Among the bygone scholars of Kerala, Ibrahim Musliyar, no doubt, was a noted genius. What made him, in his time, very far-famed person were indeed his profound knowledge, simple life, gentle personality, splendid oration and sincere leadership in freedom-fight. He, over and above, was perfect spiritual (Sufi) scholar. What, during the reading of him, makes us wonder-stricken is that he was of adequate vocabulary in twelve languages? He was proved his ability in medical science too, such as Ayurveda and Unani. It, while we understand the great personality of Ibrahim musliyar, is very difficult to find out more scholars like him. It, the biography of some our past scholars, reflects on a reality that they were not only religious heads but social guides. Ibrahim Musliyar too, like others, was not less at all, in social affairs. It is believed that the first person who wrote the history of Kerala in Arabimalayalam language, was Ibrahim Musliyar like Shaik Zainudheen Makhdoom II ® wrote the authentic history at the very first as for the advent of Islam to India and the situation of believers under the tremendous colonial assaults, through his book “Tuhfat Al Muahidin Fi Bad akhbar al Burtughaliyyin” (tribute to the Holy Warriors in respect of a brief account of the Portuguese), in Arabic language.
The year of 1921, it was prime time of Mappila rebellion in Malabar. When Mappilas of Malabar were brutally attacked by foreigners, British, they were made take weapons in hand in order to fight against British’s sovereignty. The majority of Mappilas, in those days, stood unanimously under the flag of Khilafat movement, formed under irrefutable leadership of such great Ulama and Umara as Ali Musliyar and Variyan Kunnath Ahamad Haji, for freedom of their own nation. They, the Mappilas, as the followers of Holy Prophet of Islam who taught that the affection of own nation is part of notion, believed that to take part in freedom-fighting is part of their religious belief. Been a disciple of Ali Musliyar, Ibrahim Musliyar also became the vital part of this well-thought-of leadership of this movement. As an eloquent orator, Ibrahim Musliyar delivered a good deal of interesting and enthusiastic discourse, chanced to produce the impetus amongst of the Mappilas who had been fighting for nation’s freedom. It was then, captivated to agitations of Khilafat movement, when he was teacher in Alanellur masjid.
Realized easily that Ibrahim Musliyar’s presence too, like some of other leaders, is inspiration to freedom-fighters, the British’s government issued the warrant so as to take him to custody. While Ibrahim Musliyar chanced to get news regarding the bad intention of British, he mentally empathized that to stay here, sure enough, in this context, is foolish and its’ contrary is wise and thus, left for Vayanadu, then to Mysoor and later to Bombay. For many years, the core of his life, he dwelt there in Bombay and did work to be an Imam of a masjid in Kalyan. Ibrahim Musliyar, by turning his escaping-journey to best opportunity to earn the knowledge in such languages as English, Hindi, Urdu, Persian, Tamil, Telungu, Gujarati, Marathi and Kannada and in addition, in medical science such as Prophetic Medicine, Unani and Ayurveda, expanded the boundary of his knowledge. This travel helped him to a great extent, to make solid acquaintance with religious scholars, historians, Sufies (spiritual schalars) and Hakkeems (Physicians) in Mysoor and Bombay.
His Birth and Education
He was born, in 1315, in Kadanthodika house in Pattikkad, near Perinthalmanna. His father was K.T.Kunjimoidu Molla, the chief scholar of his birth-place and mother, Fathima, the daughter of Karatthodi K Moidutty. He studied the recitation of holy Qur-an and its rules, the primary part of religious education, from Kakkadan Kunjalan Haji. He was, even in the childhood, very clever and brilliant in studying.
Having acquired, in small amount, profane and secular education too from school in Pattkkad, he enrolled in Dars of Amanath Hassankutty Musliyar, the father of famous Amanath Koyanni Musliyar, for the sake of higher studies. Such honored scholarly persons as Vellila Kalathil Alavi musliyar (in Karuvarakundu), Ali Musliyar ( in Thirurangadi), Karimbanakkal Ahmed Musliyar from Vandoor and Thazhekode Kunjalavi Musliyar, the first principal of Al jamiya al nooriyya Arabic Collage, were his chief pedagogues. Arrived in Bombay and did job in a Masjid, approxematly, for ten months, On account of arrest warrant against him from British, he left for Lateefiya Arabic Collage at Vellur, Tamilnadu, so as to achieve degree in higher studies. He received the Sanad, after two years long study there, from respected Abdul Azeez Hazrath and after went to Bombay back.
