SHEIKHUNA SHAMSUL ULAMA(R): THE IDEAL METHODOLOGY OF ULAMA ACTIVISM

〡Muhammed Jafin Koduvally〡

Kerala Muslim history has a unique marking in renaissance by Ulamas. In this like renaissance which shaped both cultural and religious zones of kerala, Shamsul Ulama was an important presence. Shamsul Ulama’s  sagacity and methodology provide kerala a noblest culture and recreate a new atmosphere in Muslim kerala. His influence throughout the world and his irrefutable operations in community with the great excellence varied him from all others. Above all, his creative shaping of an enlightened society also never forgot in history. Shamsul Ulama’s great eradication and his consideration build up a better society in Kerala. Shamsul Ulama’s endless and intelligent struggles against meaninglessness ideologies formed a truth determining mind in kerala Muslims and it shaped a noblest society among Muslims.

Knowledge World

Shamsul Ulama was an enormous collection of knowledge which determined the decisive direction of kerala Muslims later. Many of the Scholars like Shaliyathi(r) were identify the knowledge and mind power of Shamsul Ulama. His own teacher’s acceptance and their prayer lead Shamsul Ulama into the noblest level. Shamsul Ulama EK Aboobacker Musliyar, who was born in 1914 (Hijra 1333) was the owner of enormous talent and became Hafiz in one month.

Staying on Modernity, he never abandoned the heritage of Muslim culture. It is famous that admission of Sheikhuna on Baqiyath. He got full marks in test. But, his dressing code of fashion shirt refused him to admit. Then his poem in the gate of Baqiyath caused for his entry. His study was also a wonder to teachers and students. The questions of students to Abdurahman Hazrath were answered by Shamsul Ulama.

          Shamsul Ulama returned to kerala after some year teaching in Baqiyath with a big knapsack of knowledge. Firstly, he was an Urdu teacher at JDT College and he resigned from there because of the secretary’s unsuitable reply when he indicates that a woman teacher was taking ablution from masjid hauz. It is one of the starting points in his life to protest against abolition of traditional custom.

          After JDT and some days on Aliya college, he didn’t undertake any Dars until 1943 .As collection of divine power to do for society, he was on remembrance of god at Aliyyul Bhakri  Maqam. In Thalipparambu Quvvath, he made many reformations, even the building of a Dars hall .He was the Mudarris in Thanur islahul uloom and manager for 6 years. Activities were significant in forming of a noblest culture. Also in formation of Jamia, his hands have a unique share. He was also the first secretary of Jamia from its starting by Sayyid Shihabuddhin Qazi in 1962.

Leader of Long Sight

Shamsul Ulama’s long sights were the essential portions of Muslim renovation in 20^th century. It reflected in the stoppage of meaninglessness ideas and also in political topics. Samastha was welcoming Noorishah in first and Bappu haji registered the land of jamia in the name of Noorishah.That time Shamsul Ulama studied about Noorishah through their own books like “Asraru lailah illallah”, “Thafseer ul fathiha” and through other Medias. Then he realized that sheikh Noorishah haven’t any knowledge than his reading Quran translation of Moudoodi and he was wrong. Timely, Shamsul Ulama changed Jamia’s land ownership into a committee presided by Bafaqi thangal. This ideal activity of Shamsul Ulama protected Jamia from conquering of Noorishah.

CH muhammed koya became the educational minister in 1967 and suggested Bafaqi Thangal to start afzalul Ulama in Jamia. Bafaqi Thangal discussed it with Shamsul Ulama but Sheikhuna emphasized that it will leads to death of Jamia’s target. It is not suitable for a faizy to teach schools and other public offices where they were on its own uniforms.

Rabithathul Alamil Islami decided to change khuthuba language and they send letters though out the world. That time, Shamsul Ulama send a reply to them by the huge reference of           Quran and hadeeth. He regards it as authority distinctly in his letter. Rabithath Secretary amazed with the eradication of Shamsul Ulama. Also, that secretary came into kerala with the letter and he enquired Shamsul Ulama in Poochakkad Dars and he called Shamsul Ulama as the sea of knowledge. That his active rising for keeping Shareeath when Shareeath act is destroyed, Shamsul Ulama’s conflict was one of the decisive action for existence of Mappila Muslims. Shamsul Ulama’s active struggles against meaninglessness ideas were also a symbol of his attached mind to upraise society.

Roaring sound of Samastha

          Excellent scholarship of Shamsul Ulama a amazed everyone. Shamsul Ulama’s desirable and beautiful fights were the significant thing in existence of Samastha and its ideology. His roaring sounds, debates and intelligent speechs and arguments guided kerala through the straight path of Islam. This like ideal defense made a pretty Islamic culture in kerala. These activities of Shamsul Ulama to renovating society were unique and they were on an activism differing from every other.

