Hindu Amir of Muslims

This lecture explores the formation of Indigenized Islam in Malabar, a region along the Indian Ocean’s coastal fringes, where local traditions, political authority, and Islamic practice intersected in distinctive and transformative ways.

 Drawing on popular traditions, primary texts, and archaeological and architectural evidence, the talk examines the historical processes through which Islam was integrated into the local vernacular context, producing a uniquely inclusive religious and cultural identity. Among Malabar’s diverse Muslim communities, indigenous customs and rituals were woven into religious life, including the veneration of local shrines and ceremonial processions to Sufi enclaves, marking a departure from conventional Arab-centric practices. The lecture also highlights the recognition of the Hindu King Zamorin of Calicut as Amir of the Muslims and the advocacy of military jihad by Muslim leaders to safeguard non-Muslim sovereignty, reflecting the ethical and political dimensions. By situating Malabar within broader Indian Ocean networks, the talk illuminates how Islam’s introduction to the Indian subcontinent was shaped by commerce, natural rhythms, and cultural exchange, resulting in a distinctive trajectory of faith and social organization. The lecture demonstrates how local customs, legal frameworks, and aesthetic practices were fused with Islamic law and ethical governance, offering a model of Indigenized Islam that was socially embedded, culturally responsive, and transnationally connected.