Shaikh Shamsul Ulama EK Aboobacker Musliyar (born in 1914 to 19th Au- gust 1996) is 2nd General Secretary of All Kerala Ulama Council (namely Samastha Kerala Jamyithul Ulama), leading the esteemed organization from 1957 to 1996.
Shaikh is regarded as the most influential islamic scholar of 20th Century in Kerala, having well acknowledged scholarly authority on Quran and related sciences, Hadith and related sciences, Fiqh and related sciences, literature and comparative religion.
He is considered to be an Usuli scholar, who always followed a fundamental approach towards Islamic sci- ences, an Aarif and Mujaddid of 20th Century, who internalized the intent and purpose of islamic knowledge forms in letter and spirit. His contemporary scholar Shaikh Aliy Al Hashimi (in the presence of Shaikh Basheer Al Saqaf, Shaikh Hisham Al Burhani) publicly conferred him the honorary title Alim Al Aalam (a global authority in Islamic sciences) in 1989. Shaikh is also known to have handled several Tariqs (spiritual/tasswwuf traditions) such as Qadiriyyah, Rifaeyya, and Chistiyyah simultaneously.
Services/Missions
He is known to have successfully taken up the challenges of his time from within Islam such as Bida’ groups; and from without such as atheists, critics from other religions, liberalists, modernists, governments, legal system and political dispensations. He focused more on preparing capable scholars who
can converse sensibly with the time, within the broad framework of Ahlu Sun- na Wa Al Jama’a. Thus, he invested most of his time, energy and resources more in teaching and making social interventions than writing books.
Soon after his post-graduation from Jamia Al Baqiyath As Swalihath, he was appointed as teacher (Mudaris) in the Jamia and served there for five years. Later, he served as Shaikh al Jamia of Jamia Nooriya, Pattikkad, Malappu- ram, Kerala, for some time. He also served as Shaikh al Jamia, of Jamia Daru Al Salam, Nandi, Calicut, Kerala.
An Institute of Excellence for doing serious researches in Quran and related sciences was one his cherished dreams.
Birth and Ancestors
Shaikh was born in 1914 to his parents, E.K. Aboobakkar Musliyar Adiyottil and Fathima Beevi Alias Beevi Kutty Umma, at Parambilkadavu, Calicut. Shaikh’s fifth grandfather, Muhammed Musliyar, came from Yemen and set- tled in Kerala.
Education
He started his formal education in traditional Dars (Masjid Study Circle). He studied with as many teachers as E.K. Koyakkutty Musliyar (own father), Ma- davoor Kunhi Mayin Musliyar, Kuthubi Muhammed Musliyar, Abdul Kader Fal- fari, Kanniyyath Ahmed Musliyar, Ahmed Koya Shaliyathi and Puthiyappla Abdu Rahiman Musliyar.
At 18, he joined Jamia Baqiyath As Swalihath for higher studies. There he became the disciple of Shaikh Adam Hazrath and Abdu Raheem Hazrath.
Disciples
More than 4000 known scholars have studied with him. His eminent disciples are Kottumal Aboobaker Musliyar, Zainudheen Musliyar O K, Valiyullahi C.M. Aboobacker Musliyar, K. K. Abu Backer Hazrath, E.K. Hassan Musliyar, Sayyid Kunhi Koya Thangal Ullal, Sayyid Umer Ali Shihab Thangal, Sayyid Hyder Ali Shihab Thangal, Prof. K. Alikutty Musliyar and Sayyid Muhammed Jifiri Muthukoya Thangal.
Wafath (Death)
At the age of 82, on 19th August 1996, he was called back to Allah. He was buried and rests in peace at Varakkal Makham (tomb), which houses several great leaders such as Sayyid Abdu Rahman Ba Alavi Mulla Koya Thanglal and his fifth grandfather Sayyid Mohammed Hamid Ba Alavi Thangal and Shaik’s fifth grandfather Muhammed Musliyar.