Chekannur Maulavi
Encyclopedia
Chekannur Moulavi was a progressive Islamic cleric who lived in Edappal in Malappuram
district of Kerala
, India
. He was noted for his controversial and unconventional interpretation of Islam
based on Quran and Hadeeth. He disappeared on 29 July 1993 under
mysterious circumstances and is now widely believed to be dead. His life and disappearance are the subject of a documentary, Ore Oru Chekannur, for which filming began in 2009.
on Quran, paying little attention to conventional wisdom or Hadith
. His controversial teachings — especially and subjects such as Muslim Personal Law, women's rights and the proper methods for praying — drew considerable attention and, from religious orthodoxy and extremist fringe groups, disapproval.
reached Malabar as early as 7th century it had almost mixed with the culture and traditions of Keralites. So, ultimately the Islahi Movement in Kerala
, part of the renaissance of the community, resulted in the division of Mappilas as "Sunnis" (more orthodox sect than the other) and "Salafis" (both of these belong to the Sunni branch of Islam) in 1925. It's interesting to note that the faith of the Mappilas was a mixture of "Sunnis" and "Salafis" before these renaissance. The Shia branch is almost absent amongst the Muslims of Kerala
.
The modern theological orientations amongst the Muslims of Kerala are primarily divided into three, though all these belong to the Sunni branch of Islam. They are; 1) Sunni orthodox sects of Shafi school (A. P. Sunni
-Kanthapuram, E. K. Sunni
etc.), 2) Adherents of Mujahid -Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen
(A. P. Mujahids, Madavur etc.), and 3) Jamaat-e-Islami Hind
(simply Jama'at). The Sunni classification referred to here are identified by their conventional beliefs and practices and adherence to Shafi school of law, while the other two theological orientations,the Mujahids and the Jama'ats, are seen as reform movements within the community.
took over the case in 1996, and in 2000 arrested two members of the ultra orthodox Muslim sect, which is linked to Sheikh Aboobacker Ahmad
, under suspicion of murder. By 2005, those accused of the murder numbered 10. The case was hampered by the disappearance of a number of witnesses, whose property was seized when they fled abroad rather than appear to testify in 2008.
Moulavi's wife Hawa Umma had filed a petition seeking to array Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musaliyar also as an accused in the murder case through her lawyer Advocate S.K.Premraj and the same was allowed. The Kerala High Court set aside the order, which was challenged in the Supreme Court. Though elaborate arguments were advanced by Advocate S.K.Premraj before the Supreme Court, Kanthapuram who was defended by the legal stalwart Harish Salve ultimately won the legal battle.
The CBI special court in Kochi on September 30, 2010 sentenced V V Hamsa, the first accused in the murder of Chekanoor Maualvi, to undergo double life imprisonment and a fine of Rs. one lakh. Stating that the maulavi case was a rarest of rare case, the prosecution had demanded death sentence. Pronouncing the verdict, Special court judge S Vijaykumar said, of the fine amount, Rs. 50,000 should be given to the Maulavi’s wife. Hamsa had been found guilty by the court on September 29, while remaining 8 accused were acquitted.
‘In the present day world of personal grudge, religious rivalries and physical violence, criminals seek to achieve a stage of being wiser than our criminal law. That cannot be allowed at any rate in a developed criminal legal system as ours’, the court had observed on September 29.
The court found that after killing Maulavi, his dead body was disposed off in some mysterious manner so as never to be recovered.
Malappuram
Malappuram is a municipality in the South Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 33.61 km2. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Malappuram district. As per the 2011 census Malappuram urban agglomeration is the fourth largest UA in kerala with a total population of...
district of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was noted for his controversial and unconventional interpretation of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
based on Quran and Hadeeth. He disappeared on 29 July 1993 under
mysterious circumstances and is now widely believed to be dead. His life and disappearance are the subject of a documentary, Ore Oru Chekannur, for which filming began in 2009.
Biography
The son of Abdullakutty and Fathima, Moulavi was born in 1936 and studied Islamic theology and Arabic at Baqiyathu Sallihath in Vellor, and at Vazhakkad Darul Ulloom. Although he became a religious teacher at the age of 24, his "incompatible" progressive views caused him to leave three teaching assignments in Arabic colleges in Kerala. He began thereafter to spread his own revolutionary ideals, in which he directly based his interpretation of IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
on Quran, paying little attention to conventional wisdom or Hadith
Hadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
. His controversial teachings — especially and subjects such as Muslim Personal Law, women's rights and the proper methods for praying — drew considerable attention and, from religious orthodoxy and extremist fringe groups, disapproval.
