The Kerala King Who Embraced Islam
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ This is an interesting story about Sayyidina Taj ad-Din Cheraman Perumal Rama Varma Kulashekhara ( r.a. ). According to the Rameswarathukoil Inscription, Sayyidina Cheraman ( r.a. ), who reigned from 1090 CE to 1102 CE, was the last King of the Later Chera Dynasty and the first ruler of the independent Venad state from 1102 CE to 1122 CE. The story of his conversion cannot be independently verified, though and was only transmitted after the coming of the Portuguese. Nonetheless, the people of Malabar still believe it. The Cheraman Juma Masjid is said to be the very first mosque in India, built in 629 CE by Shaykh Malik ibn Dinar ( r.a. ). It is in Methala, Kodungallur Taluk, in the Indian state of Kerala. It is believed that this mosque was first renovated and reconstructed in the 11 th century CE. Many non-Muslims conduct initiation ceremonies to the world of letters of their children her...