The
Kerala Nadwathul Mujahideen (KNM) was formed on 20 April 1950 in Kerala state, southern India, under the leadership of the scholars of the
Islahi movement in KeralaThe Islahi movement of Kerala is a reformist organization and movement of Muslims in Kerala with the goals of fighting aganist priesthood dependency, polytheism, communalism and prejudices on Islam and its concept of God, in essence, attempting to remove the influence of Hinduism and non-Islamic...
. Members of the organization call themselves salafis. KNM is not the first organizational setup of the
Islahi movement in KeralaThe Islahi movement of Kerala is a reformist organization and movement of Muslims in Kerala with the goals of fighting aganist priesthood dependency, polytheism, communalism and prejudices on Islam and its concept of God, in essence, attempting to remove the influence of Hinduism and non-Islamic...
; that was Kerala Muslim Aikya Sangham (Kerala Muslim Unity Forum). Kerala Jam'iyyathul 'Ulama (KJU), a body also composed of scholars, was established in 1924, and is still actively functioning.
The
Kerala Nadwathul Mujahideen (KNM) was formed on 20 April 1950 in Kerala state, southern India, under the leadership of the scholars of the
Islahi movement in KeralaThe Islahi movement of Kerala is a reformist organization and movement of Muslims in Kerala with the goals of fighting aganist priesthood dependency, polytheism, communalism and prejudices on Islam and its concept of God, in essence, attempting to remove the influence of Hinduism and non-Islamic...
. Members of the organization call themselves salafis. KNM is not the first organizational setup of the
Islahi movement in KeralaThe Islahi movement of Kerala is a reformist organization and movement of Muslims in Kerala with the goals of fighting aganist priesthood dependency, polytheism, communalism and prejudices on Islam and its concept of God, in essence, attempting to remove the influence of Hinduism and non-Islamic...
; that was Kerala Muslim Aikya Sangham (Kerala Muslim Unity Forum). Kerala Jam'iyyathul 'Ulama (KJU), a body also composed of scholars, was established in 1924, and is still actively functioning. KNM was formed as a common platform for the tens of hundreds of common Islahis (those who follow the ideology of
Islahi Movement in KeralaThe Islahi movement of Kerala is a reformist organization and movement of Muslims in Kerala with the goals of fighting aganist priesthood dependency, polytheism, communalism and prejudices on Islam and its concept of God, in essence, attempting to remove the influence of Hinduism and non-Islamic...
). KM Maulavi was the first president of KNM. There are two factions of KNM after the Mujahid split. One faction, has TP Abdulla Koya Madani as President and AP Abdul Qadar Moulavi as General Secretary and the second faction is led by Dr. EK Ahammad Kutty as President and CP Ummar Sullami as General Secretary. The division between the two mujahid factions is explained on various platforms as ideology, recognition, social approach and even on leadership issues. Any how both the factions are active in their terms and healthy as well as unhealthy tug of war is almost common.
Objectives
The objectives of Kerala Nadwathul Mujahideen are not different from the objectives of
Islahi movement in KeralaThe Islahi movement of Kerala is a reformist organization and movement of Muslims in Kerala with the goals of fighting aganist priesthood dependency, polytheism, communalism and prejudices on Islam and its concept of God, in essence, attempting to remove the influence of Hinduism and non-Islamic...
. The movement sees its primary objective to be conveying the message of Islam, which the KNM describes as being centered on monotheism. It also works against perceived social evils and all types of
bid'ahBid‘ah is any type of innovation in Islam. Though innovations in worldly matters, such as science, medicine and technology are acceptable and encouraged, Bid`ah within the religion is often seen as a sin or innuendo, and the prophet of Islam, Muhammad, stated as such:“Whosoever originates an...
(innovation without reference to shari'a ).
Bodies affiliated to KNM put forward many social obligations like managing ambulance units, pain and palliative care centers, orphanages,
zakatZakāh or "alms giving", one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is the giving of a small percentage of one's possessions to charity generally to poor and needy Muslims individual...
funds, family counseling, education support programmes and other charity wings. KNM is actively involved in many other social activities.
BISMI
According to KNM,
dowryA dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her husband in marriage. Compare bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both dowry...
system is un-Islamic and unethical practice. KNM urges the members and wellwishers to keep away from
dowryA dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her husband in marriage. Compare bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both dowry...
. A special wing of the KNM, BISMI, works against the dowry system and encourage cost effective or low cost marriage functions.
Publishing wings
One of the major achievemnet of this organisation is the publication of Islamic books on various aspects under KNM Publishing wing. The milestone was the publication of famous Qur-aan translation by Muhammed Amani Moulavi, which is considered as the most authentic one written in Malayalam. Even the critics of Islahi movements consider this translation (Thafseer)as a reference.
There is a publishing wing called Yuvatha book house, which is also active in its specilaty and won the credit of publication of "Islam" in five volumes, a unique reference book on Islam and first of that kind in malayalam.
