Sheikh Ubaidullah

Sheikh Ubaidullah (born c. 663 AD) was a Muslim Arab saint from Medina, credited with introducing Islam to the Lakshadweep islands in India.^[1]^[2] Born in Medina during the 7th century (41 AH), he was a relative of Caliph Abu Bakr and received a divine vision from Prophet Muhammad instructing him to propagate Islam eastward from Jeddah.^[1]^[2] Sailing from Jeddah, his ship was shipwrecked in a storm, landing him on Amini Island in Lakshadweep around 663 AD, where he began preaching despite initial opposition from local leaders.^[1]^[2] He successfully converted inhabitants starting with a prominent family on Amini, then expanded his efforts to nearby islands including Andrott, Kavaratti, and Agatti, using sermons and reported miracles to overcome resistance.^[1]^[2] Settling in Andrott, he married locally and established the Juma Mosque, where he later died and was buried; his tomb remains a sacred site.^[1]^[2] Known as Munbe Mullaka ("The Elder of the World"), Sheikh Ubaidullah's missionary work laid the foundation for the Islamization of Lakshadweep, where approximately 96% of the population is now Muslim, influencing the islands' religious and cultural identity.^[1]

Early Life and Background

Birth and Lineage

Sheikh Ubeydullah was born around 1826 in the village of Nehri in the Shemdinan region, then part of the Van Eyalet of the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Hakkâri Province, Turkey). He belonged to the Sadat-e Nehri, a prominent Sufi dynasty within the Halidi branch of the Naqshbandi order, which claimed descent from the Prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatimah and her descendants. This lineage granted the family significant religious authority among Kurdish tribes in eastern Anatolia.^[3] His father, Sheikh Taha al-Naqshbandi (d. 1812), was a influential Naqshbandi leader who expanded the order's influence in the region, fostering ties with local Kurdish tribes and Ottoman authorities. Ubeydullah's familial heritage positioned him as a natural successor in the Sufi hierarchy, emphasizing spiritual leadership and Islamic scholarship within a context of Ottoman centralization and tribal autonomy in the 19th century.^[4]^[5]

Religious Upbringing

Ubeydullah received his early religious education in the Naqshbandi tradition under the guidance of family elders and local scholars in the Hakkari region. As a member of a revered Sufi lineage, he was immersed from a young age in the study of Islamic texts, including the Quran, Hadith, and Sufi mysticism, with a focus on the Naqshbandi principles of silent dhikr (remembrance of God) and adherence to Sharia. His upbringing emphasized the order's role in promoting Islamic revivalism and mediating tribal disputes, preparing him for leadership amid the socio-political tensions following the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. Details of his personal youth are limited, but his rapid ascension to sheikh status reflects the prestige of his lineage.^[6]

Divine Calling and Journey

The Prophetic Dream

Around 662–663 AD, while praying in the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, Sheikh Ubaidullah experienced a visionary dream in which the Prophet Muhammad appeared and instructed him to travel eastward from Jeddah by sea to distant islands in order to propagate Islam.^[7] This occurrence, rooted in local traditions, marked a pivotal moment in his life, transforming his scholarly pursuits into a missionary calling.^[1] Sheikh Ubaidullah interpreted the dream as a divine command, which compelled him to leave his family and homeland despite the personal sacrifices involved. Following these consultations, Sheikh Ubaidullah prepared for departure in Medina, drawing on his religious education to equip himself for the mission ahead, though the precise details of his preparations remain part of oral histories.^[1] This dream not only initiated his voyage but also underscored the role of prophetic visions in early Islamic missionary endeavors.^[7]

Voyage from Jeddah to Lakshadweep

Following the prophetic dream that urged him to propagate Islam in distant lands, Sheikh Ubaidullah departed from Jeddah around 41 Hijra (approximately 662–663 AD) by boarding a ship.^[2] The maritime journey across the Arabian Sea navigated toward eastern destinations.^[2] During the voyage, the ship was caught in violent storms that caused it to wreck near the Lakshadweep archipelago; Sheikh Ubaidullah survived by holding onto a wooden plank amid the chaos.^[2]^[8] He washed ashore on Amini Island, where he was soon encountered by local fishermen, an unplanned arrival that positioned him among the island's indigenous inhabitants.^[2]

