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'''Labbay''' ('''Labbai''', '''Labba''', '''Labbabeen''', '''Lebbay''', '''Lebbai'''), is | '''Labbay''' ([[Tamil language|Tamil]] : லப்பய் , [[Urdu]] : ﻟﺐ ﺑﮯ also '''Labbai''', '''Labba''', '''Labbabeen''', '''Lebbay''', '''Lebbai'''), is a [[Islam in India|Muslim]] trading community<ref>{{Cite book|last=Parthasarathi|first=Prasannan|title=The Transition to a Colonial Economy: Weavers, Merchants and Kings in South India, 1720-1800|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2001|location=0 521 57042 5|pages=150}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Balfour |first=Edward |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qeA0AQAAMAAJ |title=The Cyclopaedia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia Volume 2 |publisher=Akademische Druck-u. Verlagsanstalt |year=1967 |pages=645}}</ref> in [[southern India]] found throughout the southern Indian states of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Karnataka]], [[Kerala]] and [[Andhra Pradesh]]. | ||
== Etymology == | == Etymology == | ||
''Labbay'' means | ''Labbay'' is derived from the Arabic phrase ''Labbay'k'' ([[Arabic]] : لبیک ), which means - ''Here I am'', is a title for [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-speaking & [[Urdu]]-speaking Muslims who are converts to [[Islam]] who self-identify as descendants of Arab traders who intermarried with local women.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Wink |first=Andre |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g2m7_R5P2oAC&dq=labbai&pg=PA79 |title=Al-Hind: Early medieval India and the expansion of Islam, 7th-11th centuries |publisher=Brill |year=1990 |pages=78–80|isbn=9780391041738 }}</ref><ref name=":0" /> | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
Before the arrival of the Dutch in the region, the Muslim traders and Muslim boat | The earliest historical evidence of Muslim settlement on the [[Coromandel Coast|Coromandel]] coast dates from the ninth century; with an edict in 875 A.D. by the king of Madurai granting asylum to a group of Arab immigrants. Even as the community gained momentum their connection with North India was thin. Like the [[Mappila Muslims|Mappillas]], the Coromandel Muslims became prosperous maritime traders. In later times they took on the appellations of ''maraikkayar'' to distinguish themselves from the rural [[Hanafi school|Hanafi]] Muslims of the Tamil hinterland.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
Before the arrival of the [[Dutch India|Dutch]] in the region, the Muslim hinterland traders and Muslim maritime traders & boat makers were part of the same community. They both claimed to descend from [[Arabs]] and intermarried with [[Hindus]]. While in some regions the title "Labbay" carried a stigma due to it being held by converts, the Labbay traders were able to change its meaning into a title of social and religious superiority.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Pandian|first=Jacob|title=Caste, Nationalism and Ethnicity: An Interpretation of Tamil Cultural History and Social Order|publisher=Popular Prakashan|year=1987|pages=129–132}}</ref> | |||
Since the Labbay traders were the only literate Muslims in the region, they became priests, registrars, and commentators of the [[Quran]]. Their role as priests gave them high-status in the Muslim community, and great wealth in their role as traders. They spoke Tamil, but wrote it in the [[Arabic script]] also known as [[Arwi]]. They previously prohibited intermarriages and common funeral grounds between them and other Muslim communities.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
== References == | |||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
== See also. == | == See also. == | ||
*[[Tamil Muslim]] | *[[Tamil Muslim]] | ||
{{Indian Muslim}} | {{Indian Muslim}} | ||
[[Category:Muslim communities of India]] | [[Category:Muslim communities of India]] | ||
[[Category:Indian surnames]] | [[Category:Indian surnames]] | ||
[[Category:Indian castes]] | [[Category:Indian castes]] | ||
[[Category:Social groups of Tamil Nadu]] | [[Category:Social groups of Tamil Nadu]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:27, 23 July 2023
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2019) |
| Religion | |
|---|---|
| Islam |
Labbay (Tamil : லப்பய் , Urdu : ﻟﺐ ﺑﮯ also Labbai, Labba, Labbabeen, Lebbay, Lebbai), is a Muslim trading community[1][2] in southern India found throughout the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
Etymology[edit | edit source]
Labbay is derived from the Arabic phrase Labbay'k (Arabic : لبیک ), which means - Here I am, is a title for Tamil-speaking & Urdu-speaking Muslims who are converts to Islam who self-identify as descendants of Arab traders who intermarried with local women.[3][4]
History[edit | edit source]
The earliest historical evidence of Muslim settlement on the Coromandel coast dates from the ninth century; with an edict in 875 A.D. by the king of Madurai granting asylum to a group of Arab immigrants. Even as the community gained momentum their connection with North India was thin. Like the Mappillas, the Coromandel Muslims became prosperous maritime traders. In later times they took on the appellations of maraikkayar to distinguish themselves from the rural Hanafi Muslims of the Tamil hinterland.[3]
Before the arrival of the Dutch in the region, the Muslim hinterland traders and Muslim maritime traders & boat makers were part of the same community. They both claimed to descend from Arabs and intermarried with Hindus. While in some regions the title "Labbay" carried a stigma due to it being held by converts, the Labbay traders were able to change its meaning into a title of social and religious superiority.[4]
Since the Labbay traders were the only literate Muslims in the region, they became priests, registrars, and commentators of the Quran. Their role as priests gave them high-status in the Muslim community, and great wealth in their role as traders. They spoke Tamil, but wrote it in the Arabic script also known as Arwi. They previously prohibited intermarriages and common funeral grounds between them and other Muslim communities.[4]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Parthasarathi, Prasannan (2001). The Transition to a Colonial Economy: Weavers, Merchants and Kings in South India, 1720-1800. 0 521 57042 5: Cambridge University Press. p. 150.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ↑ Balfour, Edward (1967). The Cyclopaedia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia Volume 2. Akademische Druck-u. Verlagsanstalt. p. 645.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wink, Andre (1990). Al-Hind: Early medieval India and the expansion of Islam, 7th-11th centuries. Brill. pp. 78–80. ISBN 9780391041738.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Pandian, Jacob (1987). Caste, Nationalism and Ethnicity: An Interpretation of Tamil Cultural History and Social Order. Popular Prakashan. pp. 129–132.