The Melodic Language of the Arabian Sea

Do you know that there are thousands of people in Kerala who read like Malayalam and write like Arabic? Arabi Malayalam is a special language that the Muslims of Malabar invented due to their deep connection with the Arab merchants of the middle east.

Arabimalayalam alphabets. Credits, Sahapedia

Arabi Malayalam is a variant of the Malayalam language spoken by a large community of Muslim people in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a creole language that developed as a result of the historical interactions between the local Malayalam-speaking population and Arab traders who settled in the region.

Arabi Malayalam has its roots in the Arabic language, as well as various other languages such as Urdu, Hindi, and Tamil. As a result, it contains many loanwords and grammatical structures borrowed from these languages. It also has a distinct vocabulary and pronunciation that sets it apart from standard Malayalam.

Arabi Malayalam is primarily spoken in the northern districts of Kerala, such as Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Kannur, where the Muslim population is concentrated. It is also spoken in some parts of Tamil Nadu, such as Kanyakumari district. It is used in daily conversation, religious practices, and also in literature.

The Arabi Malayalam script is a variant of the Arabi-Malayalam script, which is a modified version of the Arabic script. It is used for writing Arabi Malayalam in religious contexts, and for writing the Quran and Hadith.

It is important to note that Arabi Malayalam is not a standardized language and it's not officially recognized as a language by the Indian Government. However, it is widely spoken and understood by a significant portion of the population in certain areas of Kerala.

In recent years, there have been efforts to document and preserve Arabi Malayalam, including initiatives to promote the language in schools and to publish literature in the language. This is important to preserve the linguistic and cultural heritage of the communities who speak Arabi Malayalam.

The first and prominent known book in Arabi Malayalam is ‘The Muhyudheen Mala’ which is a collection of devotional poems that express the poet's deep devotion to Allah and his longing for union with the divine. The poems are written in a simple and direct language and are characterized by their emotional intensity and spiritual depth. They are considered to be a classic example of the Arabi Malayalam literary tradition and have been widely read and admired by generations of readers.

Muhyudheen mala. Credts Google docs

The poet Qazi Mohammed of Kozhikkode lived in the 18th century and was a prominent figure in the Sufi tradition of Kerala. He is known for spreading the teachings of Islam and the Sufi path in the region through his poetry and teachings. His poetry is considered as a valuable resource for the study of the history of Islam in Kerala and the development of the Arabi Malayalam language.

The Muhyudheen Mala is considered to be one of the most important works of Arabi Malayalam literature and is still widely read and studied today. It is considered a valuable resource for the study of the history of Islam in Kerala and the development of the Arabi Malayalam language. The poetry of Qazi Mohammed of Kozhikkode continues to inspire generations of readers and his legacy lives on through his works.

Arabi Malayalam is still used by a great share of Sunni people and many books of their Madrassa are also in Arabi Malayalam. Since there is only little difference with the spoken Malayalam, it is not such hard for students. Rather, it also helps them to easily learn the Arabic language and its letters.

The genre of the songs called Mappilappattu is usually composed in this language. The little pronunciation differences between Malayalam and Arabi Malayalam are also well cared for in those songs.