What is "thangal"

Thangals are the various Muslim communities of Yemeni Arab origin found scattered and isolated in the state of Kerala, India. They migrated to Kerala during the 17th century to expand their business, and propagated Islam as they are Muslims, and do not belong to the Mappila Muslim community of Kerala. In Malayalam, thangal is an honorific Muslim title almost equivalent to the Arabic term Sayyid which is given to males believed as descendants of Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husayn ibn Ali, who were the sons of his daughter Fatima Zahra and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib. It has two basic divisions called ba-hassan and ba-alawi. Jamallulaily, Al-Jifri, Al-Bafakhy, Al-Saqaf, Bukhari,bahabooth are considered as important Sayyid families (Khabeelas). Thangals residing in Panakkad, Malappuram district are often regarded as the most powerful and influential Thangals of Kerala. The Thangal of Panakkad is the supreme leader of the Sunni faction of Muslims of Kerala and the hence plays an important role in local politics.