Aboobakker siddhuique darul huda islamic university kerala, india

2.2.1 Muslims in Kasaragod

It is found that in early AD: 644 (H: 22) the Islam reached in Kasaragod possibly by the Arab traders. This was the official emergence of Islam in Kasaragod.³⁹ Kasaragod Muslims’ history is old as the Malik Deenar Masjid. Because the Arabs were great merchants of that time and they used to come to Kasaragod for trade needs because the Kasaragod was a coastal area like Mangalore and Ezimala in Kannore. It is said that the Arabs have well connection before the spreading of Islam in Kerala because the Arabs have a connection with these places and they used to come in these place to their trade needs.

Malik Ibn Mohammed, first Qāḍi of Malik Deenar Masjid made this masjid a centre for his works and services. People were coming to seeking remedies and solutions for their problems. It said in Thuhfatul Mujāhdīn that the time between 15-20 century was the active and progressive period of Kasaragod. This was the time of invasions and intellectual and political revolutions. It was the time of Ikkeri Nayar⁴⁰, Portuguese, Dutch, British powers. In these crucial times, the administration of Mysore ruler Tippu by centralizing the Bekal fort gave the Muslims a good opportunity and provoked them to work for Muslims with all strength and power.

2.2.2 Educational situation of Kasaragod

Kasaragod’s educational progress was in the pathetic condition before many years. However, it was gradually progressed by the continuous efforts scholars and cultural reformers like C.M Ustahd. We can find many educated families like the family of C.M .Usthad, took a great role in the educational developmental programs in Kasaragod. He is known as the “father of combined education” in north Malabar. According to written sources the scholars who lived in 18^th -19^th century made a great change in educational field of Kasargod especially Kiyoor Saīd Usthād, Keyyar Ibrāhim Musliyar, Qāḍi Abdulla Hāji, they all studied from the Ponnāni known as Makka of Malabar. Before that, the educational situation of Malabar was in pathetic condition, the then British collector of Malabar William Logan states in his report about the educational situations of Malabar Muslims in eighties of the 19^th century:

“they Muslims of Malabar are move over, as a class, nearly almost if not altogether, illiterate, the only education received is a parrot-like recitation of the Koran, which being in Arabic none of them understand”⁴¹

As early mentioned, C.M Usthād tried to change the educational background of Kasargod by discovering new methods of education by stressing and realizing people the importance of combined education. The traditional systems of teaching Islamic educations by focusing the mosques found in many parts of Kerala were originally copied from prophet’s (PBUH) tradition. Because in the period of prophet Muhammed (PBUH) mosques acted as the center for all issues whether it was religious or material. The Madīna was centre for any knowledge and remedy for all problems. Following these system Keralite scholars introduced this system in their natives. The teachers who taught in these mosques were called as mudarris. They taught students by keeping them in their guardianship. Many versatile and renowned scholars were being produced from these educational centers called dars.⁴²

According to the history dars system of Kasargod, these dars⁴³ systems were introduced very early with the coming of first missionary team under Malik Deenar and companions. They were 44 members including famous sahabas-companions of Prophet Muhammed- (Pbuh) like Malik Deenar, Sharaf bin Malik, and Malik bin Habeeb. Among them 20 persons were hafiz or by hearted Qura’n. They engrossed in teaching process along these areas. They built ten important 18 mosques in various parts of Kerala.⁴⁴ Among them Thalangara mosque is historically important one.⁴⁵ In that time the people used to study, the religious matters form these missionary leaders from theses mosques.⁴⁶

After the time of these missionary leaders the dars system of Kasaragod were maintained by the pious ands sūfī scholars of that time.⁴⁷ The Masjids of these places are built centuries ago. Similarly, it is believed that the two grand mosques (Talankara and Ichilangod masjids) worked as the hub of Islamic studies and activities for long time. For the solutions of all problems, people approached theses mosques. In this period, great Qāḍis made this masjids glorified by their teachings and fantastic and teachings. The endowment properties and scriptures shed the light to these facts. The reliable sources says that Kasargod Islamic activities main centre were Kasargod and Ichilangod.

2.2.3 Social and political background of Kasargod Muslims

Many reformers and scholars like Izzuddīn Moulawi, Qāḍi Abdulla Hāji, Abdul Qādar Hāji,(Aulaji) Abdul Rahmān Musliyar, made many developmental process in Kasaragod by their huge efforts they could bring it to the mainstream of the history from the depth of negligence. Thus, Kasaragod got an immense role in the history of Kerala. They restructured the history of Kasaragod into the better one. In earlier times, Kasaragod was a part of Dakshina Kannada of pre-partition Kasaragod.⁴⁸ In the form of different political parties and groups, they worked together for affluence and prosperity of Kasaragod. They kept people standing in common platform of education conscious and political conscious. They tried to recover their properties being part of others. Many historical leaders gave most importance to Kasaragod and worked develop it. Nevertheless, in this period some Bida’i sects (innovators) like Sherool, Izzuddeen Musliyar, appeared in public and spread their anti traditional ideas (bidath).⁴⁹

2. 3 IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES

If we check the history of Kasaragod and its educational developments, we can find two main personalities who are considered as the important figures of Kasaragod. It is better to understand about these personalities to understand about the history of Kasaragod. The first one is know as social reformere the second one known as poet.