“With Humans” – Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musliyar’s Third Kerala Yatra
Introduction: A Journey of Humanity and Harmony
On January 1, 2026, Sheikh Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar – a prominent Sunni Muslim leader of Kerala – will flag off a 16-day statewide “Kerala Yatra” from Kasaragod. This will be the third such Kerala Yatra he has led (the earlier editions were in 1999 and 2012), and it comes as part of the centenary celebrations of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, the Sunni scholars’ associationmathrubhumi.com. Tellingly, the Yatra’s slogan is “Manushyarkkoppam” or “With Humans,” underscoring a message of universal human solidarity beyond religious and political dividesmathrubhumi.com. The journey will traverse all 14 districts of Kerala over two weeks, concluding on January 16 in Thiruvananthapurammathrubhumi.com. At each stop, public receptions, interfaith harmony meetings, and press interactions are planned, with participation from community leaders and even the Chief Minister and opposition leaderssirajlive.com.
Kanthapuram announced in a recent press meet that the Yatra aims to address the common people’s basic problems and to denounce all forms of communalism, extremism, and terrorism in societysirajlive.com. “Only when we learn to view people of all different faiths and political views with tolerance can we truly claim that we stand ‘with humans,’” he emphasizedsirajlive.com. In essence, the “With Humans” Kerala Yatra is envisioned as a journey of peace and compassion – reaching out to unify hearts and minds in a time of rising divides. This aligns with the themes of Kanthapuram’s past yatras, which carried mottos like “to bond human hearts” (1999) and “awakening humanity” (2012)sirajlive.com. Those earlier yatras had a powerful impact on Kerala’s public discourse, spreading messages of communal harmony and humanenesssirajlive.com. As Kerala’s society faces new challenges, the third Yatra’s human-centric message appears highly relevant and timely.
Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musliyar: Profile of a Religious Leader
Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar – also known by the honorific Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad – is a widely respected Islamic scholar and community leader, now in his mid-80slivemint.com. He serves as the General Secretary of the All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama (the national council of Sunni Islamic scholars) and of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama (Kerala’s body of Sunni scholars)en.wikipedia.org. In February 2019, he was formally conferred the title of “Grand Mufti of India” at a major Islamic conference in New Delhilivemint.com. (It should be noted this is a community-conferred title – India has no official state-appointed Grand Mufti – but it reflects the esteem he enjoys among traditional Sunni circleslivemint.comlivemint.com.) For over a decade, Kanthapuram has been regularly listed among the world’s 500 most influential Muslim figuressaudigazette.com.sa, underscoring his far-reaching influence.
Rooted in Traditional Sunni Scholarship: Kanthapuram’s religious outlook is firmly rooted in Kerala’s traditional Sunni (Shafiʽi) school. He rose through the ranks of Samastha (the council of Muslim scholars founded in 1926) as a young religious scholar. In the late 1980s, he emerged as a leader of a reformist-minded faction within Samastha. In 1989, a historic split occurred in the organization over issues including its relationship with the Muslim League political partynewindianexpress.com. Kanthapuram and five other senior scholars broke away to form a new branch of Samastha, often called the “AP Sunnis” (after Kanthapuram’s initials), while the original group led by E. K. Aboobacker Musliyar became known as the “EK Sunnis.” Markazu Saqafathi Sunniyya (the Sunni Cultural Centre) that Kanthapuram had co-founded in 1978 at Karanthur, Kozhikode, became the headquarters of the new factionnewindianexpress.com. Under his leadership, the AP Sunni group built its own network of religious and educational institutions – including a Kerala Muslim Jama’ath (community organization), youth and student wings (SYS and SSF), and an education board – paralleling the original Samastha’s structurenewindianexpress.com. Despite past rivalries, Kanthapuram in recent years has advocated for unity among Kerala’s Sunni factions, even initiating reunion talks in 2018en.wikipedia.org. While full reconciliation with the EK faction remains elusive, his call for intra-faith unity highlights his focus on the community’s collective well-being over factionalism.
