Arusiyyah Madrasah


Madrasatu l-‘Arūsiyyah is the oldest institution of Arabic and Islamic learning in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated in the coastal town and Islamic centre of Kilakarai. It was established in 1082 AH/1671 AD by the venerated Muslim savant and saint of the Arwi region, Shaikh Ṣadaqatullāh b. Sulaimān al-Qāhirī aṣ-Ṣiddiqī. He is known by the Arabic epithet Mādiḥu r-Rasūl. The Tamil-speaking Muslim masses and scholars of Tamil Nadu also refer to him as Appā in their discourse and literature.

Novel scheme

Prior to the inception of this seminary in Tamil Nadu, the prevalent practice in the region was for Muslim scholars to impart instruction for free in the mosques. Their students were obliged to make their own arrangements for food while accommodation was sometimes provided in the mosques.
Shaikh Ṣadaqatullāh felt that the issue of preparing food and arranging accommodation was distracting the students from fully concentrating in their studies. He thus went about to set up the facility to provide a completely free religious education by providing all the basic amenities that students required including food and accommodation.
This proved to be a successful initiative that drew the curiosity of Nawāb Ghulām Ghawth Khān Wālājah V, the ruler of the South Indian port city of Madras. He was so impressed by the results that he implemented the scheme in the Arabic College he inaugurated in Madras known as, Madrasa-e-Azam.

Extensions

The seminary was renovated in 1220AH/1805 AD by Shaikh ‘Abd al-Qādir al-Kirkari who is known by the epithet Taikā Ṣāḥib al-Kirkarī in Arabic and Kīlakkarai Taikā Ṣāḥib in Tamil.
When Shaikh Sayyid Muḥammad b. Aḥmad Lebbai, known by the epithets Imāmu l-‘Arūs in Arabic and Māppillai Lebbai ‘Ālim in Tamil, inherited the seminary from his father-in-law, Shaikh ‘Abd al-Qādir al-Kirkari, he renovated the library and amassed a wide collection of manuscripts.

Famous alumni

Many distinguished scholars and spiritual guides have studied and graduated from the seminary. Some of these eminent personalities include:
Known for his lectures on Sufi Islamic science thought and he is descendent of Sheikh Bahauddin Zakaria Multani Suhrawardi.