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Mahin Hamadani Thangal

Sheikh Muhammad Mahin Hamadani Thangal (d.1922) was a reformer and Sufi scholar. He was one of the founding figures of ‘Aikyasangham’. It was his suggestion to make the efforts towards reform made more organised by introducing an organization.

Biography

Mahin Hamadani Thangal was born in the Arukuti district of Alappuzha. He studied in the Dars of Kodungaloor, Kochi and Ponnani. After obtaining elementary education from Arukuty, a hub for scholars, he joined Kodungallor Jumuath Palli Dars. Further, he joined Lathweefiya college of Vellore. From there, he gained proficiency in Tamil, Persian, Urdu and Arabic languages along with religious education. After his studies there, he was attracted to Sufism and became a proponent of Hamadani tariqah. Through it, he tried to spread a life pattern based on the Holy Quran and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad. He adopted Mattanchery in Kochi as his centre of activities. He was ill when ‘Aikyasangham’ was in its formation. Despite his illness, he attended the meeting of its formation.

Major Contributions

The most important of the contributions of Hamadani Thangal is his guidance for the establishment of Nishpaksha Sangam in 1922 at Azhikode. He wrote the book ‘Ilfatul Islam’ (Islamic unity) and published journals namely Muslim Aikyam and Aikyam. He also published an Arabic-Malayalam-Sanskrit dictionary named ‘Al Kashaf’ with the help of his student Sayyid Muhammad Thangal. He wrote a book titled ‘Ilfatul Islam’ (Islamic unity) in which he advised the common people to stay away from superstitions and to unite and stop fighting amongst themselves. He moved to Cochin and built the Mad’hara mosque where he eventually set up his headquarters. Recognizing the insufficiency of Islamic texts in the Malayalam language, he took the initiative to translate and publish Islamic works into Malayalam. He wrote an article in Al Muslim magazine to restructure religious education in a way that benefits people. He founded the ‘Muslim conference’ which aimed at conducting programmes for the promotion of education among the community. He introduced the idea of combining religious and non-religious subjects as sponsored by the Delhi School of Education.

However, the idea did not become successful due to a lack of support from the community. By the early 20th century, he settled himself at Azhikod in Kodungalloor where he established an association called ‘Lajnatul Hamadaniya’. The association aimed at the overall development of Muslims in Kodungalloor. He also founded Lajnatul Islam Sanghom at Eriyad. Lajnatul Muhammaduya at Alleppey was born out of his guidance. For the services rendered to the Muslim community, he received recognitions such as nomination to the Sri Mulam Popular Assembly of Travancore by the Diwan for five years from 1911 to 1915. He used this opportunity to raise the problems faced by the community in areas such as appointments to government services and education. As a part of his reformist activities, he advocated for the introduction of Arabic in government schools. He passed away in Vaduthala in 1922.

References

  • Abdul Samad, M. (1998). Islam in Kerala: Groups and Movements in the 20th Century (pp. 52–55). Kollam, Kerala: Laurel Publications.
  • Shaikh Mahin Hamadani. Visheshal Pathippu ’98. Prabodhanam.
  • Shanavas, C. (2019, March 2). ഹമദാനി തങ്ങള്‍: പരിവര്‍ത്തനത്തിന്റെ പ്രഭ പരത്തിയ പ്രഭാഷകന്‍. Nerpatham Varika. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from

    http://nerpatham.com/vol-no-03/hamadaani-thangngal-parivarththanaththinte-prabha-paraththiya-prabhaashakan.html
  • Altaf, K. M., & Jabir, V. K. കേരള മുസ്‌ലിംകളുടെ സാമൂഹിക നവോഥാനം ഐക്യസംഘത്തിനു ശേഷം. Shabab Weekly. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://shababweekly.in/kerala-muslims/