          The Punoor debate in 1951 was a famous debate through which kerala identified the talent of Shamsul Ulama. In debate, Pathi Abdul Khader Musliyar and Shamsul Ulama were on Sunni part. According to debate contract, Sunni part has the first question chance. But, opposition questioned firstly and Pathi stayed strongly on his policy that sunni part will question first. They didn’t agree it and debate ended without answering their question. Wahabis spread that Sunni part is failed. Every Sunnis were sad with it. That time, Shamsul Ulama suddenly made a new program to define Samastha’s ideology and he undertook the advertisement and every running of it. He defined every question and answered clearly on this argument and this debate raised talent of Shamsul Ulama.

Thrippanachi was a province where Wahabism spread highly. In 1952, they started an institution also. Shamsul Ulama invited to there and spoke sharply against them. In 1952 January 12,he started eight day speech and challenged Wahabis to debate but no one accept that challenge. Kuttiady debate was also famous by his wisdom and deep knowledge. Every opposition was frightened by Shamsul Ulama because of his bright intelligence.

Shamsul Ulama faced many death threats also. In Thenhipalam, Wahabis continued many activities against Sunnism and they made up one week speech. Sunni followers met Shamsul Ulama to reply them. After Shamsul Ulama’s speech, many of Wahabis came into stage and proclaimed that they were coming into Sunni path. Sheikhuna was returning after speech with Koithodika Beeran haji, Kavungumthodan  Beeran haji and Kasaragod qazi TKM Bava Musliyar. That time, a mujahid follower targeted Sheikhuna and jumped on him with dagger. Koithodika haji defended him and escaped Shamsul Ulama. He suggested them to free him. This was a lightening symbol of Shamsul Ulama’s mercy, even to enemies.

Against Jama’ath and Qadiyanism

Shamsul Ulama was studying about reformist sects through their own books. Also he was opposing with that books. His statements were only after a research about the sects. Also that Shamsul Ulama’s debates and speeches about them were filled with knowledge and excellence. His active presences on these venues are one of significant example on his participation which led into the existence of Kerala’s great tradition.

Everyone wished to get Shamsul Ulama on their own institutions, even the jama’ath followers. They also understood that enormous knowledge of Shamsul Ulama. When Shamsul Ulama started studying their ideology and books, they misunderstood that he became the part of jama’ath. Also they invited him to Aliya College as principal and to teach them. On a speech of college, he says that he have studied about them and found that their ideas were wrong. On next day he returned from that college. Jama’ath islamiyy was spread strongly on Pattikkad. At that time, Sunni followers invited Shamsul Ulama to ruin them. Jama’ath followers made a lot of threats to defend sheikhuna’s arrival. But Shamsul Ulama spoke there about five hours describing the right Islamic culture. Without climbing into stage, he was speaking sitting behind the stage.

Nadakkavu debate was renowned as a debate which raises the linguistic and pensive world of Shamsul Ulama. Activities of Sheikhuna against Qadiyanism were unequally in Muslim history. He also wrote books against them. In Nadakkavu, Qadiyanistists spread many wrong sentences on the name of kitabs and Arabic language. Nadakkavu debate against Kunjahamed Qadiyani and his group, held under Wahabi Jama’th and sunni groups jointly. The debate ended with Shamsul Ulama’s one question in the answer of their question. When Kunjahmed changed his active zone into Kannur, Shamsul Ulama followed him into Madayi masjid and destroyed Qadiyanism.

He also led the struggle against Shamsiyya thareeqath by the conferences like Pallippuzha. It also spreads in Puthanathani and Allur Arabic College. But Shamsul Ulama’s speech uprooted that Thareeqaths. This like Shamsul Ulama uprooted every false Thareeqaths and meaninglessness ideologies dextously.

Opposing Missionaries

Shamsul Ulama’s struggles against missionaries are famous in mappila history. Differing from other struggles, it was a war against non-Muslims. The Christian missionaries came into kerala in 1970. They started their activities strong and made many institutions like Markasul Bishara . This struggle was renowned by Shamsul Ulama’s enormous knowledge in suriyani and the Bible.

There were a lot of activities which targeted uneducated Muslims on mountain hills of kerala. It all was led by father John changanassery. They enticed Muslims into Christianity by proclaiming money for them. They published the Arabi Malayalam pamphlets in which Quran and Islam were misunderstood. Many Qazis and scholars wanted to make a round shield against them. They discussed it for many Wahabi and Thableeg leaders. But, they all retraced from it. Finally, they found Shamsul Ulama to complete their aim.