Propagation of Islam

Early Influence and Teachings

As a prominent Naqshbandi Sufi sheikh from the Sadat-e Nehri dynasty, Sheikh Ubeydullah inherited religious leadership from his uncle Sheikh Salih around the mid-19th century, establishing himself as a key authority in the Shemdinan region of eastern Anatolia. He delivered sermons and teachings rooted in the Halidi branch of the Naqshbandi order, emphasizing Islamic revivalism, moral conduct, and unity among Kurdish tribes. His theological education and charismatic presence enabled him to foster adherence to Sunni Islamic practices, including daily prayers and ethical living, amid post-Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) social disruptions like famine and displacement.^[4] Ubeydullah's teachings drew from Sufi traditions, such as Rumi's Masnavi, which he referenced in his own poetic works like the Mesnewi, critiquing Ottoman and Qajar neglect of Islamic ideals and advocating for Kurdish welfare under religious principles. These efforts gained him influence over approximately 500,000 Kurdish families, promoting a distinct Kurdish-Islamic identity that blended spiritual guidance with ethnic solidarity. He notably demonstrated interfaith tolerance, praising American Christian missionaries as "pure servants of God" in 1880 conversations and protecting Nestorian Christian communities in Urmia from sectarian violence.^[6]^[9]

Expansion of Influence

By the late 1870s, Ubeydullah expanded his religious network across Kurdish tribal areas in eastern Anatolia and northwestern Persia, leveraging Naqshbandi affiliations to unite disparate groups under Islamic revivalism. Following the 1877–1878 war, he mobilized tribal leaders through inter-tribal councils and pilgrimages, extending his reach to regions like Hakkari and Urmia, where he addressed grievances over Ottoman centralization and Qajar oppression. This propagation intensified after his son Abdulkadir's 1879 rebellion, positioning Ubeydullah as a defender of caliphal Islam against imperial betrayals.^[4]^[3] His 1880 uprising, framed as a jihad for Islamic unity and Kurdish autonomy, further disseminated his teachings, rallying 10,000–30,000 fighters who captured towns like Savojbulagh (modern Mahabad). Though militarily short-lived, these efforts solidified Naqshbandi influence, inspiring later Kurdish movements by merging Sufi spirituality with proto-nationalist aspirations. Ubeydullah's work fostered religious cohesion, superseding tribal divisions and laying foundations for shared Islamic governance in Kurdish areas as of the 1880s.^[9]^[6]

Methods and Challenges

Ubeydullah employed oral sermons, poetic compositions, and personal diplomacy to propagate Islam, explaining core Naqshbandi principles like silent dhikr (remembrance of God) and adherence to Sharia while integrating them with Kurdish customs to avoid cultural alienation. He complemented teachings with acts of compassion, such as famine relief and protection of minorities, building trust among diverse tribes unfamiliar with centralized Ottoman reforms.^[10]^[11] Challenges included linguistic diversity among Kurdish dialects, resistance from tribal leaders loyal to Ottoman or Qajar authorities, and geopolitical tensions post-1878 war that heightened ethnic and sectarian divides. Geographical isolation in mountainous regions limited mobility during harsh winters, while imperial surveillance curtailed open gatherings. To counter these, Ubeydullah appointed local Naqshbandi khalifas (deputies) from trusted families to relay teachings and sustain revivalist practices, ensuring enduring influence despite his 1882 exile to Istanbul and the Hijaz.^[4]^[12]

Later Years and Demise

Settlement in Andrott

According to local legends, following his propagation of Islam in Amini, Sheikh Ubaidullah arrived in Andrott in the late 7th century, where he faced initial opposition but ultimately converted the local population, establishing it as his permanent base due to its receptive community after these conversions.^[2] As the largest island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, spanning 4.90 square kilometers, Andrott provided a strategic location for ongoing missionary efforts amid its central position in the island chain.^[13] During this phase, Sheikh Ubaidullah is said to have influenced the construction of the Juma Mosque in Andrott, which became a vital center for communal worship, religious education, and gatherings of the newly converted Muslims.^[1] The mosque not only facilitated daily prayers but also served as a hub for teaching Islamic principles to the islanders, solidifying the community's adherence to the faith.^[13] In his daily routine on Andrott, Sheikh Ubaidullah devoted himself to preaching and mentoring new converts, integrating his teachings with the island's simple lifestyle while fostering a stable Muslim community.^[14] This period marked the culmination of his missionary work, with Andrott emerging as an enduring stronghold of Islam in the region.^[1]

Death and Burial

According to tradition, Sheikh Ubaidullah passed away in Andrott after dedicating decades to propagating Islam across the Lakshadweep islands, succumbing to old age following his extensive missionary efforts. Precise records are scarce, with events placed in the 8th century.^[2] His burial took place in the compound of the Juma Mosque in Andrott, where his tomb was established as a central feature of the site. The tomb quickly became an early pilgrimage destination for the island's inhabitants, serving as a revered sacred space that honors his contributions to the community's spiritual life.^[13] In his final moments, Sheikh Ubaidullah imparted instructions to his followers, urging them to uphold the purity of Islamic practices amid the islands' unique cultural context, ensuring the faith's enduring integrity.^[14]

