Prominent Indian Muslims.

 

                                                                          Prominent Indian Muslims.

There were many prominent Indian Muslims who carved their names into the books of Penang's history.  One such person was no other than 'Kapitan Keling' - a name bestowed as a leader of Indian Muslims by the British to Cauder Mohideen Merican. Probably his name was misspelled as Cauder instead of Kader. Any way let me refer to him as Kapitan Kader Mohideen as I feel it is irrelevant to add the word Keling, as he has no roots to Kalinga Kingdom. 

The British had high regards for him and the word ‘Keling’ was not at all used as an offensive word then. But, as time passed, it took a twist. The Malaysians of today view and use ‘Keling’ in a derogatory manner. Even, an honorable Member of Parlia

te. The word ‘ Keling ’ has always had a negative connotation when uttered as point of reference to Indians. When someone refers to you as a ‘ Keling ’, you will naturally be offended due to the derogatory nature of the utterance.

So, I feel it is not late to name Kapitan Keling Mosque as Masjid Kapitan Kader Mohideen and Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling to Jalan Kapitan Kader Mohideen. I wonder, why the Malaysians are using it for terms, which are offensive in nature when the Indonesians use it with no bad stigma attached and only use it just as a name.

Some Malaysians are shallow in knowledge or rather I say empty on top. I was once stopped by a cop and asked to produce my identity card. When I showed it to him, he asked me whether I was a Hindu convert as my birthplace was stated as India. I told him that Islam came to India way back compared to Malaysia and India has the third largest Muslim population in the world.

One of the theories of the spread of Islam to South East Asia including Malaya suggests that Indian traders were the first to bring Islam to Malaya. 

Not far from the village where I was born in India, is a place called Keelakarai. There is a mosque here by the name of Palaiya Jumma Palli (The Old Jumma Masjid of Kilakarai). This mosque is believed to be the fourth oldest mosque in the world and the first mosque in India. It was built in 628–630 AD., and has an Islamic heritage of more than 1000 years. It is also said that Islam was in India during Prophet Mohamed’s time. It is mentioned that Malik ibn Deenar, a well-known companion of Prophet Muhammad, led a small group of 13 companions to the ancient port of Musuris in Malabar in 629 A.D.

Well, back to Kapitan Kader Mohideen. He hailed from Parangipettai, historically called Porto Novo ("New Port" in Portuguese). It is a town in Cuddalore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Parangipettai has long been a major trading centre for the Arabs, especially the Yemenis. During the colonial era, the Portuguese, Dutch and English successively colonised the area. Parangi refers to foreigners such as Europeans and Arabs while Pettai means place.

 

Kader Mohideen was a Marakayar- a distinctive Tamil and Malayalam-speaking Muslim community from the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in India and Sri Lanka. Kader Mohideen and his younger brother Muhammad Nordin Merican sailed to Penang with their mother Fatimah, when the boys were 11 and 7 years respectively. All versions claim that Kader Mohideen had three wives, including an Indian wife and a princess from Kedah.

His first wife was Fatimah Nachiar Merican or Pathini Ama, as many people in Penang fondly knew her. Pathini Ama of Indian descent was considered a saint and it is believed that her family members were Indian Muslims who had migrated to the kingdom of Brunei.

The Tamil word “Pathini” is reserved for a wife who is considered to be faithful, trustworthy, and obedient to her husband and “Ama” of course respectfully means mother.

Among his three wives, Pathini Ama was Kapitan’s favourite wife. She was the first woman whom he had married after befriending her deeply religious brother, Tok Hakim Salleh, a judge who took a liking to the Kapitan’s qualities. He proposed that the Kapitan be betrothed to his pious sister. The Kapitan agreed. After, marrying, the couple set off to Tanjung Pudukarai accompanied by some servants. It is said that the couple had lived in a large house not far from where the famous Kapitan Keling Mosque stands today.

Fatimah Nachiar is believed to have remained a virgin even after her marriage. It is thought that Kapitan Keling understood and respected her. Pathini Ama ultimately did allow her husband to marry a second wife of her choice, an Indian Muslim too. His third marriage was to a royalty after a request from the Sultan of Kedah. The Sultan requested that the Kapitan marry, Tunku Wan Chik Taiboo or Tunku Maheran.

The Kapitan’s legacy, the Kapitan Keling Mosque today stands majestically at the junction of Jalan Buckingham and Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. The troops of Indian Muslims were said to be led by an East India Company major named Nador Khan who cleared a piece of land to erect a small Chulier mosque besides setting up their burial ground. The predecessor of the present Kapitan Keling Mosque was merely an attap-roofed structure but later Sir George Leith, the Lieutenant Governor of Penang granted the 18-acre lot to the Muslims for religious use. Kader Mohideen, who was the headman of the Indian Muslim settlers at the time, was credited with the founding of the mosque, which was subsequently named after him. Unfortunately, due to poor management of the property, the area for the mosque was reduced to only eight acres. The rest was used for building roads and houses. 

In addition to founding the Kapitan Keling Mosque, Kader Mohideen also donated his own lands to waqf. When he died in 1834, Kader Mohideen left behind a personal fortune of 50,000 Spanish dollars. "I do not leave this as a sufficient Estate to my wives and children," he wrote in his will, "but I have for them imperishable goods in the hands of God." By this, he meant that his deed as a founder of the mosque and waqf and his other charitable acts would stand him in good stead in the hereafter.

Kader Mohideen is buried together with his family in a mausoleum in Kampong Kolam, just next to the mosque. This mausoleum is still intact, reminding us of the great man who founded one of Malaysia's most prominent mosques.

It was sad to see at one time, his burial ground neglected, forgotten and abandoned. It was only recently some clearing has been done. I wonder why the filthy rich jewelers and moneychangers who are occupying shops build on his ‘wakaf’ land for a mere peanut rental have not done anything to remember this great man. Even the Endowment Board failed at one time to look after the land itself, which is under their care. 

Kapitan Kader Mohideen was a man who had donated much of his wealth to the Penang state and even to his community. Let us not be like the Malay proverb, ‘bagai kacang lupakan kulit’, literally means ‘like a nut forgetting its shell’ meaning a person who forgets his roots.

Let us do something annually to remember this great human being.