Zainuddin Makhdum and Malabar: A Socio-Cultural Study

ZAINUDDIN MAKHDUM AND MALABAR: History is full of the story of human greed for mundane wealth and power. No sector of human community is alien to this general rule. Islam reached the Malabar coast during the life time of the Prophet (peace be upon Him) itself, through Arab traders. The traders with their marriage relations with the natives of the coast gradually developed a separate Muslim Community in Malabar, who were living peacefully for centuries, when Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese reached Kappad (Calicut) in 1498. Sooner than later the Portuguese, with their experience in Spain in overthrowing the 800 year old Arab rule there, tried their lot to quell the Muslim supremacy in Malabar. However, the timely appearance of the Yemeni Hero, Sheikh Zainuddin Makhdum, who arrayed the people of Malabar against the Portuguese attempt to monopolise the trade and commerce of the area, forms the glorious success story one sees in Tuhfatul Mujahideen.