E

    In the previous lesson, you learnt that there are twentysix Islamic classics in Tamil. The oldest of them is கனகாபிசேகமாலை. Between 1807 and 1821 A.D. nine classics were produced. Of these, three were composed by மர வண்ணக்களஞ்சியப் புலவர். They are ராஜநாயகம், குத்பு நாயகம் and தீன் விளக்கம். We shall learn about these classics in this lesson.

    The most ancient of Islamic Tamil classics written by Muslim poets is கனகாபிசேகமாலை. It was composed by செய்கு நயினார்
கான். He belonged to a town called ராஜகம்பீரம். He was also called கனகக் கவிராயர் or கன கவிராயர்.

    கனகாபிசேகமாலை literally means “bath of gold coins.” When a king is crowned, he is given a symbolic bath of gold coins. This classic deals with the ascension to the throne, of seven kings (one after the other) belonging to four generations.

    In the history of Islamic classics, இராஜநாயகம் occupies an important place, because it tells the story of two Biblical characters - David and Solomon. This work was composed by the poet Mohammad Ibrahim. He was also known as வண்ணக் களஞ்சியப் புலவர். Many of the name, of the characters in the Bible are found in the Quran also. However, there is a slight change in the sound and spelling of these names, for example, David and Solomon have become Dawood Nabi and Sulaiman Nabi in the Quran.. Rajanayakam tells the story of Dawood and Sulaiman Nabi.

    குத்பு நாயகம் is considered to be next in importance to Kanakaabhishekamaalai. “குத்பு” in Arabic means, ‘One who has reached the height of holiness’. ‘குத்பு நாயகம் is the title given to Mohideen Abdul Kaadir Geelani, whose life-history is recounted in this epic.

    The Arabic word “Deen” means “The தீன் விளக்கம் Islamic Code.” தீன் விளக்கம் deals with the story of Sayeed Ibrahim, who came to Tamil Nadu to Propagate Islam; hence the name தீன்
விளக்கம்.

    All the above-mentioned classics are based on Islam, but steeped in the traditions of ancient Tamil literature. They are rich in descriptive details, literary excellence and imaginative appeal. Tamil literature can be said to have benefited from the acquisition of these classics.