Legacy and Influence

Role in Islamization of Lakshadweep

Sheikh Ubaidullah is credited in local traditions with playing a pivotal role in the Islamization of Lakshadweep, transforming the islands from pre-Islamic societies influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism into a predominantly Muslim region. Archaeological evidence indicates early human settlement on the islands dating back to at least 1500 BCE, with signs of Buddhist presence in the 6th–7th centuries CE, including references in ancient Jataka tales and possible monastic structures. Subsequent migrations from the Kerala mainland introduced Hindu practices, characterized by caste systems, idol worship—such as Krishna idols—and animist elements among the indigenous Dravidian populations, who engaged in coconut cultivation and fishing under matrilineal social structures.^[15]^[16]^[17] According to popular oral histories and gazetteer accounts, Sheikh Ubaidullah, an Arab saint from Medina and relative of Caliph Abu Bakr, arrived in Lakshadweep around 661 CE (41 Hijra) following a shipwreck on Amini Island during a voyage inspired by a prophetic dream. Revered in local lore as the "Sixth Preacher" or Onnam Musaliyar—linking him to a lineage of earlier Arab traders and missionaries who had introduced Islam to the Malabar Coast—he systematically preached across the islands, beginning with Amini and extending to Androth, Kavaratti, Agatti, and others. His efforts focused on converting local leaders and families through persuasive teaching and community integration, overcoming initial resistance from Hindu chieftains by demonstrating Islamic principles and performing reported miracles. These missionary activities, though legendary in detail, are seen as catalyzing the broader wave of Arab trader influences that solidified Islamic adherence.^[2]^[1]^[18] Historical evidence suggests the Islamization was initiated by 7th-century missionary activity, with the full demographic shift occurring more gradually as Arab maritime trade intensified in subsequent centuries, leading to intermarriages and cultural assimilation that eroded pre-Islamic practices. By the medieval period, the islands' population—estimated at several thousand—had largely converted to Sunni Islam of the Shafi'i school, with matrilineal customs adapting to Islamic norms rather than being supplanted. Remnants of Hindu and Buddhist elements, such as buried idols and folk songs referencing pre-Islamic deities, declined sharply, with no organized non-Muslim communities persisting beyond the 15th century due to isolation and unified conversion efforts. As of the 2011 Indian Census (the most recent available, with the 2021 census delayed), Lakshadweep's population was recorded at 64,473, with 96.58% identifying as Muslim, 2.77% Hindu, and no significant Buddhist presence.^[15]^[19]^[20]

Shrines, Titles, and Cultural Impact

Sheikh Ubaidullah is posthumously honored with several titles reflecting his role as an early Islamic preacher in Lakshadweep, including Munbae Mollaka, meaning "the first preacher," and Tangal, denoting his revered saintly status as a Hijazi Sayyid.^[19] These titles underscore his veneration in local folklore, where he is depicted as a miraculous figure who overcame satellite opposition through divine intervention, such as in legends of shipwrecks and conversions that blend Arab Islamic traditions with island narratives.^[21] His descendants, known as Tangals, continue to hold esteemed positions in Andrott society, perpetuating his spiritual lineage.^[19] The primary shrine associated with Sheikh Ubaidullah is his tomb in Andrott, a sacred marabout or Mukbara that serves as a central pilgrimage site for locals and visitors seeking blessings for healing and prosperity.^[21] Adjacent to the historic Juma Mosque in Andrott, where his remains are entombed, the site draws devotees for Ratib ceremonies—communal recitations honoring saints—and annual death anniversary commemorations marked by prayers, feasts, and cultural gatherings that reinforce community bonds.^[19] Another attributed tomb near the Ujjra Mosque in Kavaratti also hosts similar annual events, highlighting the widespread reverence extending his influence across islands.^[19] These shrines not only commemorate his legacy but also symbolize the early propagation of Islam, with preachers from Andrott tracing their authority to him and gaining respect in regions like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Myanmar.^[21] Culturally, Sheikh Ubaidullah's enduring impact is evident in the Arabic-influenced dialects of the Lakshadweep Malayalam variant, which incorporate Islamic terminology and phrases from his era of preaching.^[19] His introduction of Sharia principles blended with pre-existing matrilineal customs, resulting in the Marumakkathayam system that governs inheritance and family structure among most island Muslims, except for patrilineal Tangal lineages reflecting selective Hindu admixtures.^[19] This hybrid socio-legal framework, preserved through isolation, aided resistance to colonial impositions, such as 19th-century British coir monopolies and Arakkal Raja overreach, fostering a resilient community identity rooted in his teachings.^[19] In folklore, he remains a propitiated figure for protection and guidance, influencing festivals and social norms that prioritize communal harmony over external disruptions.^[19]