ISLAHI MOVEMENT IN KERALA

A century old Muslim Reformist movement

C D Tower , New Block , 5th floor,Calicut-4

Introduction
Islahi Movement is a renaissance movement among Muslims in Kerala.The Movement
was formed in Kerala in the first quarter of the 20th century for the upliftment of the
Muslim community from its backwardness in the religious,social and educational fields.The
community was involved in a number of superstitious beliefs and practices which were not
in support with Qur’anic principles.The common peoples’ knowledge of Qur’an was limited
to what was revealed by the then Ulema in public speeches.Friday sermon
(Khutba)delivered in Arabic was not comprehensible to the audience. The Ulema were
against delivering the Khutba in mother tongue.They strongly opposed a systematic and
scientific moral education system ( Madrasa) as well as modern education The condition of
women was even worse.They were banned from learning the very art of writing.
Formation of the Movement
This sad plight of the community opened the eyes of some enlightened men who made
strenuous efforts to save them from the whirlpool of superstition, illiteracy and
ignorance.They made planned and organised efforts by giving shape to an organisation
called “Kerala Muslim Aikya Sangam” in 1922 ,followed by “Kerala Jam’iyyathul Ulema” in
1924 .Later Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM)was formed in 1950 under which the
general public rallied round to work for the propagation of true faith ,eradication of
superstitious beliefs and practices and spread of Education. The leaders of the movement
made organised efforts to educate the community in tune with Qur’an and Sunna.Madrasas
were set up for systematic moral education at primary level in place of the existing 'dars’
system
Activities of the Movement
The movement accepted different methods to implement its Programmes.It included
Qur’an classes explaining the meaning of Qur'an in mother tongue,Friday sermons in
mother tongue , public speeches, squad works , publication of Qur'an translations
Islamic books and pamphlets, organise seminars, debates, camps etc.
Educational Activities
The Reformist leaders strongly advocated the community the positive approach of
Qur'an towards education and learning.With this end in view, morning madrasas were set
up to impart moral education at primary level. Schools ,Arabic colleges and Arts and Science
colleges were set up. The women folk were also admitted to these Institutions. The
orthodox wing gradually accepted this view on education..
Expansion of the Movement
Meanwhile subsidiary organisations were formed at different times to work effectively
among youths , students and women. The formation of ISM in 1967 ( for the youth),
MSM in 1970 for students and MGM for women in 1986 resulted in effective working of the
movement which brought forth revolutionary changes in all sections of people.
Movement succeeds
The efforts of the leaders gradually bore fruit.S ome of the superstitions
disappeared from the society.Qur'an was translated into mother tongue which helped
people to understand the do’s and don'ts of the religion.The Orthodox Ulema who were the
staunch critics of Madrasa education and modern education especially learning of English,
understood the importance of both the streams of education.They sent their children to
Madrasas,schools and colleges.Now there are hundreds of Madrasas run by the orthodox
wing itself.They too have Arabic colleges and modern education Institutions under their
management through out Kerala
Leaders of the Movement
National leaders and freedom fighters like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad,Muhammad
Abdurahman Sahib , E Moidu Moulavi ,etc had followed the ideology and principles of this
movement.Wakkom Abdul Qader Moulavi,K M Moulavi, K M Seethi Sahib (Ex Speaker
,Kerala Legislative Assembly) E Moidu Moulavi,N V Abdussalam Moulavi , K P Muhammad
Moulavi, A P Abdul Qadir Moulavi and A V Abdurahman Haji (Ex MLA)were the prominent
leaders of the Movement.
The Movement is now led by TP Abdulla Koya Madani (President), M Muhammed
Madani( General Secretary).
National and State conferences
National and state conferences were conducted in the past under the auspices of the
organisations of the Movement .Earlier it was conducted annually which later began to be
held every 5 years.Thus huge conferences could be conducted in 1979 at Pulikkal,1982 at
Feroke, 1987 at Kuttippuram , 1992 at Palakkad , 1997 at Kannur , 2002 at Ernakulam and
Calicut , 2008 at Wayanad and Changaramkulam , and 2012 at Calicut and Kottakkal.
National and international Guests in the earlier conferences
National and International scholars of repute , religious leaders of all communities
,Heads of states of governments ,Ambassadors,Vice Chancellors ,Men of letters etc
addressed various sessions of these mega conferences.They included Sheikh Abdulla
Subayyil (Makkah Imam), Yusuf Estes, ,Moulana Wahiduddin Khan,Political leaders like CH
Muhammad Koya,K Karunakaran,A K Antony , E Ahmed ,PK Kunhalikutty, Oommen Chandy,
Kodiyeri Balakrishnan ,Dr Thomas Isaac , G Karthikeyan , Adv Sreedharan Pillai , Muhammed
Abdurahman Sahib , Ramesh Chennithala , Binoy Viswam , ET Muhammad Basheer ,Dr M K
Muneer , P K Abdurabb ; Vice Chancellors like Dr Sayed Hamid (AMU),Dr B Iqbal,Dr Syriac
Thomas ,Prof KA Jaleel ,Dr Iqbal Hasnain,and Educationists like Dr Sukumar Azheekode ,Dr K
N Panikkar and Dr MGS Narayanan.