Ali Musliyar

Āli Musliyār
Āli Musliyār in 1922, at Coimbatore Prison
Born	Erikkunnan Pālattu Mūlayil Āli 1861 Nellikunnattu desom, Eranād taluk, Malabar district
Died	17 February 1922 Coimbatore Prison, Madras Presidency
Nationality	British India
Occupation	Chief Musliar at Tirurangādi Mosque (1907–1922)
Known for	Leader of Māppila Uprising (1921–22)

Āli Musliyār (1861–1922) Malayalam: ആലി മുസ്ലിയാർ, Arabic: عالي مسليار), born Erikkunnan Pālattu Mūlayil Āli was one of the prominent sufi leaders of the 1921–22 Māppila Uprising in Madras Presidency, British India. He was a sufi of Qadiriyya Tariqah.

Musliyār was an Masjid al-Haram educated Islamic scholar and religious leader who served as the Imam of Tirurangadi Mosque from 1907 until his eventual execution at Coimbatore Prison. He was an active orator of the Khilafat Movement.

Āli Musliyar was born in Nellikkunattu desom, Eranad taluk, Malabar district to Kunhimoitīn Molla and Kōtakkal Āmina. Kōtakkal Āmina was a member of the famous Maqdoom family of Ponnani, known for their religions scholarship. Musliyar's grandfather, Mūsa, was one of several "Malappuram Martyrs". Ali Musliyar began his education studying the Qur'an, tajwīd and the Malayālam language with Kakkadammal Kunnukammu Molla. He was sent to Ponnani Darse for further studies in religion and philosophy, under the tutelage of Shiekh Zainuddin Maqdum I (Akhir), which he successfully completed after 10 years.

He then went to Haram, Makkah (Mecca) for further education. Throughout this period, he was guided by several famous scholars, including Sayyid Ahmed Sahni Dahlan, Shiekh Muhammed Hisbullahi Makki, and Sayyid Husain Habshi. After spending seven years in Mecca, he went on to serve as the Chief Qasi in Kavaratti, Laccadive Islands.

In 1894, after learning of the slaying of his brother and several other family members, Musliyar returned to Malabar. He discovered that many of his relations and fellow students were lost during an 1896 riot. In 1907 he was appointed as the Chief Musliyar of the mosque at Tirurangadi, Eranad taluk.