Moderation and Spiritual Leadership: As a cleric, Kanthapuram is known for espousing moderation, Sufi spiritual values, and patriotism. He has strongly condemned Islamic extremism and terrorism, famously issuing one of the world’s first fatwas against the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014en.wikipedia.org. In that fatwa, Kanthapuram urged all Indian Sunni organizations to raise awareness against terror ideologies, stressing that groups like ISIS “defame a religion that advocates peace and tolerance”en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. This bold stance earned him appreciation as a voice of reason. Internationally, he has participated in numerous peace and interfaith initiatives – for example, chairing the Sheikh Zayed International Peace Conference and speaking at the World Tolerance Summit in Abu Dhabien.wikipedia.org. In 2019, he even met Pope Francis during a Global Conference of Human Fraternity in the UAEen.wikipedia.org, symbolizing his outreach across faiths. Such efforts reflect Kanthapuram’s belief that religious leaders must be bridge-builders and advocates of harmony.
At the same time, Kanthapuram holds conservative views on certain social issues which have sparked debate. For instance, he attracted controversy in 2015 for stating that absolute “gender equality is something which is never going to be a reality” in his view, arguing that men and women have different roles in Islamen.wikipedia.org. This comment, which he felt was misinterpreted by media, drew criticism from progressive quarters. Again during the anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protests in 2020, while Kanthapuram opposed the CAA law as discriminatory, he was criticized by some for advising Muslim women not to participate in street protests, reflecting his preference for less confrontational forms of dissenten.wikipedia.orglivemint.com. Despite these contentious stances, Kanthapuram remains the foremost religious authority for his followers, who revere him as “Abul Ulama” (father of the scholars) in Kerala and as a spiritual guide. His long career – spanning from mosque-based teaching in the 1960s to being Grand Mufti today – has given him a unique stature as a guardian of Kerala’s Muslim tradition coupled with a modern vision of peace.
Social and Educational Reforms: The Markaz Legacy
If one were to identify Kanthapuram Musliyar’s most impactful legacy, it would undoubtedly be in the field of education and social upliftment. He is the founder and Chancellor of Jamia Markaz (Markazu Saqafathi Sunniyya or Sunni Cultural Centre) in Kozhikode – an institution that began modestly in 1978 and has since blossomed into a vast complex of educational, charitable, and civic initiatives. Over the decades, “Markaz” has spearheaded a quiet revolution in uplifting Kerala’s Muslim community, particularly the disadvantaged.
An Education Empire with 22,000 Students: Today, Jamia Markaz is often cited as the largest Islamic university in India, with a sprawling campus and affiliated institutions across the countrysaudigazette.com.sa. It has an estimated 22,000 students enrolled in diverse faculties ranging from traditional Islamic studies (Qur’an, Hadith, Shariah) to modern disciplines like humanities, science, technology, management, and medicinesaudigazette.com.sa. Under Kanthapuram’s guidance, Markaz has embraced a holistic approach: its goal is to “inculcate the teachings of Islam, develop leadership capacities of Ulema, and contribute to the weaker sections of the population irrespective of religion or nationality.”saudigazette.com.sa In practice, this means many non-Muslim students and staff have also been part of Markaz’s programs, reflecting an ethos of inclusivity. The campus houses institutes such as Markaz College of Arts and Science, Markaz Law College, Markaz Unani Medical College & Hospital, and an Industrial Training Institute, among otherssaudigazette.com.sa. Notably, Markaz’s curriculum in Islamic studies is internationally linked – it is accredited or affiliated with prestigious centers like Al-Azhar University in Egypt, IIUM in Malaysia, and Al-Mustafa University of Yemen, ensuring its graduates have globally recognized credentialssaudigazette.com.sa. By combining religious and secular education under one umbrella, Kanthapuram has tried to dispel the notion that traditional Muslim seminaries cannot engage with modern knowledge. In a 2018 interview, he summed up his philosophy: “Education is key to peace”, emphasizing that enlightened, employable youth are the best antidote to social discorden.wikipedia.org.
