Panakkad Sayeed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal
Encyclopedia
Panakkad Syed Mohammedali Shihab Ba-Alawi Al-Hussainy (May 4, 1936 - August 1, 2009) was a politician who dominated Kerala politics for over three decades, the former supremo of the E. K. Sunni
faction of Muslim
s of Kerala
and one of the most famous Islamic scholars from the Indian state of Kerala
. He was the President of the Kerala state committee of the Indian Union Muslim League
. Shihab Thangal was a member of the Thangal
family who are believed to be descendants of the Prophet Mohammed
.
He was described as the Kerala’s most prominent symbol of secularism, peace and communal amity by the newspaper The Hindu. Thangal was noted for his role in preserving communal and social harmony at the most trying times like demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992.
for further studies and obtained his master's degree in Arabic literature
from Al Azhar University in 1961. He continued his studies in Cairo University
and pursued a Doctorate in Arabic Literature
in 1966. After spending about eight years in Egypt he returned home in 1966.
In 1967, Thangal married Shareefa Fathima Beevi, daughter of Syed Abdur Rahman Bafaqui Thangal, one of the founder leaders of the Muslim League. After her death in 2006, he married Aysha Beevi. Thangal had two sons: Syed Basheerali Shihab Thangal and Syed Munavarali Shihab Thangal and had four younger brothers: Sayed Umerali Shihab Thangal
, Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal
, Syed Sadiqali Shihab Thangal and Syed Abbasali Shihab Thangal.
to hundreds of mahals in Kerala.
. Thangal was admitted to a private hospital after he slipped and fell down at his home, Panakkad Kodappanakkal. His body was buried at the Panakkad Juma Masjid on 2 August 2009.
E. K. Sunni
E. K. Sunni is one of the powerful traditional Sunni factions of Muslims in Kerala, South India under the Chelari Samastha. They belong to Sunni-Shafi school of law. It is largest Muslim faction in Kerala in terms of number of followers and was named after the cleric E.K...
faction of Muslim
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 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 one of the most famous Islamic scholars from the Indian state 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....
. He was the President of the Kerala state committee of the 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...
. Shihab Thangal was a member of the Thangal
Thangal
Thangals are the various Muslim communities of Yemeni origin found scattered and isolated in the state of Kerala, India. They migrated to Kerala during the 17th century to expand their business,and propagated Islam as they are muslims, and do not belong to the Mappila Muslim community of Kerala...
family who are believed to be descendants of the Prophet Mohammed
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
.
He was described as the Kerala’s most prominent symbol of secularism, peace and communal amity by the newspaper The Hindu. Thangal was noted for his role in preserving communal and social harmony at the most trying times like demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992.
Early life
Shihab Thangal was born as the eldest son of Panakkad Syed Ahmed Pookoya Thangal, who was a renowned Islamic leader of Kerala. He had his primary education at the M.M. High School, Calicut. He continued his religious education at Thalakkadathur and Kananchery Dars under Ponmala Moideen Musliar. In 1958, he left for EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
for further studies and obtained his master's degree in Arabic literature
Arabic literature
Arabic literature is the writing produced, both prose and poetry, by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is adab which is derived from a meaning of etiquette, and implies politeness, culture and enrichment....
from Al Azhar University in 1961. He continued his studies in Cairo University
Cairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
and pursued a Doctorate in Arabic Literature
Arabic literature
Arabic literature is the writing produced, both prose and poetry, by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is adab which is derived from a meaning of etiquette, and implies politeness, culture and enrichment....
in 1966. After spending about eight years in Egypt he returned home in 1966.
In 1967, Thangal married Shareefa Fathima Beevi, daughter of Syed Abdur Rahman Bafaqui Thangal, one of the founder leaders of the Muslim League. After her death in 2006, he married Aysha Beevi. Thangal had two sons: Syed Basheerali Shihab Thangal and Syed Munavarali Shihab Thangal and had four younger brothers: Sayed Umerali Shihab Thangal
Sayed Umerali Shihab Thangal
Panakkad Sayed Umerali Shihab Thangal was an Islamic qazi from Kerala, India. He was the qadi of Wayanad. He was the chairman of the Kerala Waqf Board. He was the president of the Sunni Yuvajana Sangham....
, 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...
, Syed Sadiqali Shihab Thangal and Syed Abbasali Shihab Thangal.
Career
Shihab Thangal was appointed as the president of the Kerala state committee of Indian Union Muslim League subsequest to his father's death in 1975. Shihab Thangal remained President until his death in 2009. He was an undisputed leader of the Muslim community in Kerala and was QaziQadi
Qadi is a judge ruling in accordance with Islamic religious law appointed by the ruler of a Muslim country. Because Islam makes no distinction between religious and secular domains, qadis traditionally have jurisdiction over all legal matters involving Muslims...
to hundreds of mahals in Kerala.
Death
Shihab Thangal died on 1 August 2009 following a cardiac arrestCardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
. Thangal was admitted to a private hospital after he slipped and fell down at his home, Panakkad Kodappanakkal. His body was buried at the Panakkad Juma Masjid on 2 August 2009.