Remembered Prophet Muhammad's words: How a Kerala mosque opened its doors for a Hindu marriage

In November 2019, the Jamaat council of Cheravally mosque in Kerala's Kayamkulam received an unusual request. A woman Bindu, whose husband had passed earlier, appealed for assistance in the marriage of her daughter Anju. “The marriage was arranged when her husband was still alive,” said Nujumudeen Alummoottil, secretary of Jamaat committee, speaking to THE WEEK. “I knew the family before. They were from a modest background, staying in a rented home. After the death of Ashokan [Bindu's husband], I had helped with the studies of their younger child. But, never before had we received such a request in the 100 years of this mosque's history. It was an unprecedented moment in history for us.”

And so, in the crowded premises of the mosque, opened up to visitors with a ceremonial tent and traditional flower decorations, Anju and Sarath tied the knot in a ceremony on January 19. The marriage was organised in a fully Hindu tradition; the bride, draped in a pink and gold sari, exchanged garlands with the groom, clad in white shirt and mundu, in the presence of a priest. A ceremonial tent was set up in the premises of the mosque to welcome visitors, and a vegetarian sadya was arranged.

Nujumudeen says there were no objections when he raised the application before the Jamaat council. “I invoked Prophet Muhammad's words: If a neighbour goes hungry, and you do nothing, you are not one of us. The decision was unanimous. It made me feel happy and proud that I stayed among people who loved me and respected me, and made all this possible.” He said there were no plans to publicise the event. “Once the wedding card was printed, I put up a copy on my family WhatsApp group so that they could check for typos. My daughter put that up on Facebook, and it went viral. We woke up the next day to find ourselves on the front page of newspapers.”

The committee gifted 10 sovereigns of gold and Rs two lakh to Anju as a wedding gift. The marriage will take place according to the Hindu rituals. Nasir, who donated for the wedding, stood in for the late Ashokan and handed over Anju to Sarath as per traditions.

Bindu (Anju's mother) told THE WEEK that they approached the Jamaat committee through a friend of her younger son Sanu. Bindu did not worry about religious differences when she sought help. “Everybody stood together to make this possible—my friends, my relatives and all the near and dear.” She says she has been getting calls from a lot of well-wishers. “I don't know how many people arrived for the wedding, but I do know at least four buses arrived.”

The response to the event, says Nujumudeen, has been overwhelming. CPI(M) MP A.M. Ariff arrived for the event. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted, lauding the event. “An example of unity from Kerala. The Cheravally Muslim Jamat Mosque hosted a Hindu wedding of Asha & Sharath. The Mosque came to their help after Asha's mother sought help from them. Congratulations to the newlyweds, families, Mosque authorities & the people of Cheravally.”

He wrote that Kerala was always at the forefront of fostering religious harmony. “They are an example to the world, at a time when there are calculated moves to split people on the basis of their religion.” Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, as well as Congress leaders like K.C. Venugopal, called to convey their appreciation.

This was a necessary and uplifting event in the current times, says Nujumudeen. “In the times of the prophet, mosques have opened up for non-Muslims; but this, I think, is the first time such an event is happening in India. It fills us with great joy.”