August 12, 2016

Verses of peace and harmony

REVIEWED BY : M.O. BADSHA

Focussing on the essence of Sufism and its connect with

Tamil Nadu
Islam reached certain parts of Tamil Nadu through the
commercial activities of Arab traders and the missionary
activities of the Sufi saints.

In this strife-torn world , the law and ethics to shape the lives of humans seem to have taken a backseat, giving way to disorder. Led astray by negative forces, there are more of dividing factors than
uniting. Forgotten or ignored are the universal Sufi teachings of harmony, love and peace.

There is no dearth for literature on Sufism (form of self purification). But the need to explain the Sufi
studies in Tamil Nadu was long felt. Through this work of Dr. K.M.A. Ahamed Zubair, who has
aggregated information from multiple sources, we come to know that more than one hundred Sufis
lived in South India during the last seven or eight centuries. They conveyed their spiritual experience
through poetry or prose in Tamil, Arabic, Arabu-Tamil and Urdu. Some well-known Sufi poets
mentioned by him are Kottaru Gnaniar, Thuckalai Peer Mohammed, Umar Wali, Sam Shihabuddin
and Gunangudi Masthan.
We learn that Sufism had a great impact on the people of Tamil Nadu who were attracted by the
teachings of brotherhood, love for Allah and Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Sangam Tamil Literature
bears testimony of the Arab traders settling in the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu. Islam reached this
region through these traders and the missionary activities of the Sufi saints.
Quoting relevant passages, the writer drives home the point that Sufi poets contributed immensely to
the development of Islamic Tamil literature. Sufi traditions encouraged poetry. Sufism spread widely
with teachings packed in popular verses, odes, utterances and hymns. Renowned poet Rumi
describes Sufism as good character with full awareness of love, the cure for all hatred and
vengeance.
Sufis believed that the words of Holy Quran have deeper meanings than usually understood by the
ordinary reader. Without diversifying from religious theology and straight-laced traditionalism, the
contributions of Tamil scholars related to sufism are well brought out in the last chapter. It is to be
noted that the Sufi writers of this region kept themselves within the limits of Shariah in their
expositions.
Author of 12 books, Ahamed Zubair concludes by saying Sufism remains in India as a pillar of peace,
harmony and cultural heritage. Though written in an easy language, the content is rich and is written
with a pious zeal. The unique insight into the moral values could provide a positive influence on
youngsters to render good deeds.

Online available at : http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/verses-of-peaceand-harmony/article8976373.ece