International Journal of Research ISSN NO:2236-6124 Prominent Muslim Jamaaths in Kanyakumari District A. SHAHILA BANU Ph.D. Research Scholar (Reg. No.11842) Department of History, Women’s Christian College, Nagercoil – 629 001. Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli – 627 012, Tamil Nadu, India. Abstract Islam in Kanyakumari District has been enriched by Fakirs and saintly savants of Islam. Due to their selfless service, Islam has thrived in this part of the country. The spread and growth of Islam is conspicuous by the presence of 52 Jamaaths in this district. These Jamaaths speak of their antiquity and they contain a lot of information regarding their life style and culture. In Kanyakumari District there are 52 Jamaaths. Among them six Muslim Jamaaths are considered very large and prominent. They are, Thengapattanam Muslim Jamaath, Colachel Muslim Jamaath, Thiruvithancode Muslim Jamaath, Thuckalay Muslim Jamaath, Elankadai Muslim Jamaath at Kottar, Malik Dinar faithulmal Muslim Jamaath, Kottar, Thittuvilai Muslim Jamaath. Some other Jamaaths are steadily growing in strength, stature and popularity. Keywords: Muslim Jamaath, Kanyakumari District, Life style, culture Introduction Jamaath means a Sangam, Federation or group based on some Islamic Principles. So it is said that a life without Jamaath is meaningless. If a Muslim keeps himself away from the Jamaath it means that he excommunicates himself from Islam. The Muslims form a Jamaath where they live and solve the problems that may arise out of marriage, divorce and other disputes. The solution to the problems would be based on the tenets of Holy Quran and the Hathees. Kanyakumari District Muslim Jamaath Federation was founded in 1982 at Thiruvithancode. It was reconstructed in 1984 and an office began to function at Thiruvithancode. The first President of this Federation was M.A. Mohamed Kannu who was followed G.M. Shah. The first one to hold the post of Secretaryship was N.S. Hameed. The last time elections were held for this Federation was on 29.05.2015. New office bearers took charge. This took place in the Federation office at Thiruvithancode. Mr. Uduman Maintheen, an advocate was the Election Commissioner. Abdul Latheef of Eraviputhoorkadai and M.A. Khan of Nambali were elected president and secretary of the Federation respectively. Pavalar Siddique of Elankadai was elected Treasurer and the Vice President were Tamil Mahan Hussain (President of Wakf Board, Tamilnadu) R.M.S Khader of Thengapattanam Jamaath, Mohammed Haneefa of Thiruvithancode Jamaath, Abdul Kafoor of Kottarjamaath and Maideen Pillai of Thittuvilaijamaath. The following were elected Deputy Secretaries. M.P.K Nazeer of Kaliakkavilai, J.M.S Safeek of Kulasekharam, Ali Akbar of Makkayipalayam and Mohammed Basheer of Manavalakurichy. Volume VIII, Issue I, January/2019 Page No:84 International Journal of Research ISSN NO:2236-6124 Thiruvithancode Muslim Jamaath Thiruvithancode is one of the historical places in the district. It was ruled by Chera, Chola, Pandya– kings followed by Nanjil Valluvan and later on by the kings of Tranvancore. Once it was the capital of Venad which comprised the district of Kanyakumari. It is about 18 km west of Nagercoil on the way to Triuvananthapuram. Thiruvithancode then formed part of Venad and was surrounded by thick forests. In the 8th century this area was ruled by Kolka, a relative of Cheramanperumal. When Kolka was hunting in this forest he heard the sound of Malik Mohammed (Son of Malik Ifnu Habib) chanting the 'Bhanku'. Riding on his horse, Kolka came to the place of Banku. He spoke to Malik and permitted him to build a mosque there. He marked with his arrow the spot where the mosque was to be built. Since then the place came to be known as "Athaan code" Meaning "that is the line". Later on a respective prefix "Thiru" was added and came to be called "Thiru Athaan code". In due course it came to be known as Thiruvithancode. Today there are about 12000 Muslims in Thiruvithancode. The Jamaath at Thiruvithancode has a history of 800 years. Most of the inhabitants are migrants from Kerala. They settled here some 1200 years ago. Even now they have close relationship with Kerala including matrimonial relationship. In Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, these people own many shops in highways. In Thiruvithancode itself there are four mosques. They are Malik Mohammad Valiyullah Jummah Masjid (Kallupalli), Bhuhari Masjid, Mohaideen Masjid and the Jilani Masjid. There is a big pond in front of the Kallupalli built by Malik Mohammad. Such ponds are also at mosques in Anjuvannam and Thengapattinam. The head of the Jamaath is Auditor Haji Shakul Hameed. Secretary is Haji Mohammad Hanifa and the Treasurer is Basheer. Mowlawi Shakul Hameed Alim Anwar has been the Imam of Malik Jummah Masjid for the past 46 years. Mawlawi