Kerala Jam'iyyathul Ulama (KJU)
This is the first ulama (Islamic religious scholars) organization in Kerala. It is formed in the year of 1924 in a meeting held at Aluva under the leadership of KM Moulavi, MCC Abdu Rahman Moulavi and EK Moulavi. It guides the Islahi community in Kerala in religious matters. It describes its aim as to eradicate superstitious belief,
shirk (polytheism) and
bid'ahBid‘ah is any type of innovation in Islam. Though innovations in worldly matters, such as science, medicine and technology are acceptable and encouraged, Bid`ah within the religion is often seen as a sin or innuendo, and the prophet of Islam, Muhammad, stated as such:“Whosoever originates an...
.
Ithihadu Shubbanil Mujahideen (ISM)
The youth wing of Kerala Nadwathul Mujahideen. In 1966, KNM formed its youth wing named as Ithihadu Shubbanil Mujahideen (ISM), with a view to lead the youth of Kerala in the light of Qur'an.
Mujahid Students' Movement (MSM)
MSM is the student wing of Kerala Nadwathul Mujahideen (KNM), the Islahi organization in Kerala, formed as the population of Islahi students in the schools, colleges and universities increased rapidly.
Initially, religious minded students had been enrolled in the students' wing of ISM, known as ISM-SW. Later, in 1971 a separate wing by name Mujahid Students' Movement (MSM) was formed. The first president of MSM was Dr. MCC Abdulla. MSM's chief objective is to propagate Islamic ideals and principles among the student community in the campuses and schools. Students of medical, law, arts, science and engineering colleges actively participated in campus discussions and deliberations on Islam. These students in turn have a large influence on both Muslim and non-Muslim students in terms of beliefs, ideologies and doctrines.
Mujahid Girls' and Women's Movement (MGM)
MGM, the women's wing of KNM was organized in 1987. Some of them came forward to learn Islam and propagate its values. This situation necessitated a platform for coordination of their activities. Previously, women had been organized behind the banner of MSM Girls' Wing. The foundation of MGM enabled larger participation and convenient functioning.
MGM enjoins Muslim women to promote religeous values among themselves. Study classes and family gatherings are arranged to impart religeous knowledge. It has a special concern for charity activities like housing for poor and distribution of equipment for self-employment. MGM claims to uphold dignity of women and to respond to any move to distort it. It says its identity is differentiated from among the modern feministic platforms by deliberate deviation towards morality and its values.
MGM Students' Wing
MGM Students' Wing is the feeder organization of KNM exlusively for girl students.
Media
'Al-Manar
monthly is the mouthpieces and a weekly called Vichintanam All these are published in Malayalam language.
Issues
In their continued campaign urging to Muslims to return to the mainstream religion and the sunnah of the Prophet, some of the major issues that the scholars of the KNM address are:
- Combating of shirk
Shirk may refer to:* "Shirk", to avoid work or other responsibilities because of laziness* Shirk , in Islam, the sin of idolatry or associating beings or things with Allah* "Shirk break", a synonym for coffee break...
in all its forms, opposing worship of graves and fake godmen among Muslims.
- Promoting the khutba
Khutbah serves as the primary formal occasion for public preaching in the Islamic tradition.Such sermons occur regularly, as prescribed by the teachings of all legal schools, at the dhuhr congregation prayer on Friday...
(Friday sermon) in the local language, Malayalam
- Denouncing terrorism and violence
- Safeguarding the right of the Muslim woman to pray inside the mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. Muslims often refer to the mosque by its Arabic name, masjid, —...
, which is often denied in Kerala
- Combating social evils such as dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her husband in marriage. Compare bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both dowry...
system, denial of education to girls, etc.
- Opposing all forms of bid'ah
Bid‘ah is any type of innovation in Islam. Though innovations in worldly matters, such as science, medicine and technology are acceptable and encouraged, Bid`ah within the religion is often seen as a sin or innuendo, and the prophet of Islam, Muhammad, stated as such:“Whosoever originates an...
and any matter that is contrary to the sunnah of the Prophet.
In spite of numerous criticisms, the organisation won vital achievements in religious and social level. Several decades ago, school education was denied to Muslim girls based on the fatwa issued by the mainstream clergymen in Kerala. The continued efforts of the KNM has resulted in the elimination of this practice and this is said to have contributed heavily to the development of the Muslim society in Kerala. Over the years, the KNM has been instrumental in the upliftment of women and in the eradication of social evils, bid'ah
, and shirk among Muslims. The mainstream orthodox clerics had even opposed the translation of the
Qur'anThe Qur’an is the central religious text of Islam...
, which is the holy book of the Muslims. The scholars associated to the KNM are said to have played an important role in the translation of the Qur'an into Malayalam and in educating Muslims about its virtues.
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