Background
Since IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
reached Malabar as early as 7th century it had almost mixed with the culture and traditions of Keralites. So, ultimately the Islahi Movement in Kerala
Islahi Movement in Kerala
The renaissance of the ancient Sunni Muslim community in the Kerala state, South India mostly owes to the rise of Salafi ideas and scholars in the early 20th century, referred as Islahi movements of Kerala. Salafism is a puritanical and legalistic Islamic movement under the Sunni umbrella, and is...
, part of the renaissance of the community, resulted in the division of Mappilas as "Sunnis" (more orthodox sect than the other) and "Salafis" (both of these belong to the Sunni branch of Islam) in 1925. It's interesting to note that the faith of the Mappilas was a mixture of "Sunnis" and "Salafis" before these renaissance. The Shia branch is almost absent amongst the Muslims of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
.
The modern theological orientations amongst the Muslims of Kerala are primarily divided into three, though all these belong to the Sunni branch of Islam. They are; 1) Sunni orthodox sects of Shafi school (A. P. Sunni
A. P. Sunni
A. P. Sunni is one of the powerful and influential traditional Sunni factions of Muslims in Kerala, South India under the Karanthur Markaz. They belong to the Sunni-Shafi branch of Islam. It was named after the cleric Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar, general secretary of All-India Jamiyyathul...
-Kanthapuram, E. K. Sunni
E. K. Sunni
E. K. Sunni is one of the powerful traditional Sunni factions of Muslims in Kerala, South India under the Chelari Samastha. They belong to Sunni-Shafi school of law. It is largest Muslim faction in Kerala in terms of number of followers and was named after the cleric E.K...
etc.), 2) Adherents of Mujahid -Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen
Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen
Kerala Nadwathul Mujahideen is a Salafi Islamic organization and movement within Sunni Islam in Kerala, India. One faction of the organization is working in co-operation with Ahl al-Hadith , an all-Subcontinental Islahi outfit...
(A. P. Mujahids, Madavur etc.), and 3) Jamaat-e-Islami Hind
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is one of the influential and hardline Islamic organization and movement within Sunni Islam in India...
(simply Jama'at). The Sunni classification referred to here are identified by their conventional beliefs and practices and adherence to Shafi school of law, while the other two theological orientations,the Mujahids and the Jama'ats, are seen as reform movements within the community.
Disappearance and investigation
Chekannur Moulavi was last seen on 29 July 1993 when, according to his wife Howah Umma, he left his home to deliver a speech on the invitation of two unidentified people in a vehicle that did not have a number plate. Following a complaint by his wife and uncle Salim Haji, an investigation was launched that also drew considerable public attention, leading to a reward of Rs 3 lakh being offered by police for information related to the case. The CBICentral Bureau of Investigation
The Central Bureau of Investigation is a government agency of India that serves as a criminal investigation body, national security agency and intelligence agency. It was established on 1 April 1963 and evolved from the Special Police Establishment founded in 1941...
took over the case in 1996, and in 2000 arrested two members of the ultra orthodox Muslim sect, which is linked to Sheikh Aboobacker Ahmad
Sheikh Aboobacker Ahmad
Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musalyar is the leader of one of the traditionalist Sunni factions of Muslims in Kerala state, India called A. P. Sunnis and is one of the most famous Muslim personalities in Kerala. Kanthapuram A. P...
, under suspicion of murder. By 2005, those accused of the murder numbered 10. The case was hampered by the disappearance of a number of witnesses, whose property was seized when they fled abroad rather than appear to testify in 2008.
Moulavi's wife Hawa Umma had filed a petition seeking to array Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musaliyar also as an accused in the murder case through her lawyer Advocate S.K.Premraj and the same was allowed. The Kerala High Court set aside the order, which was challenged in the Supreme Court. Though elaborate arguments were advanced by Advocate S.K.Premraj before the Supreme Court, Kanthapuram who was defended by the legal stalwart Harish Salve ultimately won the legal battle.
The CBI special court in Kochi on September 30, 2010 sentenced V V Hamsa, the first accused in the murder of Chekanoor Maualvi, to undergo double life imprisonment and a fine of Rs. one lakh. Stating that the maulavi case was a rarest of rare case, the prosecution had demanded death sentence. Pronouncing the verdict, Special court judge S Vijaykumar said, of the fine amount, Rs. 50,000 should be given to the Maulavi’s wife. Hamsa had been found guilty by the court on September 29, while remaining 8 accused were acquitted.
‘In the present day world of personal grudge, religious rivalries and physical violence, criminals seek to achieve a stage of being wiser than our criminal law. That cannot be allowed at any rate in a developed criminal legal system as ours’, the court had observed on September 29.
The court found that after killing Maulavi, his dead body was disposed off in some mysterious manner so as never to be recovered.