Shamsul Ulama became the shining presence against Christian missionaries on every venue. His Manjeri Conference was the most important from them. He raised many questions in front of Christian fathers of Vatican and Kerala who came there with police protection. They can’t answer them and many of them amazed with Shamsul Ulama’s Suriyani Knowledge than them. Sheikhuna questioned the logic of new and old Bibles by reading its own words. Therefore, the leaders ordered them to stop missionary activities. Markazul Bishara also stopped it’s working. Many of the converted and non-converted Christians came into Islam by this. The factor that separated Shamsul Ulama from other scholars was his active struggle with Quran on one hand and the Bible on another hand.

Khalifa of Four Decades

Shamsul Ulama was the secretary of Samastha for four decades. He selected into Samastha Mushavara in 1950 and elected as secretary in 1957. It was never forgotten in history that his glorious activities to raise society and his timely statements to defend and to control Muslim society from meaninglessness ideas. He was the main symbol in existence of this better culture in kerala. It was the raising time of many Thareeqath and AP sector. He can to defend Muslim society from them all and to take a best decision in their entering time.

Shamsul Ulama’s brave activity against AP party of Aboobacker Moulavi was a noblest example of Ulama activism. He was always worked against it very difficult because he was aged that time. Also this AP sect led Shamsul Ulama into courts. He was in courts on day time and in defining conferences at night time. Shamsul Ulama died only after protecting Samastha completely from AP sect. But, there also changed the situation into a time where they were also praising Shamsul Ulama (after his death).

Before the division and separation of AP sect, Kanthapuram send a letter to Mushavara for expelling Shamsul Ulama. But, Samastha president Kanniyath Ahmed Musliyar says that “one who send letter, he expelled from Samastha”. Shamsul Ulama stayed strongly against them also when they started efforts to change SYS into a political party. Shamsul Ulama opposed them and describes Samastha’s political policy. When they met with Wahabies in many venues, Samastha suspended kanthapuram from office secretary position. It was the most important example of his mercy for reduces suspending position in office secretary.

Then they tried to seduce Shamsul Ulama and invite him to Markaz as principle. But, the long sighting Shamsul Ulama rescued from it. In the 60^th anniversary of Samastha, in which AP speaks than one hour welcome speech, Shamsul Ulama proclaimed that Samastha is the society made up of Auliyas and Auliyas will exclude the spies in Samastha. When Shamsul Ulama made an alliance to oppose abolition of Sharee’ath in 1985, he participated with Abu Hasan Nadwi in Sharee’ath conference. At that time, AP sect tried to expel Shamsul Ulama due to his participation with Nadwi. But, according to constitution, Samastha agreed Shamsul Ulama. On the issue of mid kerala conference, Samastha agreed Shamsul Ulama and expelled from Samastha after it. Also they tried to attack Mushavara. Then Shamsul Ulama was on continuing speeches which describes Samastha and its policy.

Shamsul Ulama’s activities to constitute many sub factors for Samastha, extending madrasa system and book deppo were significant. Building of Samastha office in Francis road also has his huge presence. Starting of mufathish system and hizb class was also occurred in Shamsul Ulama’s khilafath of kerala society. In every madrasas, Samastha was celebrating a prayer day in rabee’ul akhir. Shamsul Ulama dead on one of prayer day and every prayer were devoted to Shamsul Ulama. By all means, Shamsul Ulama gained success in both religious and secular activism.

Memories and Significance Today

Shamsul Ulama’s clever activities and deep talent were decisive in kerala and Samastha history. His books and Moulids also gained a lot of influence in society. Than a leader on chair, he was also an operator among the community. His activities are not desired any salaries but all are for god. He was the qazi on Mattannoor and Chaliyam for many years but he never accepted any salaries from there. This like his activities for society hasn’t any end or finishing point.

When he moves from earth [only from earth not from hearts] in 1996 august 19 [hijra 1417 Rabee’ul Akhir 4] as a reformer of society, he leaved his gloriousness and the reflection of his countless social and religious activities. Also he leaved the students who were the support of community later like CM Madavoor and OK Zainudheen Musliyar etc… The reflection of his great activities and social religious renovation was one of the base of Muslim prosperity today. His renowned name spread over the world as ‘a shining sun of Muslim scholars’. His activism in society was a reformation which makes the right Mappila culture and he plays a big role in Ulama activism. Actually, Shamsul Ulama was a creator of this straight atmosphere in Muslim kerala.

Shamsul Ulama EK Aboobacker Musliyar was a lightening star in community with knowledge and was an ideal methodology of Ulama activism. His noblest contributions to Muslim kerala never are forgotten in hearts of people. Sha,msul Ulama’s endless activities to raise society was unique in history. Social-religious and creative activities of Shamsul Ulama and his presence in debate world was determined the later Islamic culture of kerala. In fact, most of Muslim Kerala’s progressive and developmental leaps on today have a big role of Shamsul Ulama. Also that most of Muslim society’s dreams were fulfilled with Shamsul Ulama’s glorious hands. Now the Mappila Muslims are once again requesting for one another active Shamsul Ulama’s arrival into society.