Teaching life
Although he set out his teaching life from Alanellur, he, as it was time of freedom-fighting in Malabar, was not able go on with his Dars at Alanellur. After returned, as fore-told, from Vellur to Bombay back, he stayed there, for long ten years, occupied with researches, studies and instructions. With the waves of rebellion in Malabar region, was well-nigh over, he handed the responsibility of Dars over to his beloved student Abubacker Kutty Musliyar, Omachapuzha and came back to Malabar. He later on, did job to be Mudaris at several places such as Karuvarakundu, Mullyakurshi, Kidangayam, Melmuri, Alathur and Kayamkulam.
Assassination of Rama Simhan
Rama Simhan (before Unneen), the chieftain of Kiliyamannil, the richest noble family of Malappuram, was assassinated in 1947, as he converted to Hindu culture. This was an unpleasant incident took place when he was working in Melmuri masjid near to Malappuram. This incident and the partition which took place between India and Pakistan in the wake of this occurrence created huge troubles for the Muslims of that region and neighboring areas. On other hand, as far as Muslims of post-independent India are concerned, the two-three years after the independence were very lamentable situation owing to arrests following Hyderabad Police action called “Operation Polo” and communal riots following the Partition,. Being reformer of Muslim community in that time, some foemen of Muslims tried to alarm him by all means by adding his name in list of the culprits of this murder case with bad intention. He smelled out an arrest in advance and went to Bombay again. After came back from Bombay, started a Dars in Kidangayam near Manjeri.
Married Life
Ibrahim Musliyar did three marriages. First was when he had working in Bombay, he married Fathima, the daughter of Palappura Unneen Haji, from Kidangayam, whom met during Bombay life. She gave birth for six children in this married life but, unfortunately, all kids passed away in childhood itself. The second after the death of Fathima, was with Ayisha the sister of Fathima. She gave birth for three children, one boy and two girls, Abdullah, Maimoona and Zainaba, for him. Third was, he left for Bombay again, with Khadeeja, daughter of Pullath Saidali Haji from Mannarmal, from Bombay. She gave birth for two children, Abdul Rahman Musliyar (Manu) and Mariyam, the wife of Pottayil Unneen Musliyar, Pandikkad. His daughter, Maimoona, was married by Nellikkutthu Muhammadali Musliyar, the famous Mappila historian.
Literary works
Wrote many poems, condolence poems, history books and dictionaries, he had out of the ordinary style in literature. 1- “Malabarinte Parinamam – Oru Anavaranam”. This book included many unknown historical realities, is a valuable historical record which touched all steps of developments and growths in Malabar. This is first history-book of Malabar in Arabic-malayalam language. The first part of this book, having three parts, has been published. 2- مخزن المفردات في الطب – this book (medical dictionary), quoted the name of Unani and Ayurvedic medicines and its description and usage in twelve languages, is clear-cut evidence for his knowledge in multi languages. 3- The definition of Allafal Alif by Umarul Qahiry(Arabic). 4- The definition of Maoulid al Manqoos (Arabic). 5- تحفة الحجاج. 6- القصيدة البدرية في التوسل بالبدريين . 7- مولد شرح الصدور في مناقب أهل البدر. 8- كتاب في البروج والمنازل وسبع السيارة (book about space). 9- معجم اللعات (Urdu dictionary). 10- قواعد اردو (Urdu grammar). These, above-mentioned, books are some of his literary works.
Contributed to keralite Muslims a plenty of such outstanding scholars as Thazhava Muhammed Kunji Moulavi, Omachapuzha Abubacker Kutty Musliyar and Amanath Koyanni Musliyar, he passed away on 28 Rabee’ul Akhir 1370 (1951). He then, was principal of Hasaniya Arabic Collage, Kayankulam. May Allah, the almighty, rest his soul in peace always... ameen.
By: Abdul Raoof Irumbuzhi