Islamic Mysticism in Tamil Nadu

Islamic Mysticism or Sufism reached India in the twelfth century. Its influence was great considerable during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Mystic interpretation of Islamic life within the bonds of religious orthodoxy is called as Sufism. Sufis are Islamic spiritualists. Sufism had a great impact on Socio-religious and cultural life of Muslims in Tamil Nadu. Their teachings of brotherhood, love for Allah and Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) are attracted the entire people of Tamil Nadu. They conveyed their spiritual experience through poetry or prose in Tamil, Arabic, Arabu-Tamil and Urdu. Some well-known Sufi poets are Kottaru Gnaniar, Thuckalai Peer Mohammed, Umar Wali, Sam Shihabuddin and Gunangudi Masthan. We learn that Sufism had a great impact on the people of Tamil Nadu who were attracted by the teachings of brotherhood, love for Allah and Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Sangam Tamil Literature bears testimony of the Arab traders settling in the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu. Islam reached this region through these traders and the missionary activities of the Sufi saints.The Sufi poets contributed immensely to the development of Islamic Tamil literature.