The Politics of Conflict Resolution: A Study of the Mediation Practices of Sayyid Muhammad Ali Shihab
Abstract:
The paper examines conflict resolution methods and techniques practiced by Sayyid Muhammad Ali Shihab (1936-2009) and his role in community building in a pluralist society. He is a Muslim religious and political leader from Kerala, a south Indian state. The population of Kerala is religiously diverse with 54.73 % Hindus, 26.56 % Muslims and 18.38 % Christians. The state is known for its composite culture and religious harmony. He was the state president of Indian Union Muslim League, the third-largest political party in the state from 1975 to 2009 and the Qazi (religious authority) of many Mahals (Muslim association centered in a mosque in a specific geographical location). He headed many religious and educational institutions across the state and practiced traditional Islamic healing. As a person belonging to the Sayyid family (descendants of prophet Muhammed) who migrated to Kerala from Yemen around 300 years ago, he already possessed a traditional authority over the Muslim population of the region. As a leader, he was the center of the conflict resolution in his society. Tuesday was the day of the week he entirely dedicated to problem-solving practices and public interactions. Hence, every Tuesday, people from and outside of the Muslim community visited him to solve their personal problems, interpersonal quarrels, inter-community conflicts, and the issues in everyday working of the Mahals. His popularity in the field was widely accepted as there was a time when he was assigned mediation by the High Court of Kerala. The study examines how he practiced conflict resolution as a principle of his political engagement and as a tool for strengthening religious harmony, especially in the post-Babari Masjid demolition of 1992.
Read or download full paper:
Journal of Living Together, 6 (1), pp. 97-109, 2019, ISSN: 2373-6615 (Print); 2373-6631 (Online).
@Article{K2019
Title = {The Politics of Conflict Resolution: A Study of the Mediation Practices of Sayyid Muhammad Ali Shihab }
Author = {Muhmmed Sihabudheen K}
Url = {https://icermediation.org/politics-of-conflict-resolution/}
ISSN = {2373-6615 (Print); 2373-6631 (Online)}
Year = {2019}
Date = {2019-12-18}
Journal = {Journal of Living Together}
Volume = {6}
Number = {1}
Pages = {97-109}
Publisher = {International Center for Ethno-Religious Mediation}
Address = {Mount Vernon, New York}
Edition = {2019}.