Mappila Muslim Culture: How a Historic Muslim Community in India Has Blended Tradition and Modernity (SUNY Series in Religious Studies)

__Thorough exploration of the distinct culture of the Mappila Muslims of Kerala, India.__ Contents Preface A Note on Foreign Terms and Style Part I The Becoming of Mappila Muslim Culture: A Remarkable Development and a Symbol of Hope 1 The Mappilas and Their Composite Culture Setting Mappila Identity The Malayalam Culture Setting The Islamic Cultural Setting Religious Conviction: Life Has a Godward Direction The Forming Attitude The Mappila Attitude: A Special Case The Practical Muslim Approach to Culture A Legal Basis for Cultural Flexibility Cultural Decision-Making: The Principle of Free and Equal 2 The Emergence of the Mappila People and Their Culture The Historical Shaping The Community’s Origin and Rise, 622–1498 The Community’s Decline and Fall: 1498–1921 Mappila Society Declines as Europeans Arrive A Note on the Colonial Cultural Contributions The Final Fall: The Mappila Rebellion, 1921 The Revival of the Mappilas: From 1921 to the Present The Cultural Legacy The Here and There Legacy The “Then Not Now” and “Some Not Others” Legacies The Double, Contrasting Cultural Vision 3 The Issue of a Possible Indo-Muslim Influence on Mappila Culture Two Language Worlds Developmental Contrasts and Sporadic Culture Contacts North Indian Muslims to 1526: Diverse Cultural Roads Rare Mughul Connections: 1526–1857 Indo-Muslim Cultural Adaptation and Sufi Contacts with Mappilas The European Cultural Intrusion and Its Connecting Role The English Takeover and Indo-Muslim Sense of Loss A New Wave of Indian Muslim Thinking Some Positive Responses to the Challenge of Modern Culture The Idea of Community Uplift through Political Action Indo-Muslim Influence on the Mappilas: A Summary 4 The Four Pillars of Mappila Traditionalism The Pillar of Arabic The Pillar of the Qur’ān Traditionalist Religious Education Traditionalist Clergy and Their Training The Types of Religious Workers The Source of the Traditionalist Clergy Style The Dars System of Clergy Training The “College” System of Clergy Training The Results of the Traditionalist Clergy Training 5 The Great Transition in Mappila Culture: Four Change Factors Theological Reform The Language of Reform The Founding Figures The Advance of Theological Reform The Sunni Response to the Reform Challenge The Impact of Communism Modern Secular Education The Impact of Gulf Money and Gulf Custom The Phenomenon of Gulf Wealth Its Origin The Gulf Rush from India Mappila Participation in Gulf Employment The New Influence of Gulf Conservatism Conclusion 6 Mappila Character and Personality Today Mythical Elements in the Mappila Image The Myth of Generic Fanaticism The Myth of Communalism The Myth of Backwardness The Mappila Character and Personality The Sense of Being Mappila Part II The Being of Mappila Muslim Culture: A Profile of Changing Customs and Notable Achievements 7 Key Life Moments: Birth, Marriage, Death Pregnancy, Birth, and Early Childhood Family Planning Marriage The Marriage Arrangement The Age of Marriage Mahr and Dowry Mahr Dowry The Betrothal and the Wedding Nikah Kaliyanum A Note on Polygamy Divorce: The Practice and the Problem Old Age and Death The Elderly Period of Life Death and Its Ceremonies 8 Family Custom: Home Life, Interrelationships, Inheritance The Mappila Home and Its Rhythm of Life The Mappila House and Home Family Values Family Life: Daily Routines and High/Low Moments Mutual Interrelations within the Family Mappila Gender Relations and the Position of Women Relations between Husband and Wife Parent-ChiIdren Relations Kinship Relations The Role of the Mother-in-Law The Mappila Inheritance Pattern The Sources of the Orthodox Inheritance Principles Applying the Principles of Distribution The Question of Special Bequests and Wills The Marumakkathayam or Matrilineal Tradition The Tarawad or Ancestral Home16 Matrilineal Property and Inheritance Life in the Matrilineal Home The Mappila Muslim Involvement with Marumakkathayam 9 Aspects of Personal Behavior Mappila Occupations Mappila Dress and Ornamentation Female Dress Male Dress Ornamentation and Hairstyle Mappila Food Food Consumption Types of Food Food Preparation Cleanliness, Pollution, and Sanitation Personal Cleanliness and Ritual Washing Sanitation Tabus: Stimulants and Extramarital Behavior Stimulants Forbidden Sexual Behavior Pleasures and Role Models The Pleasure of Relaxation with Friends Avenues for Amusement Role Models and Popular Idols 10 The Landscape of Mappila Social Behavior: Group Distinctions, Educational Variety, Political Alignments, Theological Factions, Decision Making Group Distinctions: Arab Descent, Caste-Like Clans, Class Features The Factor of Arab Descent Caste-Like Groups Class Distinctions Urban-Rural-Coastal Differences The Rich and Poor Divergence Current Educational Profile Traditionalist Education The Persistent Madrasa Tradition The Arabic Colleges Modern Education Conclusion: An Educational Dichotomy Mappila Political Alignments The Mappila Theological Factions The Community’s Decision-Making Process photo gallery 11 Social Behavior (cont’d): Leadership and Some Selected Leaders, Community Service, Community Relations Mappila Leadership Resources and Representative Leaders A Rich Store of Leadership Selected Mappila Leaders P. P. Hassan Koya (1913–1988) C. H. Muhammad Koya (1927–1983) C. N. Ahmed Moulavi (1905–1993) K. A. Jaleel (1922–2012) P. Abdul Ghafoor (1930–1984) Female Leadership Syed Mohammadali Shihab Tangal (1936–2009) Mappila Social Service and Trusts Personal Charity Large-Scale Social Service Organizations