Empowering the Marginalized – “Father of Orphans”: A cornerstone of Kanthapuram’s social reform agenda has been caring for orphans, the poor, and victims of calamities. Markaz runs one of the largest networks of orphanages and charitable homes in India. For example, the Yateem Khana (orphanage) on the Markaz campus in Karanthur reportedly provides free food, accommodation, and schooling to thousands of orphaned or destitute childrensaudigazette.com.sa. Over the years, Markaz has taken under its wing children affected by disasters and conflicts far beyond Kerala – from earthquake-hit zones of Andaman & Nicobar Islands to strife-torn regions of Kashmir, giving them shelter and educationsaudigazette.com.sa. The organization also extends help to widows, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups. During the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Markaz volunteers assist pilgrims, and in times of natural disasters, they mobilize relief aidsaudigazette.com.sa. These humanitarian endeavors have earned Kanthapuram widespread affection. Among Gulf Arab well-wishers, he is often referred by the honorific “Abu Al-Aytam” – meaning “Father of Orphans” – for dedicating himself to the welfare of orphaned childrenflickr.com. In 2023, in recognition of his charitable and educational services, the King of Malaysia bestowed on him the International Tokoh Ma’al Hijrah Award, a prestigious honor given to those who promote the true message of Islam with love and compassionen.wikipedia.org.
Markaz Knowledge City – A Vision for the Future: Never one to rest on past laurels, Kanthapuram’s latest ambitious project is the Markaz Knowledge City (MKC) in Kerala – an upcoming 125-acre integrated township for education, culture, and commerce. Envisioned as a “smart city” rooted in moral values, MKC will host state-of-the-art academic institutions (from schools to a proposed university), healthcare facilities, a digital library, residential quarters, and even an Islamic heritage museumsaudigazette.com.sa. The first phases of the Knowledge City have been completed, including a modern mall (Malabar Souk) and various centers. Kanthapuram, as Chairman of the project, describes it as an effort to “fill the wide gap in the transmission of knowledge to the new generation” while ensuring spirituality goes hand in hand with material advancementsaudigazette.com.sa. This blend of piety and progress captures the essence of Kanthapuram’s reformist approach – deeply traditional in faith, yet forward-looking in social strategy. Through Markaz and its satellite institutions (which now number in the hundreds across India), he has effectively built a community infrastructure that has improved literacy, skill development, and social mobility among Kerala’s Muslimsflickr.com. Indeed, one can gauge the scale of impact by the fact that the Islamic educational board he heads oversees over 10,000 madrassas in Kerala, and that he is patron or chairman of around 300 educational institutions countrywideflickr.com. These staggering numbers, reported in community sources, underscore how Kanthapuram’s life work has been devoted to education as the means of empowerment.
Religious and Political Influence on the Public Sphere
Though Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musliyar holds no political office, his influence on Kerala’s socio-political landscape is significant. As a religious figure commanding a large following, his endorsements or criticisms can sway community sentiments. Successive state governments – irrespective of party – have engaged with him and his organization. For instance, Kerala’s former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy once lauded Kanthapuram’s initiatives, saying the 2012 Kerala Yatra led by him “upheld the values of humanity over hatred” at a time when society was torn by terror and strifecoastaldigest.com. Under Kanthapuram’s leadership, Sunni organizations have often advocated for communal harmony and peaceful coexistence. The 2012 Yatra’s climax saw him urging people to reject weapons and resolve differences through dialogue and exchange of ideas rooted in humanitycoastaldigest.com – a clear pushback against the radicalization trends of that period.
In the political domain, Kanthapuram maintains a delicate balance. He has consistently discouraged turning religious organizations into political partiescoastaldigest.com, believing that clergy should not directly run for power. When rumors swirled that his Kerala Yatra might be a prelude to launching a political party, he categorically dismissed the ideacoastaldigest.com. “I am against religious organisations converting into political parties,” he stated, clarifying that while Sunni groups under him do have political awareness and social agendas, they prefer to remain non-partisan pressure groups rather than electoral entitiescoastaldigest.com. At the same time, he acknowledges that Muslims cannot remain apolitical – their organisations do formulate clear stances on social and developmental issues, and they will support political leaders or policies that align with their community’s welfarecoastaldigest.com. In practice, Kanthapuram’s camp has kept cordial relations with multiple sides: his faction has at times worked with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML, traditionally allied to the Congress) and at other times engaged with the Left Democratic Front in Kerala. In recent years, he hasn’t shied away from engaging even with the central government; notably, in March 2020 he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, urging them to remove religion-based criteria from the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizenslivemint.com. This move showcased his willingness to negotiate at the highest levels for policy changes benefitting minorities, even as he kept one foot outside the oppositional street protests.
