Shamsul Ulama

Shamsul Ulama (Arabic:شمس العلماء) was a Sunni Muslim scholar, the leader of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, and campaigner against Christian missionaries. He was born in 1914 (h 133) in Calicut. He died on 19 August 1996.

Early life
Shamsul Ulama was born in the village Paranbekadav, 9 km from Kozhikode. A house named "Esuthachan Kandi" belonged to Shamsul Ulama. The family of Shamsul Ulama came from Tarim, in Yemen. Muhammad Koya was his grandfather. The grandson of this scholar was Koya Kutti. He married Fathima, the daughter of scholar Adeyotill Aboobacker. Their eldest son Aboobacker was born in 1333H (1914 AD), followed by brothers and sisters Umar, Usman, Ali, Ahmed Hassan, Abdulla, Ameena, and Aisha.

Childhood
Shamsul ulama grew up at Esutiachan Kandi. His father gave him his primary education. He first learned the basics of the Arabic language. He then studied academic and religious subjects at Kathra Haji school, 9 km from his house, going there on foot or by boat.

Schooling
Shamsul Ulama studied in an English medium school. His father found he had many books of English literature, which led him to stop his son's secular school study, and to send him to a religious Darse; he was admitted to Koduvally Darse at the age of 15, and started learning under the main dean Musliyar Mayan Koya. Shamsul Ulama went to Mattul, Kapppad, Mattannur, and Vazhekad for the sake of Darse

Teachers
During the 19th century Shamsul Ulama studied under scholars includng Marhoom Kuttubbi Muhammed Musliyar, Abdul Khader Falahari, Kanniyath Ahmed Musliyar, Ahmed Koya Shaliyath, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Hazarath and Sheikh Adam Hazarath. He attained many Islamic 'sanads' and degrees.

In Baqiyath Swalihath
In 1937 Shamsul Ulama went to Baqiyath Swalihath, a religious center in Tamil Nadu, southern Indiafor further Islamic studies. He was described as being five feet nine inches tall, with slender body, round face, thick bread, spreading forehead, and wide chest.

During the last years of his studies he went on pilgrimage to many tombs of India. He studied languages including Arabic, English, Suriyani, Urdu, French, Tamil and Sanskrit.

Professor at Baqiyath Swalihath
After completing his higher studies in Baqiyath, he was appointed as professor there. Many scholars including Sayyid Abdu Rahman al Azhari and Zainuddeen Kutti Musliyar were disciples of Shamsul Ulama in this institution.

Shamsul Ulama was appointed in his 25th year as the head of the masala’ department in Baqiyath and the mufthi of Shafi Madhab (school of law), the school of law.

Services in Kerala
In 1948 Shamsul Ulama returned to his home state, Kerala for the treatment of smallpox. At the time there was an economic crisis, and the Muslim community in Kerala considered there to be many Bidath (new practices and innovations deemed alien to Islam).

In this time he worked as a teacher of Urdu in J.D.T Calicut, which was then under Sunni management. While there he saw a woman enter a masjid (mosque). Shamsul Ulama started to campaign against this, which was new to Malabar.

Shamsul Ulama married the daughter of Ummachu, Fathima. Then he shifted his home from Permbakadve to Vellimade. After his service in J.D.T he went to his home. During this time practices he considered Bidath were increasing and spreading; vahabism was spreading throughout Malapuram district; Shamsul Ulama opposed this.

In Samastha
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 its secretary, which he remained until his death. He was also the president of Sunni Mahal federation and vice-president of Samastha Kerala Islam Matha Bidyabyasa board.

Qazi and teacher
Shamsul Ulama worked as a teacher in Taliparamba, Karuvan Truthi, Padanna, Madayi, Parakadve, Puchakadve, Tannur Islahul Uloom Arabic College, Pattikad Jamiya Nuriya, Nandi Darul Salam and Baqiyath Swalihath. He served as Qazi of Thrissur and Mattangeri. When he died he was Qazi of many Mahal.

Religious speech
Shamsul Ulama was active against what he considered Bidath. In 1950 at Cherla, a thematic speech on the subject of لااله الاّ الله ("There is no god but god", the Islamic testimony of faith) was held. In 1952 Mulkurshi conference and in 1963 Vadakara conference were held.

Shamsul Ulama worked all his life as writer and orator. He wrote many kithab and many articles on religious subjects. He wrote Tishalathul Arabathill Muthansabu during his period as teacher in jamiya.

In 1955 vahabism spread in Wayanad, and Shamsul Ulama intervened and ordered his co-workers Paravanna Muhyaddeen Kutti Musliyar and Kottumala Usthad to denounce it at Ponnangod, Wayanad. He spoke against Qadianism and other issues affecting Kerala Muslims, and argued that Qadianism was an anti-Islamic organization

In the stage of ideology
At the 18th anniversary convocation of Samastha, Shamsul Ulama made a proclamation against Qadianism. He denounced Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and his message, and asked his followers to accept Shamsul Ulama's ideology of Islam.

Against Christian missionaries
Mangeri and Eedovara became the centers of Christian missionary work. They opened Markasul Bishara mission to attract converts. Shamsul Ulama campaigned to make Muslims aware of this danger to Muslim society.

Principal
In 1963 Shamsul Ulama became the principal of Jamiya Nuriya, an Arabic institution in Malabar, where he served for many years. He was appointed as the principal of Nandi Darussalam in 1979. He continued at this post until his death. He also served in Faize College for many years.

Miracles
Shamsul Ulama is claimed to have worked miracles, including:
 * Abdul Rahman, a youth was suggested by doctors to undergo for a major operation. He visited the tomb of Shamsul Ulama and prayed for his recovery. After some days he was given certificate of good health by doctors.
 * Ali Baba had pain in his kidney and he consulted Shamsul Ulama for pray. Shamsul Ulama suggested him to meet Kakipuram Aboobacker Musliyar and Usthad suggested him some Zikr. His recovery was lightning fast.
 * Sayyid Jifri Muthu Koya said that when he faced many difficulties and problems in every matters, he used to visit tomb of Shamsul Ulama and seeks for good solution.
 * Singapore government ordered to destroy the tomb of sheik Nooh Qazi, a famous Islamic leader in Singapore. Shamsul Ulama predicted that the government would not be able to destroy it. At last government withdrew their order.
 * In the 70th anniversary of Samastha Kerala Jamiyathul Ulama, Shamsul Ulama was in front raw and he was suffering from many diseases. He left stage and ordered Cherushery Zainuddeen Musliyar to come front and to sit there. After the demise of Shamsul Ulama, Cherushery Zainuddeen Musliyar became the secretary of the organization.
 * During the first years of Darul Huda Islamic university, Bapputti Haji, its founder, said to Shamsul Ulama that the income of DHIU was not enough to meet its needs. Shamsul Ulama replied "don’t worry Saeed Alavi Mampuram will help you." After many years the property of Mampuram tomb was added to the income of DHIU.

Death
Shamsul Ulama was admitted to and died in Fathima hospital on 19 August 1996 (Hijra 1417 Rabeel Akhir 4).He was buried in Kozhikode.