K. M. Maulavi

Kaathib Thayyil Mohammed Kutty Musliyar, popularly known as K. M. Moulavi or K. M. Maulavi, was an Indian revolutionary. He was a leader of the Indian independence movement, Khilafat Movement, Muslim League^[1] and Islahi Movement from Malabar district. He was a religious scholar who promoted modern education, the Malayalam language, and Muslim women's education. He worked to uplift the Mappila community after the Malabar rebellion.^[2][3][4]

KM Moulavi Sahib

Maulavi was the founding leader of Kerala Muslim Aikya Sangham (1922), Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama (1924), founding president of Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (1950) and founding vice president of Indian Union Muslim League (1948) Malabar district committee.

Early life

Maulavi was born in 1886 near Tirurangadi, a municipal town in Malapuram. He was educated by his parents, Thayyil Kunhi Moitheen and Ayisha, who were known for religious scholarship.

He studied under Chalilakath Kunahmed Haji, a prominent scholar at Vazhakkad Darul Uloom Arabic college. Vazhakkad Darul Uloom Arabic college is the first Arabic college in Kerala.^[5] While studying there with Chalilakath Kunahmed Haji and serving as a scribe, he earned the name Kaathib.

Career

Khilafath movement

Maulavi was a leader of the Malabar Khilafath committee. He organized Khilafath meetings from November 20, 1920 in Kondotty to January 15, 1921 in Kozhikkode, in Ernad, Valluvanad, Kozhikkode and Ponnani Taluk,^[6] with the intention of inviting the Muslim masses into the Indian national movement.

On February 2, 1921 he served as a founding member and leader of Kerala Majlisul Ulama, Kerala faction of Majlis-ul-Ulama'e Hind along with E. Moidu Moulavi. In the Arabic book Mahakal Khilafat Dismil Khalifa, Maulavi argued against orthodox Muslim clerics who were supportive of the existing relationship between India and the British. He urged Mappila Muslims to seek a peaceful resolution to their grievances. When the Malabar protest devolved into armed struggle, he continued to advise the necessity of a peaceful protest.^[7]

Kodungallur (1921-1932)

British police issued an arrest warrant for Maulavi after the Malabar rebellion, but he moved to Kodungallur and lived there for about 11 years. Kottappurath Seethi Mohammed Sahib, the father of K. M. Seethi Sahib and Manappattu Kunjahammed Haji supported him there.

He conducted many Islamic sermons and classes, strengthening reform movement in Kodungallur. He was influenced by Vakkom Moulavi. He criticized superstitious beliefs and orthodoxy practiced among the Muslim community and asked them to distance themselves from such acts. He helped form Kerala m Aikya Sangam in 1922, the first socio-religious organization of Muslims of Kerala.^[8] The organization aimed to promote Muslims unity, education and to settle disputes among Muslims.^[9]

Activism

Maulavi was noted for his religious scholarship. His Fathwas was published in Al-Murshid, an Arabi Malayalam magazine. He was the founding leader of Kerala Jamiyathul Ulama (1924)^[10] and the founding President of Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen.^[11]

He was the founding leader of Tirurangadi Muslim orphanage. He was the founding joint secretary of Rouzath-ul-Uloom association, parental body of Farook College.^[12]

Politics

Although he started his political life in the Indian National Congress, he left to join the All-India Muslim League due to his dissatisfaction with the INC leadership and their treatment of the Mappilas.^[13] He was the founding vice president of Indian Union Muslim League (Madras, 1948) and played a significant role in building the Indian Union Muslim League in Malabar^[14] until his death in 1964.

Publications

He was the editor and publisher of Al-Murshid, Al-Irshad^[15] and Muslim Aikyam magazines.

List of his books:

1- Nidaun Ilal Alamil Islami (Arabic)

2- Al Ibadathu Val Uboodiyya

3- Annaful Ameem

4- Namaskaram

5- Addua'a wal ibadha

6- Al Wilayathu Wal Karama

7- Qadiyani Vadha Khandanam

8- Manasikul Hajj

9- Islamum Sthreekalum

10- Ma'ashira vili

11- Khathmunnubuvvath

12- Kaifiyyathul Hajj

13- Fath'hul Qawiyy

14- KM Moulaviyude Fatwakal

15- Risalathun fil Bank

16- Jumua Khutuba

References

1. "Article". Samakalika Malayalam Weekly. 19 (48): 47. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
2. Abdul Kareem, KK Mohammed (1985). KM Moualvi (Malayalam). Tirurangadi: Al Kathib Publications. pp. 7–11.
3. Muhammed Rafeeq. Development of Islamic movement in Kerala in modern times (PDF). Islahi Movement. p. 115. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
4. Sikand, Yoginder (24 August 2005). Bastions of The Believers: Madrasas and Islamic Education in India. ISBN 9789352141067. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
5. Mohammed, U. (2007). Educational Empowerment of Kerala Muslims: A Socio-historical Perspective. Other Books. ISBN 9788190388733.
6. Hasan, Zoya (March 1986). "The Congress in a District, 1930-46: Problems of Political Mobilization". The Indian Economic & Social History Review. 23 (1): 41–61. doi:10.1177/001946468602300103. ISSN 0019-4646. S2CID 145095322.
7. Panikkar, K. N. (1989). Against lord and state: religion and peasant uprisings in Malabar, 1836-1921. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195621396.
8. Mohammed, U. (2007). Educational Empowerment of Kerala Muslims: A Socio-historical Perspective. Other Books. pp. 59, 60. ISBN 9788190388733.
9. Lloyd, Nick (2014-11-17). "Colonial Counter-insurgency in Southern India: The Malabar Rebellion, 1921–1922". Contemporary British History. 29 (3): 297–317. doi:10.1080/13619462.2014.980725. ISSN 1361-9462. S2CID 145338606.
10. R.E. Miller. Encyclopaedia Dictionary Islam Muslim World Etc. p. 462. Retrieved 1 March 2020. Khatib Muhammad Maulavi (1886-1964) in the religious field. A Malabar scholar respected for his skill in tafsir and fikh, for his important fatwas, and for his efforts to establish the all-Kerala Jamiat-ul-Ulema, Khatib Muhammad's integrity and personality enabled him to transmit the southern reform to the more traditional north. To help express the spirit of the reform, "K.M." also joined with his colleagues, E. K. Maulavi and M. K. Haji, in establishing the major Mappila orphanage at Tirurangadi.
11. Miller, Roland E. (2015-04-27). Mappila Muslim Culture: How a Historic Muslim Community in India Has Blended Tradition and Modernity. SUNY Press. pp. 94–101. ISBN 9781438456010.
12. Hauser, Walter (July 1963). "The Indian National Congress and Land Policy in the Twentieth Century". The Indian Economic & Social History Review. 1 (1): 57–65. doi:10.1177/001946466400100104. ISSN 0019-4646. S2CID 143763169.
13. Campbell, David (June 2001). "International Engagements". Political Theory. 29 (3): 432–448. doi:10.1177/0090591701029003007. ISSN 0090-5917. S2CID 143038121.
14. Thanveer, Musthafa (17 February 2019). "Muslim Politics and Islahi Movement". Millireport.
15. T. Hashim. Islamic Traditions in Malabar Boundaries Appropriations and Resistances (PDF). p. 221. Retrieved 11 March 2020.