Kanthapuram’s political influence is perhaps most evident when he leverages his global connections for public causes. A striking example came in 2025 with the Nimisha Priya case, where a Malayali nurse faced the death penalty in Yemen. Hearing of her plight, the then 94-year-old Kanthapuram activated his international network to intervene. He reached out to a longtime friend, Yemen’s renowned Sufi scholar Habib Umar bin Hafiz, and through dialogue with tribal and religious authorities, they helped secure a last-minute postponement of Nimisha’s executionlivemint.comlivemint.com. Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan publicly thanked Sheikh Abubakr (Kanthapuram) for this humanitarian interventionlivemint.com, crediting his initiative for giving “comfort and hope” to a desperate situation. Even prominent secular voices like MP Shashi Tharoor praised Kanthapuram’s role in saving a lifelivemint.com. This episode illustrated how Kanthapuram’s influence extends beyond the pulpit into diplomatic and humanitarian realms, acting as an informal ambassador of goodwill. His credibility as a moderate Muslim leader enabled him to mediate in a foreign legal crisis – something few others could accomplish.
Overall, Kanthapuram Musliyar’s religious and political influence can be described as that of a cultural statesman. He guides his community on moral and civic matters, often invoking the need for national integrity and interreligious amity. For instance, when the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute came out in 2019, Kanthapuram appealed to Indian Muslims to accept the judgment gracefully and maintain peace, stating: “The protection of India’s harmony and sovereignty is more important than winning or losing a case. Babri Masjid is a place of worship for Muslims, but equally important is that all people live peacefully in India.”livemint.com. Such pronouncements reinforced his image as a voice of reason and peace, counseling restraint at potentially volatile moments. It is no surprise then that he has been included in government advisory committees (such as the Kerala Haj Committee) and frequently consulted on minority welfare initiatives. Politicians across the spectrum attend his functions – a reflection of the respect he commands among the general public in Kerala.
The Past Kerala Yatras: Uniting Hearts in 1999 and 2012
Kanthapuram’s upcoming Yatra in 2026 builds upon a legacy of two previous Kerala Yatras that left indelible marks on society. The first Kerala Yatra in 1999 was launched with the theme “Manushya Manassukaleye Korthirakkaan” – literally “to bond human hearts.” True to that slogan, the 1999 caravan crisscrossed Kerala with a mission to foster unity among people of different faiths and backgrounds. Through that journey, Kanthapuram and his team emphasized messages of mutual respect, compassion, and collective progress, visiting numerous towns and villages to engage with grassroots communities. At a time when Kerala was recovering from the strains of the Babri Masjid aftermath and other social tensions of the 90s, this outreach helped calm nerves and project a positive narrative of Hindu-Muslim-Christian fraternity. The Yatra’s approach – meeting people where they are, in their own hometowns – was a refreshing change from delivering sermons in ivory towers. It brought religious discourse out onto the streets in a inclusive, festive manner.
