User:AbbasNachan

ARRIVAL OF ARAB MUSLIMS TO KOKAN AFTER THE ADVENT OF ISLAM

THOES WHO SETTLED IN KOKAN AND KARNATAKA COASTLINE ARE KNOWN AS "NAWAYETES".

The coastal area is known as Kokan. It is situated in South India from Gujrat to Goa and between the Arabian Sea and Sahiyadry Mountains. It was than a commercial hub. This area was very important at the time in the world from the point of commerce, economic and politics. The foreign traders and travelers considered it as one of the most beautiful land in the world. It had flowing rivers, mountains, creeks, costly forests, gardens and plains. This area was also famous for food grains that is rice, nachni, bajra, salt, chemicals, coconut and other fruit trees. It had moderate climate.

Before the advent of Islam, people from Central Asia, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Iran came here in search of lively hood, which was in abundance. Most of them settled here. Although due to all this peaceful life, there was unhappiness among the local population due to Hindu religion, which consists of cast system. There was high cast and low cast as well as untouchable among the people. People were mentally dissatisfied. Even the gods fought among them selves. For instance Krishna incited the war between Kawraws and Pandows. This war continued for a long time. Beside the high cast people would not touch the low cast people. The high cast people would not allow them to draw water from their wells.

After the advent of Islam the caliph Usman RA had sent a religious mission in this area. Although it was easy to explain Islam among these people. In 39 Hijri a religious mission was sent under the leadership of companions of holy Prophet PUH which came to Thana (Srithan). Thana, which was a very important sea, port in the world at that time. Ships loaded with goods from China, to Turkey, Egypt anchored at this port. The missionaries also reached this port. The Rajas and Sardars knowing the principal of equality and brother hood of Islam did not allow them to start their work. The Raja’s were afraid that the common people would willingly accept Islam. After a long discussion between Rajas and the Muslim mission they were allowed to settle down on the following condition.

1.	They will not carry on their religious propaganda in the open. 2.	They were allowed to practice Islam in their houses. 3.	They will not criticize the government of the time. 4.	They will not oppose the constitution of the country. 5.	They will not repeat the azan or preach about the religion and openly carry out propaganda in a way that will appeal to the local people. 6.	Remarriages of widows will not be allowed as in Islam. 7.	They were asked to adopt the language and dresses of the local people. The Nawayet tribe’s ability, character, honesty and principal of religion had influenced the local population. These people become very popular among the local population. The local people started to believe in these people and preferred to mix with them. So much so that the Raja due to their strong character, he appointed them in their court on high positions. Even a princes from the ruling of Nul Raja accepted Islam. Mean while members of the mission spread around Thana and the interior, mainly Sopara, Simor, Uran, Taloja, Pen, Panwel, Bhiwindi, Kalyan and other places on the bank of rivers and channels. They started business as well as preaching of Islam. Among these early preachers was on Haji Abdur Rahman at whose hand thousands of Marathas accepted Islam. His darga is at Malanghar, a hill near Kalyan. Haji Abdur Rehman who is also known as Bawa Malong and lakhs of people visit his shrine to pay respect.

SECOND GROUP

Second batch of Arab Muslims (Nawayet) migrated to Kokan during the khilafat of Abde-Malik. There was a person by the name Hijaj bin Yousf who was a teacher in the school at Taif. He took to sward in place of pen in his hand and joined the army. He become governor of Iraq. He was a tyrant and was sent by Abdul Malik with a large army to Madina and attacked Zubair who was accepted as Khalifa by the people of Madina. He fought with great bravery and died during the war. Hijaz bin Saqa came to power and committed genocide of the learned Hashmiats young and old. With the result that after 96 Hijri these people of Bani Hashim migrated to Kokan with all their families and followers. These Arabs sailed in boats via Kufa and Baharin. These were the Arabs who have already settled there and had business of shipbuilding. They also started preaching Islam. The newly arrived Arabs settled down in towns of Thana. Kolaba, Ratnagri, Goa and Malbar. All these towns were on the shores of the rivers and channels. They were from the Quresh sardars of Madina. (Sadats).

The family Tree of which is as follows:

Prophet

Hazart Ali			Fatima tuz Zohra Imam Hussain Imam Zainul Abadin Imam Jaffer Sadiq Imam Mohammed Said Imam Mohammed Abdullah Syed Abdur Rahman Nayeti Nasir bin Kannan Qurshi (Imam)

These people belong to the noble people family of Quresh. Ahle Nawayet they considered themselves of Quresh Sadars. They also settled at different places in a number of towns and started business as well as missionary work.

THIRD GROUP

The leader of this group was Malik bin Habib (Hashmi). These people were followers of Imam Mohammad Shfi. Malik bin Habib reached the court of Raja Samrj of Malabar. Samri was a learned man who had detailed discussions with Malik bin Habib. The Raja was so much impressed that he with his followers accepted Islam. There after these Nawayets also settled in that area on banks of river, channels and sea ports and started their business.

FOURTH GROUP

In Madina there was an argument on the religious affairs between the Caliph and Abdullah Wayet (Sadats). They had hot discussions. Abdullah Wayet could not convince the caliph. Caliph got annoyed with Abdullah Wayet. He ordered expulsion of his family and followers. Abdullah Wayet and his followers reached Iraq. At the time the governor of Tartes (shia) ruled Iraq. The Tartes tried their best to change these Nawyets to shiaism. After failure to convert these Nawyets to shiasim the Iraqi’s forced them to leave Iraq. From Iraq these Nawyets migrated to Kokan. These immigrants spread from the upper Kokan to Arkat district in Madras.

Every thing was peaceful till the Portuguese reached this area. They were enemies of Nwayets. Kokani and Malabari Muslims for two reasons;

1.	They envied the monopoly of Nawyets business. 2.	They wanted to take revenge from the Nawyets for the defeat of Christian in Europe.

So they repeatedly looted and burned the houses/towns of Kokan Muslims such as Kylan, Bhiwindi and Thana. Dabhil and Chival.

By Abbas Nachan