Tag: India
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Another India: Rethinking Muslim Politics in Postcolonial India
Pratinav Anil’s book, Another India, challenges the narrative of Nehruvian secularism protecting Muslims in post-1947 India, arguing that it favored silence and marginalization.
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How an Anglo-Gujarati Mufti Kept the Vows of Shāh Walī Allāh in America
This essay charts both the life and the afterlife of Shāh Walī Allāh al-Dihlawī, the preeminent thinker of the late Mughal empire, whose synthesis of revelation, philosophy, and mysticism sought to rescue Islam’s intellectual tradition amid imperial decay. Set within the luminous yet collapsing world of eighteenth-century Delhi, it follows Walī Allāh’s education, his journeys…
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Kayalpattinam – The ‘Cairo’ of the East
Kayalpattinam, a coastal town in Tamil Nadu, is historically significant for its long-standing connection to the gem trade, predominantly among its Muslim families.
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Development of Islamic Scholarship in the 16th Century: Shaykh Zayn al-Dīn Makhdūm and the Indian Ocean Network
Shaykh Ahmed Zayn al-Dīn al-Makhdūm II, a prominent Sunni scholar from Malabar born in 1531, was pivotal in Islamic education in the region. After studying in the Hijaz, he became a renowned teacher and author of key Islamic texts. He passed away in 1583, leaving a lasting impact on Islamic scholarship.
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The Quran in the South Indian Linguistic World
This article examines the Quran’s influence on the Mappila Muslim community in South India’s Malabar region, highlighting diverse Quranic literature and practices. It explores Quranic teachings in madrasas, local customary practices, and the role of translations in shaping identity, emphasizing the community’s unique engagement with Islam.
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The Mazhar-e-Alam Library: Dying a Slow Death
Urdu in India faces existential challenges despite its rich literary heritage, particularly in Lucknow. The author recounts his visit to the historic Mazhar-e-Alam Library, once a vibrant hub, now struggling against neglect and technology’s impact on reading habits.
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And Allah Only Looks into Your Hearts: Reflections on the Imprisonable Muslim
This reflective essay explores the theological and existential resilience of Muslim political prisoners across contexts from Syria and Guantanamo to Indian detention centers, arguing that incarceration becomes a site of spiritual liberation rather than defeat. Drawing on personal experience, contemporary memoirs, and Islamic thought, it interrogates the carceral logic of modern nation-states and its failure…
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Impact of Sufi Saints on Cultural Syncretism in Northeast India
Northeast India’s cultural history showcases a blend of traditions. Political shifts threaten this syncretism, but centuries of Sufi spiritual movements promoted harmony. The region’s literature, music, and festivals highlight coexistence.
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Negotiating Allegiances: Muslim Universities in the Making of Postcolonial India
Laurence Gautier’s “Between Nation and Community” examines Muslim universities in post-colonial India, especially Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University, as crucial spaces for identity negotiation and nation-building, addressing communal anxieties while fostering secularism and pluralism amidst political complexities.
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The Evolution of Prophetic Praise Poetry in Kerala
The golden age of Prophetic poetry, marked by Al-Būṣīrī, greatly influenced the literary landscape in South India, especially through the works of Umar Qazi. Eulogies, rooted in Arabic tradition, served as historical documents and expressed profound devotion to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). This genre transcended boundaries, inspiring both Muslim and Christian poets.