Labbay


Labbay, is an Islamic community in southern India found throughout the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. They are also found in other parts of the world where they reside as Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin emigrants and their descendants.

Identity and origins

The community's name is derived from the Arabic phrase Labbay'k, which translates to "here I am."

History

Labbays are said to have descended from traders who originated in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Peninsula through mixed unions of themselves with the local Tamil and Malayali population, as well as many converts from the southern states of India. Since the late 13th century, Labbays have specialized in the trade and manufacturing of leather, tobacco, grains and spices.
In Kerala there are many Labba families settled in different locations, Alappuzha, Chunakkara is one of the oldest settlement of this kind and later spread to nearby. A good number of Labba families are also living in Muvattupuzha, a hub of Shafi Mappila Muslims.
Today, the Labbay community is based in towns including Bangalore, Chennai, Kadayanallur, Kilakarai, Koothanallur, Kayalpatnam, Adiramapattinam, Pazhaverkadu, Thondi, thopputhurai, Nagore, and Erwadi, and sizeable population of Urdu speaking in vellore district. Labbays constitute a substantial percentage in the coastal villages and towns from the border of Andhra to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, from Kanyakumari to the Karnataka border, and all over Sri Lanka. Tamil and Malayalam Muslims share cultural practices and a shared vocabulary of kinship terms such as vappa, umma, and ikkaka.
In Tamil Nadu a large Labbay community is located in Vellore district, made up of mostly traders and leather manufacturers. The community makes up a sizable population in Vellore, Melvisharam, Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Tirupaatur, Pernambut and Oomerabad. These people have a distinct culture, using Urdu as their mother tongue instead of Tamil or Malayalam. These community members might have migrated from Pondicherry, Cuddalore, Tirunelveli and from other coastal districts about 200 years ago.
Actually labbe is are born to Tamil mother and Arab traders, who had tradition for 1400 years as when they came here from Arabia to Tamil nadu coastal areas via ships for business.on those days it phenominalienable to stay here for six months contract to wind wanding as we says " baruwa kaattru ".
So Arabs are pious. So they asks Tamils in coastal to give their sisters in Nikkah.on those days it is honour to have Arab as moppillas.
So from these offsprings are all " Tamil Muslims ".