Shamsul Ulama E. K. Aboobacker Musliyar

Shamsul Ulama E.K. Aboobacker Musliyar
Shamsul Ulama E.K. Aboobacker Musliyar
Born	1914 Paramblikadavu, near Kozhikode, Kerala state, India.
Died	1996
Nationality	Indian
Other names	"Sun Among the Scholars" (Shamsul Ulama)
Occupation	Religious Leader, former General Secretary, Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama.
Known for	Sunni Leader
Predecessor	Paravanna Mohiyaddeen Kutty Musliyar
Successor	Cherussery Zainuddeen Musliyar

E. K. Aboobacker Musliyar (also called Shamsul Ulama) (1914–1996) was a Sunni Muslim scholar and religious leader from Kerala, South India.^[1]

He was the General Secretary of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, the largest Muslim organization in Kerala, for 40 years, until his death in 1996.^[2]

Early life

Shamsul Ulama was born to a Yemeni family in the east of the city of Kozhikode, in the village of Paranbekadav, in 1914. He married Fathima, the daughter of famous scholar Adeyotill Aboobacker. He received primary education from his father. He learned the basics of Arabic. He went on to study at the school of Kathra Haji, 9 km from where he lived. Shamsul Ulama studied in an English medium school. On one occasion, his father discovered a collection of English books in his room. Worried that his son was losing sight of his religious education, he sent Ulama to a Darse. During 20th century Shamsul Ulama studied under many famous scholars, such as Marhoom Kuttubbi Muhammed Musliyar, Abdul Khader Fazfari, Kanniyath Ahmed Musliyar, Ahmed Koya Shaliyath, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Hazarath and Sheikh Adam Hazarath. He received numerous degrees in Islamic teaching. In 1937, Shamsul Ulama went to Baqiyath Swalihath college, a religious center in Tamil Nadu Vellore. During his time there, he embarked on pilgrimages to many tombs of India. He studied several languages, such as Arabic, English, Malayalam, Tamil, Urdu.

       In 1948, Shamsul Ulama returned home to Kerala to receive treatment for small pox. After this he worked as teacher of Urdu in J.D.T Calicut, which was at the time under Sunni management. He married the daughter of Ummachu, Fathima.        The 18th anniversary of Samastha Kerala Jamiyathul Ulama was held at Vallanjery in 1950. In 1957 Paravanna Ustha died and Shamsul Ulama was elected as the secretary of Samastha Kerala Jamiyathul Ulama. He resumed this office until his demise. He was also the president of Sunni Mahal Federation and vice president of Samastha Kerala Islam Matha Vidyabyasa Board (SKIMVB).  Shamsul Ulama worked as teacher in Taliparamba, Karuvan Truthi, Padanna, Madayi, Parakadve, Puchakadve, Tannur Islahul Uloom Arabic College, Pattikad Jamiya Nooriya, Nandi Darul Salam, and baqiyath Swalihath.

Demise

Shamsul Ulama was admitted to Fathima hospital on 19 August 1996, and died the next day. He was buried next to Varakkal Mullakkoya Thangal,the founder of SKJU, near Puthiyangadi Kozhikode. His tomb is the subject of several pilgrimages in Kerala.

References