Chekannur Maulavi

Chekannur P. K. Mohammed Abdul Hassan Maulavi
Born 1936
Edappal, Malappuram, Kerala, India
Disappeared 29 July 1993 (aged 56-57)
Status Missing for 25 years, 2 months and 13 days
Residence Malabar
Occupation Muslim scholar
Era Modern era
Known for Non-traditional interpretation of Quran and Sunnath

Chekannur P. K. Mohammed Abul Hassan Maulavi (born in 1936) was a progressive Islamic cleric who lived in Edappal, in the Malappuram district of Kerala, India. He disappeared on 29 July 1993 and may be dead.

Biography

Son of Abdullakutty and Fathima, Maulavi was born in 1936 and studied Islamic theology and Arabic at Baqiyathu Sallihath in Vellor, and at Vazhakkad Darul Ulloom.

Although he became a religious teacher at the age of 24, his "incompatible" progressive views caused him to leave three teaching assignments in Arabic colleges in Kerala. He began thereafter to spread his own revolutionary ideals,[1] in which he directly based his interpretation of Islam on the Quran, paying little attention to conventional wisdom or ahadith.

He argued that the Quran alone was true and that many ahadith were written to malign the prophet himself. He rejected those narrated by Abu Hurairah (who is the most prolific among the narrators of hadith) which he claimed were corrupt.

His controversial teachings — especially on subjects such as Muslim personal law, women's rights and the proper methods for praying — drew considerable attention and, from religious orthodoxy and extremist fringe groups, disapproval.

He has authored eighteen books including an incomplete Malayalam translation of the Quran. His followers have founded the Khur'aan Sunnath Society to spread his thoughts and ideas.

Disappearance and investigation

Maulavi was last seen on 29 July 1993 when, according to his wife Howah Umma, he left his home to deliver a speech with two unidentified people in a vehicle that did not have a number plate. Following a complaint by his wife and uncle Salim Haji, an investigation was launched that also drew considerable public attention, leading to a reward of Rs 300,000 being offered by police for information related to the case.

The CBI took over the case in 1996, and in 2000 arrested two members of the ultra orthodox Muslim sect, which is linked to Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, under suspicion of murder.[2][3] By 2005, ten people were accused of the murder.

The case was hampered by the disappearance of a number of witnesses, whose property was seized when they fled abroad rather than appear to testify in 2008.[4]

Maulavi's wife filed a petition seeking to arraign Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musaliyar as a murder suspect through her lawyer, Advocate S.K. Premraj which was allowed.[3] The Kerala High Court set aside the order, which was challenged in the Supreme Court. Though elaborate arguments were advanced by Advocate S.K. Premraj before the Supreme Court, Kanthapuram who was defended by the legal stalwart Harish Salve ultimately won the legal battle.

On 30 September 2010, the CBI special court in Kochi sentenced V. V. Hamsa, the first accused in the murder of Chekannur Maulavi, to double life imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 100,000. Stating that the Maulavi case was a rare case, the prosecution had demanded the death sentence. Pronouncing the verdict, Special Court judge S. Vijaykumar said, of the fine amount, that Rs. 50,000 should be given to Maulavi's wife. The other eight accused were acquitted.

The court found that Maulavi's body was disposed of in some mysterious manner so as never to be recovered.[5]

His life and disappearance are the subject of a documentary, Ore Oru Chekannur, for which filming began in 2009.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 'early life'
  2. ↑ "Moulavi case: CBI closing in on main culprit?". Archived from the original on 29 March 2018.
  3. 1 2 'Court orders trial of Kanthapuram'
  4. ↑ Chekannur Maulavi murder case: CBI court orders confiscation
    of assets of witnesses - Newindpress.com
  5. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article804461.ece
  6. ↑ Documentary on Chekannur Maulavi
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