of 10:13, 4 December 2010
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Brunei, Myanmar and Singapore | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Indian Muslims, Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka, Dravidian people |
Tamil Muslim refers to those Muslims who have Tamil as their home language. According to the official Indian census of 2001, there were at least 2 million Tamil Muslims in the southern province of Tamil Nadu.[2] In addition, there are about 500,000 Tamil Muslims in Malaysia which is 2.6% of the total population of Malaysia and 20,000 in Singapore.
Tamil Muslims are largely urban[3] 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.[4] In the late 20th century, the diaspora expanded to the North America and Western Europe.
Racial identity
Tamil Muslims are identifiable by a common language and religion only. 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, exogamy and miscegenation in South East Asia. These races, by the 20th century, began to be listed in official gazettes of different nations as Dekkani, Saibu, Shaik, Syed, Lebbai, Marakayar, Rowther[5], Kayalar (in Maharashtra), Sonagar[6] (in Sri Lanka), Mamak[7] (in Malaysia), Chulia[8] (in Singapore and Myanmar), Moors (in Sri Lanka), Rathas (in South Africa), etc. As a result, there is no uniformity but plenty of improvisation in customs and ceremonies within and between districts and nations on occasions like births, marriages and deaths.
Legends and rituals
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 of $100 and the bride in turn would pay the groom a dowry of $1,000, though practice of dowry is banned by Islam. 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.
Outside homes and workplaces, Tamil Muslim women typically wear white thuppatti instead of the black burqas (that are popular among Urdu-speakers) which is draped over their whole body on top of the saree. They also retain their birth names even after marriage i.e. the concept of surname is non-existent. This has remained a hurdle in genealogical research. Almost all Tamil Muslims go to Dargah.
Economy
The global purchasing power of Tamil Muslims in 2005 was estimated at almost $8 billion viz. $3 billion in Tamil Nadu, $2 billion in Srilanka, $1 billion in Malaysia, $600 million in Singapore. Tamil Muslims have historically been money changers (not money lenders) throughout South and South East Asia.[9]
Generally Tamil Muslims are involved in various trades like retail, butchery, gems trade and leather goods manufacture. In Tamil Nadu, 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 founded 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.[10]
Parveen Travels, Raahat Travels, Pasla Cinema, Rasi Travels, Samco, Container Seals, Classic Lights, Syed Bawkher, Air Dravida, Zircon International, Hotel President, Hotel Vestin Park, Hotel Abu Palace, Jaleel Towers, ST Couriers, Repute Group, Fathima Jewellers and LKS Gold House, Femina Group, Ahmed Brothers in Trichy, Anil Semia, White House Group, Hanifa Textiles, Nizam Betel-Nut, The Professional Couriers are also some well-known profitable Tamil Muslim enterprises.
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, Zahira College in Colombo, Osmania College in Jaffna are some of famous service based Tamil Muslim colleges. In mid 1980s lot of Muslim 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 okay 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 jobs in Gulf and south east Asia {mainly Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei in South Asia} 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:
- A.I.M.A.N. College For Women - Trichy
- A.J.College of Pharmacy - Chennai
- Annai Arts & Science College - Kumabakonam
- 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.
- Institute of safety management - Chennai
- Islamiah College - Vaniyambadi
- Islamiah Women's Arts and Science College
- Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous) - Trichy
- Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women - chennai
- Khader Mohideen College - Adirampattinam.
- M.I.E.T. Arts and Science College - Trichy
- M.A.R. Engieering college - Trichy.
- M.A.M. Engineering college - Trichy
- Mazharul-Uloom College - Aambur
- M.M.E.S Women's' College - Melvisharam
- Mohamed Sadhak A.J.College of Engineering - Chennai
- Mohamed Sathak Colloge of Arts and Science - Chennai
- Muslim Arts College - Thiruvithancode
- Naina Mohamed College of Arts and Science - Aranthangi
- Noorul Islam College of Engg, Thackkalay
- The New College - Chennai
- Measi Academy of Architecture
- New College Institute of management - Chennai
- PET Engg College, Vallioor
- Quaide Milleth College - Chennai
- Rabiammal Ahmed Mohideen College for Women - Thiruvarur
- RajaGiri Dawood Batcha college of Arts and Sciences - Thanjavur
- 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
Places
Adirampattinam,Kadayanallur,Kayalpattinam, Kilakarai, Lalpet,Kuthanallur, Madurai ,theni, Karaikal and the districts of coastal Tamil Nadu like Ervadi, Nagapattinam, Thanjavore, Cuddalore and Ramnad are the places of dense Tamil Muslim population. Kathankudi, Sammandurai, Muttor, Kalmunai, Kinniaya, Peruvalai, Purakkottai in Sri Lanka. A large population of Tamil Muslims are found overseas South East Asian countries like Malaysia and Singapore and also in Gulf countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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.[11] 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.