The second Kerala Yatra in April 2012 was even larger in scale and ambition. Spanning 16 days, from April 12 to 28, 2012, it carried the motto “Manavikathayé Unarthunnu” or “Awakening Humanity”sirajlive.com. Starting at the northern tip of Kerala (Kasaragod) and concluding at the state capital (Thiruvananthapuram), this Yatra covered over a thousand villages and townsnewindianexpress.comnewindianexpress.com. With “Evoking Humanity” as its rallying crynewindianexpress.comnewindianexpress.com, the 2012 Yatra explicitly addressed contemporary concerns like terrorism, communal hatred, and moral degradation. At each halting point, public meetings were attended not only by Muslim scholars but also by prominent political leaders and cultural figures cutting across communitiesnewindianexpress.com. The grand finale in Thiruvananthapuram’s Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium was a testament to its success – thousands gathered, including the Chief Minister and ministers, to endorse the Yatra’s messagecoastaldigest.comcoastaldigest.com. “This mission upheld values of humanity over hatred and advocated a humane approach, peace and communal harmony at the right time,” remarked CM Oommen Chandy in praise of the Yatracoastaldigest.com. He noted that Kerala’s social fabric was being threatened by terrorism and strife in those years, and Kanthapuram’s journey had come with “the right message at the right time”coastaldigest.com. The Yatra called for the rejection of weapons and violence, urging people to settle differences through dialogue – a plea that resonated widelycoastaldigest.com. Many observers believe the discourse generated by the 2012 Yatra helped inoculate segments of Kerala’s youth against extremist propaganda, by providing a counter-narrative rooted in humaneness and national unity.
Another notable aspect of the past Yatras was the speculation around Kanthapuram’s political intentions. In 2012, as massive crowds rallied behind him, some thought he might channel this momentum into forming a new political party. Kanthapuram firmly quashed those rumors during the Yatra itself, reiterating that his aim was social reform, not powercoastaldigest.com. “Political interventions need not be construed as precursors to formation of a political party,” he explained, affirming that while his movement would encourage political awareness, it would not morph into a party machinerycoastaldigest.com. This clarification actually added credibility to the Yatra – people saw it as a selfless initiative rather than a vote-gathering exercise. Indeed, the Kerala Yatra has become a sort of social pilgrimage, above partisan lines. The themes raised – from communal harmony to education and moral living – have sparked conversations in Kerala’s civil society. Even years later, community leaders fondly recalled how those Yatras “brought the Kerala society beneficial discussions on humanitarian values”sirajlive.com.
The Third Kerala Yatra: “With Humans” and Its Contemporary Relevance
As Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musliyar embarks on the third Kerala Yatra in 2026 under the banner “With Humans,” the context in Kerala and India has evolved, but the core challenges remain familiar. Communal polarization, hate speech, and extremist violence have seen an uptick in recent times, fueled by global trends and local politics. There is a perceived erosion of the pluralistic ethos that Kerala has long prided itself on. It is against this backdrop that the new Yatra’s message of human oneness gains urgency. By declaring that the Kerala Muslim Jama’ath (the organizing body) stands “with humans,” Kanthapuram is deliberately widening the canvas beyond any one communitysirajlive.com. The phrasing implies standing in solidarity with all humans – be it different religious groups, castes, or classes – and focusing on our shared humanity as the basis for coexistence.
This universal humanist tone is expected to strike a chord across Kerala’s diverse population. The Yatra will likely highlight issues that affect ordinary people across the board: poverty, addiction, lack of education, environmental concerns, etc., and present moral and practical solutions from a faith perspective. The press statement already indicates that Kanthapuram will stress remedying the “basic problems of ordinary people” as the foremost prioritysirajlive.com. In doing so, he is subtly steering the Muslim discourse away from insular topics to more inclusive, socially relevant topics – a strategic move to build bridges with the wider society. The Yatra also explicitly vows to campaign against sectarianism and violent extremism in any formsirajlive.com. This is particularly relevant as Kerala has seen both Islamic and Hindutva radical elements trying to upset communal peace in recent years. Kanthapuram’s unequivocal stand against such tendencies (whether it’s ISIS-like terror or local communal provocations) sends a reassuring message to the general public that mainstream Muslim leadership rejects violence and stands for peace.
Furthermore, the timing of the Yatra with the Samastha centenary is symbolic. Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, since 1926, has been the guardian of traditional Islamic scholarship in Kerala. By launching the Yatra as part of the 100-year celebrations of Samasthamathrubhumi.com, Kanthapuram is reinforcing the idea that the true legacy of Kerala’s Muslim scholars is one of tolerance and public service. Indeed, Samastha’s centenary conference in 2026 is expected to unveil “revolutionary action plans” and innovative projects in education (both religious and secular) for the coming decadessirajlive.com. The Yatra can be seen as the outreach arm of this celebration – taking the centenary’s spirit to the masses, not confining it to seminar halls. It also demonstrates the continuity of leadership: Kanthapuram, having been a part of Samastha’s journey for over half its lifespan, is now rallying the community to look forward to the next century with renewed commitment to knowledge and humanity.
