Tamil Muslim

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Tamil Muslim

Total population
2,000,000[1]
Regions with significant populations
Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Singapore
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Indian Muslims, Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka, Dravidian people

Tamil Muslim refers to members of Tamil speaking multi-ethnic Islamic community found in South Asia and South East Asia.^[2] According to the official Indian census of 2001, there were at least 2 million Tamil Muslims in the southern province of Tamil Nadu.^[3] In addition, there are about 400,000 Tamil Muslims in Malaysia and 20,000 in Singapore.

Tamil Muslims are largely urban 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.

Contents 1 Racial identity 2 Legends and rituals 3 Economy 4 Law and polity 5 Literature 5.1 Vocabulary 6 Medicine 7 Art and architecture 8 Cuisine 9 See also 10 External links 11 References

[edit] Racial identity

Tamil Muslims are identifiable only by a common language and religion (like the Walloons and Macedonians). 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 possible due to frequent trading and marriage ties in South East Asia. These races, by the 20th century, began to be listed in official gazettes of different nations as Lebbai, Marakayar, Rowther, Kayalar (in Maharashtra), Mamak^[5] (in Malaysia), Chulia^[6] (in Singapore), etc. As a result, there is no uniformity in customs and ceremonies within and between districts and nations on occasions like births, marriages and deaths. Many of the coastal Tamil Muslims claim to have descended from the Maraikayar ethnicity, while Rowther and Lebbai ethnic groups live mostly in the hinterland districts of Tamil Nadu.

[edit] Legends and rituals

Several Tamil Muslim philosophers have been incorporated by Tamil Hindus into their pantheon who make annual pilgrimages to their tombs and weave stories of Tamil Muslim practitioners into the legends of their gods; the large temple of Vishnu in Urayur, for example, has also a shrine for the Tulukka Naachiyar (that is, the Turkish/Muslim consort). ^[7] Dargah worship is popular among Tamil Muslims as well as Tamil non-Muslims though it is forbidden as idolatry.

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 sum of 10,000 rupees and the bride in turn would pay the groom a dowry sum of 100,000 rupees though practice of dowry is banned by Islamic doctrines. Tamil Muslims practise monogamy and male circumcision. Like the mangalsutra of Tamil Hindu brides, Tamil Muslim brides wear a black pendant called Karumani (tied by the groom's mother to the bride's neck on the day of nikkah).

Tamil Muslim women wear white thuppatti instead of black burqas (that are popular among Urdu-speaking Muslims) and continue to use their maiden names after marriage as the concept of surname is non-existent in the community and also as a precaution against discrimination of converts based on their pre-Islamic caste identities. This has remained a hurdle in genealogical research.

[edit] Economy

The global purchasing power of Tamil Muslims in 2005 was estimated at almost $6 billion viz. $3 billion in Tamil Nadu, $1 billion in Malaysia, $600 million in Singapore. Tamil Muslims have historically been money changers (not money lenders) throughout South and South East Asia.^[8] 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 and Crescent Engineering College.^[9]

[edit] Law and polity

In early 15th century, Iskandar Shah founded the Malacca Sultanate.^[10]. His descendants later established the modern Johor Sultanate in early 16th century.

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 Bader Sayeed (Bader Sayeed is not a tamil speaking muslim, she is an Urdu speaking muslim from the Nawaith community of South Arcot District) and reformers like 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 H. Abdul Basith, Khaleelur Rahman, Ubayadullah, Hussan Ali and Mohideen Khan are found across all major Dravidian political parties like DMK, DMDK and AIADMK as well as the INC.

The Malaysian diplomats, Dr.Mahathir bin Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim 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.

[edit] 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 Trichi in 1973. In early 2000. the Department of Tamil Islamic Literature was set up in the University of Madras.^[20] Literati such as Jainulabudeen, Pavalar Inqulab, A. Rokkiah^[21] and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India, helped push the frontiers of enlightenment into the 21st century.^[22] The pioneering fortnightly journal Samarasam was established in 1981 to highlight and cater to the ethnic Tamil Muslim community's issues.

[edit] Vocabulary

Tamil Muslim vocabulary includes several peculiar words that cannot be found among non-Muslim Tamils like thuppatti (purdah), thozhugai (prayer), nonbu (fasting), baangu (invitation to prayer), kayili (lungi), chicha (younger paternal uncle), peribaapu (elder paternal uncle), chichani (wife of younger paternal uncle), peribuvva (wife of elder paternal uncle), pallivaasal (mosque), aanam (curry), et al.

[edit] 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.^[23]

[edit] Art and architecture

Artistes like Nagore E.M. Hanifa, Nassar, Ameer Sultan, Rajkiran, B. H. Abdul Hameed, Mansur Ali Khan and A. R. Rahman are popular in the Tamil music and film industry.

Tamil mosques are typically of small scale and almost always painted white and green (reflecting peace and prosperity) and entrances prefixed with stylised 786. The first Tamil mosque, Kadarkarai Masjid, was built in early 7th century in Kayalpattinam^[24].

[edit] Cuisine

Tamil Muslim cuisine is a syncretic mixture of Tamil Hindu and Urdu Muslim recipes and flavours.^[25] 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. Though the diet of Tamil Muslims is non-vegetarian, they do not eat beef. Coconut oil is used for hair-dressing while many chew betel without tobacco after a heavy lunch and also drink tea.^[26]

[edit] See also

• Kayalpatnam
• Erwadi
• Nagore

[edit] External links

• 'Arusi branch of the Qadiri path
• 'Islam - Submission in Tamil Language on The Internet

[edit] References