E. K. Sunni
Encyclopedia
E. K. Sunni is one of the powerful traditional Sunni factions of Muslim
s in Kerala
, South India
under the Chelari Samastha
. They belong to Sunni-Shafi school of law. It is largest Muslim (Mappila
) faction in Kerala in terms of number of followers and was named after the cleric E.K. Aboobacker Musliar
, the former leader of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama
.
s. Rough estimates shows that E. K. Sunni is the largest faction in Kerala.
Since Islam
reached Malabar as early as 7th century it had almost mixed with the culture and traditions of the people of Kerala
and Hinduism
. So, the Salafi movements
(a part of the renaissance of the community) after the 1921 armed uprising
, produced a Salafi sect
from the orthodox Sunnis. Later, the Sunni branch split into two as A. P.s
and E. K.s, forming the two rival factions. Again in the last decade, two more small factions called Samasthana Sunni and the Tariqa came out, creating more complicated branches, factions and sects.
Kanthapuram formed a new Samasatha and announced himself as its secretary. This was followed by a deep polarisation among the traditional Sunnis in Kerala. Kanthapuram could also mobilise the support of all those who opposed the IUML as a political party. The split has brought about many a social problem in the society with those who supported Kanthapuram building their own mosques in close proximity to other Sunni Mosques and dividing Madrassa. However, as a charismatic leader Kanthaparam could lead his breakaway faction from the front and make it a force to be reckoned with in Kerala’s political and social life.
(IUML). The supreme leader of E. K. Sunnis, Panakkad Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal
, is the president of Kerala state unit of Indian Union Muslim League
. This unofficial support is cause of the repeating election victories of Indian Union Muslim League
candidates from Muslim dense districts. Recently some skirmishes are risen in Indian Union Muslim League
against the Samastha, as Kanthapuram is accused of trying to make ties with Indian Union Muslim League
.
(SKSSF -for higher students), Sunni Balavedi (SBV -for children)), Samastha Kerala Jam'iyyathul Ulama
(SKJU -for clerics), Samastha Kerala Jam'iyyathul Muallimeen (SKJM -for religious school teachers), Samastha Kerala Islamic Education Board (Coordination of more than 9,000 Madrassa's)
and E. K.s
at Pattikkad and Darul Huda Islamic University at Chemmad
, both in Malappuram district, are amongst them. Co-Ordination of Islamic Colleges (CIC)headquartered at Markazu Tharbiyathul Islamiyya at Valanchery is an academic governing body of more than 30 Islamic Colleges across Kerala. Both Darul Huda and the CIC have developed their own unique academic programmes for higher Islamic studies combined with secular studies. The courses offered by them are either recognised by or equivalent to many international universities and academic bodies including the prestigious Al Azhar university in Cairo.
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
under the Chelari Samastha
Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama
Samastha Kerala Jam'iyyathul Ulama is the religious organisation of E. K. Sunni faction Muslim scholars and clerics of the Indian state of Kerala. E. K. Sunni is one of the powerful traditional Sunni factions of Muslims in Kerala belonging to Sunni-Shafi school of law...
. They belong to Sunni-Shafi school of law. It is largest Muslim (Mappila
Mappila
Mappila or Moplah refers to a Muslim community of Kerala, primarily in the northern region called Malabar, which arose in Malabar as a result of the pre and post Islamic Arab contacts. Significant numbers of the community are also present in the southern districts of Karnataka and western parts of...
) faction in Kerala in terms of number of followers and was named after the cleric E.K. Aboobacker Musliar
E.K. Aboobacker Musliar
E.K. Aboobacker Musliar was a Sunni Muslim scholar and religious leader from Paramblikadavu, near Kozhikkode, Kerala state, South India. E. K. Sunni, the largest Muslim faction in Kerala in terms of number of followers, is named after E.K...
, the former leader of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama
Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama
Samastha Kerala Jam'iyyathul Ulama is the religious organisation of E. K. Sunni faction Muslim scholars and clerics of the Indian state of Kerala. E. K. Sunni is one of the powerful traditional Sunni factions of Muslims in Kerala belonging to Sunni-Shafi school of law...
.
Position
E. K. Sunni is one of the orthodox sects of Muslims of Kerala, the other being the A. P. SunniA. P. Sunni
A. P. Sunni is one of the powerful and influential traditional Sunni factions of Muslims in Kerala, South India under the Karanthur Markaz. They belong to the Sunni-Shafi branch of Islam. It was named after the cleric Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar, general secretary of All-India Jamiyyathul...
s. Rough estimates shows that E. K. Sunni is the largest faction in Kerala.