Since late 20th century, politicians like Quaid E Millath and Dawood Shah[12] and Daud Sharifa Khanum have been active in pioneering social reforms like independent mosques for Tamil Muslim women.[13][14][15][16]
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).
The Malaysian diplomats, Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad and Zambry 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.
Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) led by Quaid-e-Millath was famous among Tamil Muslims. In the 1980s The National League was created by Abdul Lathif by splitting from Muslim League. The Muslim league was led by Abdul Samad. Soon after the death of Abdul Lathif and Abdul Samad, the two parties attempted to fulfill the needs of Tamil Muslims; but there were no important leaders. After the demolition of the Babri Masjid, 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 continue to support IUML.
In 1995, TMMK was founded as a social advocacy organization of Tamil Nadu Muslims and involved in various non electoral political activities & social services. It created MMK 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. TNTJ was formed by P. Jainulabudeen in 2005 after splitting from the TMMK.
DMK tries to maintain it's substantial Muslim vote bank since its founding, which was built on strong relationship with 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 announced by the party.
Now three Muslim MPs represent the society in Indian Parliament, Haroon Rashid of Indian National Congress, Abdur Rahman of IUML and Jinnah of DMK (Rajya Sabha). In Tamil Nadu Assembly, there are seven Muslim MLAs: Abdul Basith - DMK Vaniyambadi, Bader Sayeed - AIADMK Triplicane, Hasan Ali - INC Ramanathapuram, Khaleel-ur-Rahman - DMK Aravakurichi, T.P.M. Mohideen Khan - DMK Palayamkottai, Syed Ghouse Basha - DMK Madurai Central, Ubayadullah - DMK Thanjavur. There are two Muslim ministers in Tamil Nadu Cabinet: S.N.M. Ubayadullah, Minister for Commercial Taxes and T.P.M. Mohideen Khan, Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare, Environment and Pollution Control and Wakfs.
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[17] 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.[18][19] 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.[20] Literati such as Kavikko Abdur Rahman, Dr. Abdullah[21], Mu.Metha, Jainulabudeen, Pavalar Inqulab, A. Rokkiah[22] and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India, helped push the frontiers of enlightenment into the 21st century.[23] The pioneering fortnightly journal Samarasam was established in 1981 to highlight and cater to the ethnic Tamil Muslim community's issues.
Vocabulary
Tamil Muslim vocabulary includes several peculiar words that cannot be found among non-Muslim Tamils like thuppatti (purdah), thozhugai (prayer), nonbu (fasting), kayili (lungi), chacha or saachipa (younger paternal uncle), peribaapu (elder paternal uncle), chachi or saachi (wife of younger paternal uncle), periya vaapa (wife of elder paternal uncle), pallivaasal (mosque), aanam (curry), aththa (father), chennaththa(father's brother), vaapa(father), umma (mother) et al..
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.[24]
Sport
Shihan Hussaini, the 8th dan[25], remains the most prolific Isshin-ryū karate instructor in Tamil Nadu[26]. His dojo in Chennai has created 700 black belts till date.
Art and architecture
Artistes like Mumtaz, Shereen, Sunaina, Nagore E.M. Hanifa, Nassar, Shaam, Ameer Sultan, Khaadar, B. H. Abdul Hameed, Mansur Ali Khan, Jamshad, Oscar winner A. R. Rahman are popular in the Tamil film industry.
Singer (late)Shahul Hameed, late Bakoda Kader and director Jeeva were also notable.
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 7th century in Kayalpattinam[27].
Cuisine
Tamil Muslim cuisine is a syncretic mixture of Tamil Hindu and North Indian Muslim recipes and flavours.[28] 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 dry 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.[29]
See also
References
- ^ Religion data at census.tn.nic.in.
- ^ Indian Census
- ^ Almost 73 per cent of Muslims in Tamil Nadu are urban (p. 302)
- ^ Tamil Muslims in Zheng He's fleet
- ^ GO for reservation in Pondicherry
- ^ Sri Lankan Moorish Muslims are also called as Sonagars
- ^ Tamil Muslims dominate restaurant industry in Malaysia
- ^ Chulia traders from the Coromandel coast settled Serangoon
- ^ dominance on money changing business
- ^ Buhari Group's global reach
- ^ Jamal Mohammad becomes first Tamil Muslim president of MPML
- ^ Tamil Muslim Periyar
- ^ World's first Masjid for Women
- ^ BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | Women battle on with mosque plan
- ^ S.T.E.P.S.
- ^ TMMK opposes a mosque!
- ^ The Diversity in Indian Islam
- ^ Tamil Muslim identity
- ^ New print technologies trigger revolution in Tamil Muslim literature (pdf)
- ^ Islamic Voice (magazine)
- ^ [1]
- ^ Irandaam Jaamangalin Kathai
- ^ Rebel Poet in the Panchayat
- ^ DAIVEEGA MARUTHUVAM : Dr. S. Akbar Kausar
- ^ [2]
- ^ Shihan Hussaini's interview
- ^ [3]
- ^ Business Line
- ^ Coconut oil and betel are staples