Sulfikar Ali is the Imam of Mohaideen mosque. In 8th century Malik Ibn Dhinar, a Sufi saint along with his son Malik Muhammed came from Saudi Arabia and reached south Travancore, preached Islam at Thengapattanam and constructed a mosque there. Then Malik Muhammed came to Thiruvithancode, a place which had close association with Venad Kingdom. He preached Islamic Principles and built a Jummah mosque there. When he breathed his last, his body was buried there within the mosque complex. Now it is called Malik Muhammed Pallivaasal. In memory of his great services, a tomb was built in the mosque. Most of the people work in Singapore, Malaysia and in Arab countries. Their Primary vocation was weaving. A poet by name Uduman Labbai lived here and he has composed many poems called 'Nazood Maalai". There is a Nursery School where 50 children are studying. Education has been accorded much importance here. Many Muslim girls attend the govt. Higher Secondary School and there is a Primary School also. I.M.S. Model School attracts a number of students from many parts of the district. Thuckalay Muslim Jamaath Thuckalay is about 15km on the National high ways from Nagercoil to Thiruvananthapuram. Thuckalay is a historic and a picturesque place. Thuckalay has a history of more than 500 years. Padmanabhapuram, that is very close to Thuckalay had been the seat of the king of Travancore. It was a capital city once upon a time. In the 15th century A.D. Thuckalay was thinly populated and the Muslims were very few in number. In times of yore the Muslims in Thuckalay were engaged in weaving mats made of reeds and containers made of coloured palm leaves. They visited many places in the district to sell those mats and the containers. That was their main source of income. Volume VIII, Issue I, January/2019 Page No:85 International Journal of Research ISSN NO:2236-6124 People from the borders of Kerala and Tamil Nadu migrated to Thuckalay and the population increased. Muslim scholars came to this place and preached the tenets of Islam. Many people embraced Islam. When Peer Mohammed Sahib settled here, in the 17th century A.D Islam began to flourish. Even today Thuckalay is renowned because of the memory of Peer Mohammed Muslim Jamaath. The president of this Jamaath is Hyder Ali. Thuckalay is a famous Muslim center with more than 3000 Muslims living here. Not only the Muslims but also the people of other religions love and pay respect to seer Peer Mohammed. The reverence people of all communities have for the saintly Peer Appa leads to social harmony. On the festival day of Peer Appa, thousands of people throng to Thuckalay to pay their respects to him. A lot of property belongs to this Jamaath. There is a big auditorium by the side of the Darga and an artistic arch adorns the Dargah. There is yet another auditorium meant for functions. Marriages and banquets are conducted in this auditorium. Many of the Muslims of Thuckalay have settled in Singapore and even now they are there having a Muslim Association. Likewise they have a Muslim Association in Dubai also. He possessed the power of healing and doing miracles. He was a wise man and versatile poet. He has composed 18,000 poems. He has authored many books such as Thiru Nery Neetham, Bismil Kuram, Mafripathu Malai, Gnanakuravanchi and Ganana Puhazhchi. All his works speak about God and his wisdom. In his Thiru Nery Neetham he has illustrated the culture of his times. The annual festival is celebrated from Rajab new moon 1 to 14. One the last night his poems are sung devotionally. The festivities go on throughout the night and many people from Kerala and Tamilnadu participate in huge number and get the blessings of the saint. The Peerappa Mosque at Thuckalay had been built in the 16th century itself. It is one of the many mosques built by Malik Muhammad in this district. This mosque is built artistically. It is called Mohaideen Jummah Masjid. It has been renovated by the generous contribution of the people and the Masjid today stands as a splendid monument. It was opened in 1974. A lot of educated people live here. There is a Govt. Muslim Primary School and a Madrasa in the name of Peer Mohammed. About 50 children study in the Madrasa. Thuckalay has produced a number of great scholars and famous poets. Of them Hameem Mustafa, Haleema, H.G. Rasool are noteworthy. Thengapattanam Muslim Jamaath Thengapattanam is situated on the west coast near Painkulam village in VilavamcodeTaluk. It is a place of historical importance. It is 35km from Nagercoil and 12k.m from Kuzhithurai. Thengapattanam is a place blessed with the beauties of nature. It is surrounded by sea, river, canal, paddy fields, Rocky Mountains, and Lush green groves which lend a magic spell to the serene atmosphere. As coconuts are abundant in this place, this might have derived this name (Coconut-thengai).