Charitable Trusts or Wakf Mappila Relations with Non-Muslims 12 Religious Rituals and Festivals: Saints and Superstition The Prescribed Rituals The Confession of Faith Mappila Prayer Mappila Fasting Mappila Alms-Giving Mappilas and the Pilgrimage to Mecca Major and Minor Festivals The “Walia Perunāl” or Baqr-‘Īd The “Cheria Perunal” or ‘Īd al-Fitr Minor Festivals MilĀd al-Nabi Lailat al-Qadr Lailat al-Mir‘Āj Other Holidays The Mappila Respect for Saints The Source of Mappila Saint Veneration The Various Categories of Mappila Saints The Prophet Muhammad and Other Heroes The Descendants of the Prophet: Sayyids and Tangals Globally Revered Muslims Who Are Mappila Saints Local Mappila Saints The Celebration of the Saints The Nercha Festivals The Malappuram Nercha Other Nerchas, Shrines, and Shrine Visitation Mawluds Superstition and Magic The Issue of Superstition: Defenders and Critics Magical Practice among Mappilas Simple Magic Magical Practice Related to Belief in Spirits Black Magic or Sorcery 13 Mappila Artistic Expression: Mosque Architecture, Embellished Houses, the Material Arts, Song, and Dance Mosque Architecture The Traditional Mosque The New Architectural Wave The Hybrid Development Mosque Types and Numbers Embellished Homes The Material Arts Mappila Music: Songs, Instruments, and Dance The Mappila Songs Garlands for Saints and Prayers for Their Help Romantic and Heroic Songs A Medley of Songs: Wedding, Instructional, Modern Musical Instruments Mappila Dance 14 Mappila Literature Malayalam Literature Is Born: Mappilas Remain Aloof Arabic Literature and the Mappilas: An Unfulfilled Vision Arabic-Malayalam Literature: A Synthetic Medium The Development of Arabic-Malayalam Literature The Arabic-Malayalam Songwriters Arabic-Malayalam Prose Literature Mappila Literature in Malayalam Enters the Cultural Scene Mappila Malayalam Literature Begins Mappila Journals and Newspapers The Mappila Journals Mappila Newspapers Mappila Novelists in Malayalam: A Cultural Wave A Literary Icon: Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (1908–1994) Three Other Premier Writers N. P. Muhammad K. T. Muhammad Moidu Padiyath Other Fiction Writers and a Concluding Thought Mappila Nonfiction Writers Mappila Poetry Conclusion: The Significance of Mappila Culture A Resource for Wider Cultural Understanding The Implication That a Cultural Renaissance Is Possible The Importance of Determined Behavioral Change Appendix A: Islamic and Malayalam Terms for Culture Appendix B: The Ali Raja Kingdom in Kannur Appendix C: The Origins of Traditionalism in the Islamic Heartlands and Its Structure Appendix D: The Nizamiyya Syllabus Appendix E: Mappila Culture on the Laccadive Islands (Lakshwadeep) Notes Glossary Arabic Terms Malayalam Terms Composite Arabic-Malayalam and Other Terms Bibliography Books Reference Works Articles Major Encyclopedia Articles Book Chapters Articles in Journals and Annuals Other Materials Periodicals Newspapers Index Thorough exploration of the distinct culture of the Mappila Muslims of Kerala, India. This book provides a comprehensive account of the distinct culture of the Mappila Muslims, a large community from the southern Indian state of Kerala. Although they were the first Muslim community in South Asia, the Mappilas are little-known in the West. Roland E. Miller explores the Mappilas’ fourteen-century-long history of social adaptation and their current status as a successful example of Muslim interaction with modernity. Once feared, now admired, Kerala’s Mappilas have produced an intellectual renaissance and renewed their ancient status as a model of social harmony. Miller provides an account of Mappila history and looks at the formation of Mappila culture, which has developed through the interaction of Islamic and Malayali influences. Descriptions of current day life cycles, religion, ritual, work life, education, and leadership are included. "This book provides a comprehensive account of the distinct culture of the Mappila Muslims, a large community from the southern Indian state of Kerala. Although they were the first Muslim community in South Asia, the Mappilas are little-known in the West. Roland E. Miller explores the Mappilas' fourteen-century-long history of social adaptation and their current status as a successful example of Muslim interaction with modernity. Once feared, now admired, Kerala's Mappilas have produced an intellectual renaissance and renewed their ancient status as a model of social harmony. Miller provides an account of Mappila history and looks at the formation of Mappila culture, which has developed through the interaction of Islamic and Malayali influences. Descriptions of current day life cycles, religion, ritual, work life, education, and leadership are included."--Provided by publisher This book provides a comprehensive account of the distinct culture of the Mappila Muslims, a large community from the southern Indian state of Kerala. Although they were the first Muslim community in South Asia, the Mappilas are little-known in the West. Roland E. Miller explores the Mappilas' fourteen-century-long history of social adaptation and their current status as a successful example of Muslim interaction with modernity. Once feared, now admired, Kerala's Mappilas have produced an intellectual renaissance and renewed their ancient status as a model of social harmony. Miller provides an account of Mappila history and looks at the formation of Mappila culture, which has developed through the interaction of Islamic and Malayali influences. Descriptions of current day life cycles, religion, ritual, work life, education, and leadership are included. Book jacket