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University of Calicut,
Edapally - Panvel Hwy, Thenhipalam,
Kerala 673635, India
Prominent Muslim scholar, writer, orator and reformer Chalilakath Kunjahmed Haji (1919-1866) is known as the architect of madrasa education in Kerala.
He was born in 1866 in Adrishery of Malappuram district of Kerala to Kala Muhyaddeen Kutti and Fathima. From an early age, he lived in his mother’s home as his parents were divorced. He studied the Quran and Tajwid from his mother, an expert in Quranic recitation. When public education was not common, he studied Malayalam, Sanskrit and English at a school in Kozhikode. He had basic religious education under his uncle Kunhammad Haji. Later, he joined Dars conducted by the then-famous scholar Kodanjeri Ahmedkuty Musaliar. He also studied under Ammu Musalaiar, Thattangara Kutyamu Musaliar, and Valappil Abdul Aziz Musalaiar. He joined Baqiyat of Vellore in 1885. After his studies at Baqiyat, he joined Lathweefiya Arabic college. While studying at Lathweefiyya, he learnt Urdu, Persian and Tamil languages. Upon the completion of his studies, he returned to his birthplace and started a Dars in Tarammal Palli of Tirurangadi. He also held Dars at Mayyazhi(Mahe), Valapattanam, Pulikkal, Vazhakkad, Mannarkkad. Amongst these, the most famous of his Dars was the one at Mannarkkad. In Mannarkkad, he held Dars at Tanmiyyatul Uloom Madrasa established by a traditional aristocratic family in the region, the Koyappathodi family in 1871. This madrasa later became ‘Darul Uloom Arabic College’.
Chalilakath Kunhahmed Haji wrote many books to propagate his ideas. His works are Hashiyathun Ala Risalatahin Maredeen (Annotation on Risalathul Maradin), Thufathul Ahdaab (The presentation of Manner), Thasheelul Adhaneel Ikvaan Fi Thaleemi Sabani Hinduathan (Simplification of mind for the study of Indian Languages), Adhvatul Fee Qibla (Argument in Qibla), Kithabul Hisab fee Ilmil Meekath (Maths of Time Knowledge), Kithabu Swarf (Text on Morphology), Annahvul Kabeer(The big grammar), Mabadrul Qiraa (The base of recitation), Allugathul Arabia (Arabic Language), Deeniyath (The religious), Amaliya (Deeds), Thahleemul Quran (Study about Quran), Surathul Huroof (Image of words), Atheedathul Baleega Fe Kathaee Davaberial Firkathu Ikadiyaniya (Severe warning on the mistakes of Qadiyani group), Thufathul Aqthab (Presentation on the horizon), and Thasheel Ul Furooq (Understanding the differences).
Another prominent contribution of Chalilakath was in the reformation of the Arabi-Malayalam script. Arabi-Malayalam was the basic language of religious education at that time. He began to reform Arabic–Malayalam script to ease the difficulties in language and edited some mistakes done by Sayyid Sanaulla Makti Thangal. Chalilalakth’s reformed script was accepted widely by the Keralites. Another major contribution of Chalilakath was his reformist activities in the field of Madrasa education. He reformed Dars and sought to reform and reconstitute institutes for basic religious education. As a part of this, he prepared a new detailed syllabus and established a madrasa in Vazhakkad based on his syllabus. Through this madrasa, he also introduced for the first time in the history of madrasas, the usage of blackboard, chalks, desks and benches, division of classes, allotment of class periods and examination systems. Followed by its success, many regions such as Kannur, Thalassery, Valapattanam, Kozhikode, Vadakara, Kodiyathur, Pulikkal, Paravanna, Chaliyam, Tirurangadi, Nallalam and Eriyad and Azhikode of Kodungalloor saw the emergence of similar Madrasas.
To strengthen religious education, he submitted a new syllabus and curriculum to Darul Uloom Arabic college. He also regulated the periods of Thafseer, Hadeeth, Fiqh, Manthiq, Mahani, Hisab, Tharik (history), Geography, Haiath, Handusa, Munalara, Swarf, Nahv, etc. He also promoted the enhancement of various skills in the Arabic language such as oratory and writing. Moreover, he motivated the students to practise translation of Malayalam to Arabic. He introduced an attendance system to note the presence of students. He also introduced a library system and vacation system within the madrasas. Later, a few days before his death, Kalladi Moidu Kutti Sahib invited him to Mannarakad masjid as a teacher which he continued till death. Chalilakath aspired to bring a good reputation to the educational endeavours of the masjid and Moidu Kutti promised him financial support to do so. However, Chalilakath did not live to fulfil it. He died in 1919. He was buried in Tharammal masjid, Tirurangadi.
