This state in India considers Muslims as their ‘sons-in-law’; their Islamic identity is entirely different from those in UP and Bihar

Approximately 500 years later, a distinct form of Islam spread to northern India, introduced by Turkish and Persian rulers.

India is home to diverse religions, including Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. Various accounts detail the origin and spread of Islam in the country. One perspective suggests that Islam arrived in northern India through Punjab and gradually expanded across the region. Through this route, the Mughal emperors expanded Islam. However, another perspective holds that Islam entered India through the southern state of Kerala. Both claims are true.

This state in India considers Muslims as their ‘sons-in-law’; their Islamic identity is entirely different from those in UP and Bihar

According to a News18 Hindi report, Islam made its way into India via Kerala as early as the 7th century. It spread through both the northern and southern routes, taking on unique forms, nature, and characteristics in each region.

Islam made its way to India through Kerala, brought by Arab traders around the 7th century. Approximately 500 years later, a distinct form of Islam spread to northern India, introduced by Turkish and Persian rulers. These invaders expanded Islam in the northern regions. As a result, Muslims in Kerala were more influenced by Arab culture, whereas in northern India, the impact of Turkish and Persian cultures was more significant.

Muslims in Kerala still have strong cultural ties to Arab countries. Islam reached Kerala in the 7th century when Arab traders arrived during the time of Prophet Muhammad. The ruler of the Chera dynasty, influenced by the traders, is said to have converted to Islam. After his conversion, he went to Arabia to meet Prophet Muhammad and married an Arab woman named Nejad Sultan. He lived in Arabia and passed away in Salalah, Oman. Before his death, he ordered his palace to be turned into a mosque, which became the first mosque in the Indian subcontinent.

On Quora, a user named Arun Mohan shared a detailed post about this. According to his post, Muslims in Kerala were traditionally called ‘Mappila,’ which means ‘son-in-law.’ This term arose because the Muslim population in Kerala primarily resulted from marriages between Arabs and Nairs (a community in Kerala). The practice started with the king of the Chera dynasty.

In the Nair community, Arabs were seen as their sons-in-law. However, the children born from these unions were recognized as Muslims. They were also granted all the social and legal rights and privileges of the Nair community. The Mappila Muslims were elevated to a high caste status and were considered part of the Nair community.

As a result, Muslims in Kerala often have names that are local adaptations of Arabic. For instance, Muhammad becomes Mammad, Abdullah turns into Abdu, Fatima is shortened to Pathu, Ahmed becomes Amad, and Razia changes to Rathu.

In Kerala, Muslim names often included prefixes derived from Nair traditions, such as Kutty (child), Kunji (small), Umma (mother), Ikka (brother), and Kunni (sister). For instance, if a family had two members named Muhammad, the elder would be called Muhammad Ikka, while the younger would be Muhammad Kutty. Girls generally carried the prefix Umma. Moreover, it was common for people in Kerala to adopt their mother’s family name and sub-caste alongside their given name, aligning with the Nair custom of acknowledging their maternal lineage as part of their identity.