Transcending frontiers: sufism, migration, and identity in kerala’s Islamic reawakening

The article explores the unique intersection of Sufism, transnationalism, and the cultural dynamics of Kerala’s Muslim community. During the 1930s and 1940s, Kerala in India witnessed a renaissance fueled by reformist movements that reshaped religious and social life. This period marked the rise of debates concerning the modernization or rejection of longstanding religious practices, including Moulids, which were a central part of the Sufi tradition. Sufism, with its transnational reach, stood in contrast to the emerging nationalist and secular ideologies of the time, which sought to bind religious expression to territorial identity. The article delves into the history of the term “Moyliar,” once used to describe religious scholars in Kerala, and traces its evolution within the maritime and scholarly networks of the region. It then examines the Sufi philosophy, with an emphasis on the concept of baraka (blessing), and how mobility and divine grace played crucial roles in shaping spiritual practices. Through the lens of the Ponnani-Kondotty dispute, the article highlights the tension between Arabian and Persian Sufi influences, exploring how these cultural and theological divides impacted the development of Islam in Kerala. At its core, the article provides an analysis of how global movements, both religious and cultural, have influenced Kerala’s local religious identity, with particular focus on the role of Sufism in transcending national boundaries and shaping the region’s Islamic traditions.