The inclusive nature of the Yatra is another aspect of its relevancy. Organizers have invited leaders from various faiths and political affiliations to share the stage at Yatra receptionssirajlive.com. The itinerary includes an interfaith meet (sneha virunnu or ‘friendship banquet’) in each districtsirajlive.com, which fosters direct dialogue between the Muslim clergy and local non-Muslim dignitaries – a practice that can dispel mutual misconceptions. Such engagement is crucial at a time when segmented social media bubbles often keep communities isolated from each other. By physically traveling through towns and holding out a hand of friendship, Kanthapuram is effectively telling Kerala that Muslims are integral to the social fabric and stand united with others on common causes. The sight of the Chief Minister and opposition leaders attending the Yatra’s public meetings alongside Muslim scholars, as planned, will be a potent image of unitysirajlive.com – particularly meaningful in a politically polarized climate.
Lastly, the “With Humans” Yatra reflects Kanthapuram’s enduring personal mission. Even at his advanced age, his decision to lead a rigorous statewide tour showcases his dedication to the ideals he preaches. It signals to the younger generation of Muslims that engaging with society at large – rather than turning inward – is the way forward. In one sense, the Yatra is a travelling classroom of Kanthapuram’s teachings: emphasizing education, compassion, unity, and patriotism. His past Yatras convinced him that many fears of inter-religious distrust were unfounded – “Just like Muslims had no hatred towards other religions, people from other religions too harboured no dislike towards them,” he observed after seeing the positive public responsescoastaldigest.com. This upcoming journey will likely reaffirm that insight and encourage all communities to reject imported ideologies of hate that do not suit Kerala’s pluralistic ethoscoastaldigest.com.
In conclusion, Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musliyar’s third Kerala Yatra stands as a beacon of hope for renewing Kerala’s tradition of interfaith harmony and social consciousness. With his unmatched blend of religious authority, scholarly insight, and humanitarian zeal, Kanthapuram is once again walking the talk – quite literally – by walking alongside the people. As the banner “With Humans” suggests, this journey is not just for Muslims or a particular group, but for everyone who identifies first and foremost as a fellow human being. In the words of the Grand Mufti himself, it is only by recognizing the humanity in others and treating them with compassion that “we can proudly say we are with humans.”sirajlive.com And in that simple yet profound message lies the relevancy and the promise of this Yatra for the general public today.
Sources:
Coastaldigest News – Oommen Chandy lauds A P Aboobacker’s ‘Kerala Yatra’ (April 29, 2012)coastaldigest.comcoastaldigest.comcoastaldigest.com
Siraj Daily (Malayalam) – Kerala Yatra begins Jan 1 in Kasaragod, Kanthapuram to lead (Dec 29, 2025)sirajlive.comsirajlive.comsirajlive.com
Mathrubhumi News (Malayalam) – “Manushyarkkoppam”: Kerala Muslim Jamaath’s Yatra from Jan 1 (Dec 29, 2025)mathrubhumi.com
Livemint – “Who is Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, Grand Mufti of India? – Role in halting Nimisha Priya’s execution” (July 16, 2025)livemint.comlivemint.comlivemint.comlivemint.com
The New Indian Express – “Unity talks: Sunni groups look to bury differences” (July 4, 2023)newindianexpress.comnewindianexpress.com
The New Indian Express – “Kanthapuram to Begin Kerala Yatra” (April 9, 2012)newindianexpress.comnewindianexpress.com
Saudi Gazette – “Jamia Markaz India: A saga of trust and tradition” (April 2, 2016)saudigazette.com.sasaudigazette.com.sasaudigazette.com.sasaudigazette.com.sa
Wikipedia (via archived references) – Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar – Grand Mufti tenure & educational initiativesen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org.
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