Syed Muhammedali Shihab Thangal

Mohammedali Shihab Thangal (4 May 1936 – 1 August 2009), known with the honorific prefix Sayed, was an Indian community leader, Islamic scholar and politician from Kerala.[2][3] He is sometimes regarded as "the most important Mappila leader" of modern Kerala.[4]

Sayed

Mohammedali Shihab Thangal
Mohammedali Shihab Thangal in July 2008
Born(1936-05-04)4 May 1936
Malappuram, Malabar District, British India
Died1 August 2009(2009-08-01) (aged 73)
Malappuram, Kerala (India)
NationalityIndian
Alma materAl-Azhar University
Cairo University
Occupations
  • Community leader
  • Islamic scholar
  • Politician[1]
Spouses
  • Shareefa Fatima Beevi (died 2006)
  • Aysha Beevi (married 2006)
Children
  • Munavvar Ali Shihab Thangal
  • Basheer Ali Shihab Thangal
Parent
Relatives

Born in the Yemeni-origin sayyid (thangal) Pukkoya family of Panakkad,[5] Shihab Thangal also functioned as the president of the Kerala state committee of the Indian Union Muslim League (1975 - 2009).[6][2]

According to historian Roland Miller, "'wisely and sensitively, he led Muslims through the landmines of state politics for over three decades. He also led the way into cordial relationships with members of other religious communities".[4]

Early life and education

Shihab Thangal was born as the eldest son of P. M. S. A. Pukkoya Thangal, of the Pukkoya family of Panakkad, on 4 May 1936.[7][3] His siblings were Umerali Shihab Thangal, Hyderali Shihab Thangal, Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, Abbasali Shihab Thangal.[8]

Shihab Thangal had his primary education at Panakkad and at M. M. High School, Kozhikode (matriculation).[4][3] He also had his initial Islamic education at the traditional 'dars' at Tirur and Kananchery.[3][9]

Higher education in Egypt

In 1958, Shihab Thangal left for Egypt for further studies and obtained his master's degree in Arabic Literature from Al-Azhar University in 1961.[9] He continued his studies in Cairo University and pursued a Doctorate in Arabic Literature and Philosophy in 1966.[9][10]

Shihab Thangal was well versed in English and French.[10] He was also known for his enthusiasm for Sufi-poetry.[11] On return to Kerala, the thangal married Sharifa Fatima Beevi, daughter of Sayed Bafaqy Thangal.[4]

Public life

Shihab Thangal became the president of the Kerala state committee of Indian Union Muslim League after his father Pukkoya Thangal's death in 1975.[12][2] He remained president until his own death in 2009.[4] Shihab Thangal is distinctly remembered for his role in preserving communal harmony in Kerala (at the most tense times like demolition of Babur's Mosque in 1992).[2] [10]

Shihab Thangal was also qadi to hundreds of 'mahals' in Kerala.[3] He was the president of numerous educational institutions such as Jamia Nooriya, which were managed by the Samastha.[13] He was behind the proposal to start another campus of Aligarh Muslim University in Kerala.[9]

Mohammedali Shihab Thangal on a 2010 Indian postage stamp.

Shihab Thangal died on 1 August 2009 following a cardiac arrest.[9]

See also

References
  1. Misiriya, P. V. Nafeesathul (2013). "Review of the Economic and Educational Status of the Muslim Community in Kerala" (PDF). In Rajan, K. (ed.). Emigration and Educational Development of Muslim Community in Kerala. Kottayam: Mahatma Gandhi University. p. 17. hdl:10603/19658.
  2. Press Trust of India (2 August 2009). "President, PM, Sonia Pay Homage to IUML Leader Thangal". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012.
  3. "IUML Leader Shihab Thangal Dead". The Hindu. 2 August 2009. Archived from the original on 5 August 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  4. Miller, Roland E. (2015). Mappila Muslim Culture. State University of New York Press. pp. 103, 240–42.
  5. Miller, Roland E., Mappila Muslim Culture. New York, State University of New York Press, 2015. pp. 115, 268-69.
  6. "Syed Families Hold Get-together". The Hindu. 1 May 2006. Archived from the original on 24 May 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  7. Usman, M. (2005). "IV" (PDF). In Prakash, B. Alwin (ed.). The Role of Voluntary Agencies in Human Resource Development: A Case Study of Orphanages in Malappuram District. University of Calicut. p. 112. hdl:10603/35141.
  8. "IUML Leader Panakkad Sayyid Hyder Ali Shihab Thangal Laid to Rest". Malayala Manorama. 6 March 2022.
  9. Indo-Asian News Service (12 August 2009). "Kerala Bids Farewell to Panakkad Shihab Thangal". MSN. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012.
  10. "I. U. M. L. Chief Panakkad Thangal Dead". The New Indian Express. 1 August 2009.
  11. Radhakrishnan, M. G . (27 August 2012). "Kerala in a League of its Own". India Today.
  12. M. Rahim. Changing Identity and Politics of Muslims in Malappuram District Kerala (PDF). Keral University-Shodhganga. p. 79. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  13. Indo-Asian News Service (2 August 2009). "Kerala Mourns Passing away of Panakkad Thangal". Gulf News. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
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