Since Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
reached Malabar as early as 7th century it had almost mixed with the culture and traditions of the people of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
and Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
. So, the Salafi movements
Islahi Movement in Kerala
The renaissance of the ancient Sunni Muslim community in the Kerala state, South India mostly owes to the rise of Salafi ideas and scholars in the early 20th century, referred as Islahi movements of Kerala. Salafism is a puritanical and legalistic Islamic movement under the Sunni umbrella, and is...
(a part of the renaissance of the community) after the 1921 armed uprising
Malabar Rebellion
The Malabar Rebellion was an armed uprising in 1921 against British authority in the Malabar region of Southern India by Mappila Muslims and the culmination of a series of Mappila revolts that recurred throughout the 19th century and early 20th century...
, produced a Salafi sect
Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen
Kerala Nadwathul Mujahideen is a Salafi Islamic organization and movement within Sunni Islam in Kerala, India. One faction of the organization is working in co-operation with Ahl al-Hadith , an all-Subcontinental Islahi outfit...
from the orthodox Sunnis. Later, the Sunni branch split into two as A. P.s
A. P. Sunni
A. P. Sunni is one of the powerful and influential traditional Sunni factions of Muslims in Kerala, South India under the Karanthur Markaz. They belong to the Sunni-Shafi branch of Islam. It was named after the cleric Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar, general secretary of All-India Jamiyyathul...
and E. K.s, forming the two rival factions. Again in the last decade, two more small factions called Samasthana Sunni and the Tariqa came out, creating more complicated branches, factions and sects.
The split in Samastha
A split occurred in Samastha in late 1980s when Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musalyar broke away from the 40-member supreme council (Muhsawara) of the Sunni scholars in Kerala, and formed a parallel organisation. A good organiser and pragmatist, Kanthapuram had disagreed with most of the Ulemas in the council on many issues including the support given to Indian Union Muslim League(IUML). Then a staunch opponent of IUML, Kanthapuram called on his followers to vote against all IUML candidates, especially those who are not Sunnis, in the elections. He also criticised Samastha leaders’ soft corner for IUML and the alleged dilution of their Sunni spirit. He asked the supreme leader of Samastha E.K._Aboobacker_Musliar to apologise for sitting with non-Sunnis in an all-Muslim meeting to discuss Sharia issues in late 1980s. During this time Kanthapuram was also accused of misappropriating the fund for constructing a mosque in Azheekad near Calicut. A UAE citizen who donated the money said he had given to Kanthapuram more money than Kanthapuram had claimed. This has intensified criticism against him in Samastha. To cap it all, he and his followers organised a conference of the Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS) the youth wing of the Samasta, notwithstanding the opposition from the supreme council. This was followed by his ouster from the council along with six others who supported him on this issue.Kanthapuram formed a new Samasatha and announced himself as its secretary. This was followed by a deep polarisation among the traditional Sunnis in Kerala. Kanthapuram could also mobilise the support of all those who opposed the IUML as a political party. The split has brought about many a social problem in the society with those who supported Kanthapuram building their own mosques in close proximity to other Sunni Mosques and dividing Madrassa. However, as a charismatic leader Kanthaparam could lead his breakaway faction from the front and make it a force to be reckoned with in Kerala’s political and social life.
Political view
The mass population of E. K. Sunnis always support Indian Union Muslim LeagueIndian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League is a state political party in the state of Kerala, India. The chief support base of the party falls inside northern and central Kerala...
(IUML). The supreme leader of E. K. Sunnis, Panakkad Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal
Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal
Sayyid Hyderali Shihab Thangal is the Kerala State president of the Indian Union Muslim League and current supreme leader of the E. K. Sunni of Kerala.He is the third son of PMSA Pookkoya Thangal...
, is the president of Kerala state unit of Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League is a state political party in the state of Kerala, India. The chief support base of the party falls inside northern and central Kerala...
. This unofficial support is cause of the repeating election victories of Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League is a state political party in the state of Kerala, India. The chief support base of the party falls inside northern and central Kerala...
candidates from Muslim dense districts. Recently some skirmishes are risen in Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League is a state political party in the state of Kerala, India. The chief support base of the party falls inside northern and central Kerala...
against the Samastha, as Kanthapuram is accused of trying to make ties with Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League is a state political party in the state of Kerala, India. The chief support base of the party falls inside northern and central Kerala...
.
