maritime activities economy and social customs of the muslims of ...

The religious ties and associations of the converts, with foreign Muslims gave them a new fiekl of
service in the mercantile towns. The increase in the number of ships in trading activities necessiated
more perso~el to man them. Thus sailors and labourers for the shipping activities increased. They
took such jobs in the ships and were ready to travel for a long distance. They also entered into trade in
a variety of subsidiary roles such as brokers, jobbers and retailers. The poorest among them became
porters and packen. The native Muslims were the chananel through which foreign goods were distributed
either on barter or for money among the people16. There were many others who were in the upper
strata of the society and they enjoyed a better position. It is possible that such people were mainly the
traditioinal trading communities who were convetted to lslam and the gr&g
influence of lslam facilitated
their uplift. Along with the Muslim, the Chettiars were profitably engaged in ocean tmde. Their economic
power was bigger and not comparable to that of the Muslims.
The men who took lskm across the Bay of Bengd were the members of mercantile communities.
Tamil Muslim merchants had done a lot in this direction. The Gujarathi Muslims also had served for this
cause but the Tamil influence was found deep rooted. It was principally the efforts of these small groups
of scribes, mystics, missionaries to a lesser degree their mercantile patrons coupled with political and
economic ambitions of the local rulers that set Islam on the march across the Malay world1'. Marcopoio
who visited Sumatra in 1292 mentions about the Muslim traders who influenced the natives of the place
to embrace lslam la. Most of these merchants may be from Coromandel since the Muslims of many
islands of the Southeast Asian region had adapted as their own the prefixes like Labbai.
The influence of Tamil Muslims was so tremendous that it had an impact on the political course
of Malacca from fifteenth centuy. They played a significant role in the political life of these countries.
Thrwgh diplamatic ties, maniages presents and general goodwill, these Muslim became great favourites
vAth the kings and obtained many concessions. They became not only prominent in commerce of the
Ports but gradualiy became powerful force in the Royal court intrigues of Malacca and were in a position
to make kings and miniiters19.
The third ruler of Malacca, Raja lbrahim was dethroned and murdered in a coup, by a
Tamil Muslim, led by his elder brother Raja Kasim, in the year 1446. Raja Kasim's mother
was the daughter of a rich Tamil merchant from Pase. The Tamil uncle Tun Perak was