Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
Historians and Islamic scholars of Indian sub-continent have
done grave injustice to King Cheraman Perumal. He should have been the most
talked about name among the believers. But very little has been written about
him despite his status as a non-Arab (Sahaba) of the Holy Prophet and the first
Indian to embrace Islam. Cheraman was a noble king of Malabar. Cheraman happened
to see the miracle of moon split. Allah had performed the miracle at the hand
of the Prophet when people of Mecca demanded to see a miracle from Muhammad(S)
to show his truthfulness. The Almighty split the moon in two separate halves
and then re-joined them. The Quran records the event as:”The Last Hour
draws near, and the moon is split as under!” (54:1).
During the days of King Cheraman a large number of Arab Merchants
used to pass through Malabar shore on way to China. Once a group of passing Arab
merchants met the King and briefed him about how Allah had supported the Prophet with
the miracle of splitting of the moon. As King had witnessed the miracle with his
own eyes, he left for Arabia to meet the Prophet in person, leaving behind his
son to look after the kingdom. The King met the Prophet, learned the basics of
faith and embraced Islam. The meeting of the king with Prophet Muhammad is recorded
in Muslim traditions. Abu Said al-Khudri, a companion of Prophet Muhammad, states:
“The Indian King gifted the Prophet
with a jar of ginger. The companions ate it piece by piece. I took
a bite as well.” An old manuscript in the ‘India Office Library’
contains several other details about King and his travel.
After meeting Prophet, the King embarked on his return journey but
passed away on way back. He was buried in the port city of Zafar in Yemen,
where the tomb of the “Indian king” was piously visited for many centuries.” Muslims
of Yemen considered him a ‘companion’ – a term used for a person who met the
Prophet and died as a Muslim .His name also figures in the mega-compendiums
chronicling the Prophet’s companions.
Due to their King’s inclination towards the Holy Prophet, the
people of Malabar became the first community in India to accept Islam. It is
said that the contingent of King Cheraman on his return journey was led by a
Muslim, Malik bin Dinar. He reached the capital of the King and built the first
mosque of India in 629 AD. The mosque is well maintained and attracts large number
of believers even today. (References available on request)
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