Feeder organization
EK Sunnis have separate feeder organizations for each layer of the society. They are: Samastha Kerala Sunni Youth Movement (SKSYS -for the youth), Samastha Kerala Sunni Students FederationSamastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation
Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation, known as S. K. S. S. F., is the higher students organisation of the Muslim faction of E. K. Sunnis in Kerala state, India formed on February 19, 1989, after the split of Sunnis. Onampilly Muhammad Faizy is the current General Secretary and Sayyid Abbasali...
(SKSSF -for higher students), Sunni Balavedi (SBV -for children)), Samastha Kerala Jam'iyyathul Ulama
Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama
Samastha Kerala Jam'iyyathul Ulama is the religious organisation of E. K. Sunni faction Muslim scholars and clerics of the Indian state of Kerala. E. K. Sunni is one of the powerful traditional Sunni factions of Muslims in Kerala belonging to Sunni-Shafi school of law...
(SKJU -for clerics), Samastha Kerala Jam'iyyathul Muallimeen (SKJM -for religious school teachers), Samastha Kerala Islamic Education Board (Coordination of more than 9,000 Madrassa's)
Presidents of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama
From the split of Sunnis of Kerala in 1989, as A. P.sA. P. Sunni
A. P. Sunni is one of the powerful and influential traditional Sunni factions of Muslims in Kerala, South India under the Karanthur Markaz. They belong to the Sunni-Shafi branch of Islam. It was named after the cleric Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar, general secretary of All-India Jamiyyathul...
and E. K.s
- Kanniyath Ahmed Musliyar (till 1993)
- K.K.Abubacker Hazrath (1993–1995)
- Sayyid Abdurrehman Imbichikoya thangal-al-azhari (1995–2004)
- Kalambadi Muhammad MusliyarKalambadi Muhammad MusliyarKalambadi Muhammad Musliyar is a Sunni Muslim religious scholar from Kerala state, South India. He is the current President of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, the religious organisation of E. K. Sunni faction Muslim scholars and clerics....
(2004–present)
Other scholars
- E.K. Aboobacker MusliarE.K. Aboobacker MusliarE.K. Aboobacker Musliar was a Sunni Muslim scholar and religious leader from Paramblikadavu, near Kozhikkode, Kerala state, South India. E. K. Sunni, the largest Muslim faction in Kerala in terms of number of followers, is named after E.K...
- Thangals from Panakkad
- Sayyed Abdur Rahman Bafaqi Thangal
- Sayyed P. M. S. A. Pookkoya Thangal
- K.T.Manu MusliarKT Manu MusliarK.T. Mohammed Musliyar, who was known as K.T. Manu Musliyar was an islamic scholar and general secretary of Samastha Kerala Islam Matha Vidyabhyasa Board, which is the biggest organisation for giving islamic education to Muslim children of Kerala, of the E. K. Sunni faction. He also was a great...
- Cherussery Sainudheen MusliyarCherussery Sainudheen MusliyarCherussery Zainudheen Musliyar is a Sunni Muslim religious scholar from the Indian state of Kerala. He is the current General Secretary of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, the religious organisation of E. K. Sunni faction Muslim scholars and clerics. Called as the Shining Scholar by followers he...
Media
The upcoming Darsana TV belongs to EK Sunni becoming the first faction to introduce a television channel. Satyadhara and Sunni Afkar magazines are the mouthpieces of their youth and students' wings respectively.Institutions
EK Sunnis own one of the prime higher learning centers of Islamic theology in Kerala. Jami'a Nooriyya Arabic CollegeJami'a Nooriyya Arabic College
Jamia Nooriyya Arabic College is a religious higher educational institute of Sunni Muslims of Kerala, India, founded by Ahamed Mohiyudheen Noorishah Jeelani. It is situated at Pattikkad, near Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district of Kerala. The institute is running under Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul...
at Pattikkad and Darul Huda Islamic University at Chemmad
Chemmad
Chemmad is a fast-growing small town in Malappuram district, Kerala, India.The town is located east of the Parappanangadi Railway station. The Tirurangadi police station, Taluk Hospital, telephone exchange, road transport, and Tirurangadi Taluk offices are all located within Chemmad...
, both in Malappuram district, are amongst them. Co-Ordination of Islamic Colleges (CIC)headquartered at Markazu Tharbiyathul Islamiyya at Valanchery is an academic governing body of more than 30 Islamic Colleges across Kerala. Both Darul Huda and the CIC have developed their own unique academic programmes for higher Islamic studies combined with secular studies. The courses offered by them are either recognised by or equivalent to many international universities and academic bodies including the prestigious Al Azhar university in Cairo.