Thread by @RamalanEisa

Had to do a mini research on a hot topic which plays a vital role in every elections that is 'Kuragala" / "Jailani”

I only had to search why Muslims living in that area targeted often and why it’s historically important to them. Let’s go (1/23) #lka

This thread will continue only with important points. The link of Full article attached at last, so that you can read it fully.

Also these are just my findings according to few articles and books (2/23)

Qutub Muhiyuddin Abdul Qadir Jailani, also known as Ghouse-e Azam, is one of the greatest scholars in Islamic history, was born into a pious family in the Iranian village of Naif in the south of the Caspian Sea on 18 March 1077. (3)

During his life he had mysteriously disappeared for around 13 years during which he had, as believed by millions, meditated in Dafter Jailani or Kurugala (15 miles off Balangoda) thousands of feet above land level, covered with dense jungle growth. (4)

Qutub Mohyiuddin sought asylum here for meditation after a pilgrimage to Adam’s Peak. Here he meditated for over a decade at Kuragala, the site of historic rock cave mosque .There are many stories about his visit and his impact on that sacred place. (5)

If Sri Lanka was well known among the Arabs in 300 BC, it is also true that Adam’s Peak was as well known to travelers of the Middle East and has been often mentioned in their writings. (6)

Howvr, one of d most famous Arab travelers to Adam’s Peak is Ibn Batuta, from Morocco.He visited Adam’s Peak in 1344 AD. In his writing h speaks of many famous Muslim shrines on the way to Adam’s Peak. He also mentions” A Muslim ascetic who had lived on the road to the peak. (7)

According to Van Sanden in his book Sonahar, this Muslim shrine is said to have been sanctified by one Khader or Khidr through his visit.

A map showing Ibn Batuta’s route to Adam’s Peak made in 1344 AD including the Kuragala route (Kuragala mentioned as Mohammedan shrine) (8)

Among the proofs of Qutub Muhiyuddin’s links with Kuragala was the tombstone discovered in 1922 when excavating to build a mosque about ten feet below a mound of earth with the words stating “Disciple of Mohyiuddin” dated 1322 AD. (9)

A small mosque was constructed under the Hituwangala rock in 1922.The mosque needed no roof as the rock itself is shaped like a cobra hood and is a shelter from the sun and rain. There are several writings in Arabic and the direction of Kaaba,kibla etc (10)

According to Aboosally’s book vested interests started claiming in the 1960s that Kuragala was a place for meditation for Buddhists monks. (11)

In fact, maps printed in 1901 and 1928, as well as earlier, refer to Kuragala as” Mohammedan shrine”. However in the one inch to a mile map of Sri Lanka revised after independence this identification had been omitted in 1971. (12)

The 1971 version depicts the area only as a Buddhist monastery of the 2nd century BC.
This is a clear indication that communal elements began planning since independence to deprive Muslims of this place of importance to Muslims. (13)

However Jailany as a Muslim place of religious importance is recorded in the Government Agent’s diaries in the Ratnapura Kachcheri.This included H Mooyarts, 13 January 1857, H.Wace, 20 March 1887, R.B.Hellings, 12 February 1910, G.Cookson, 12 January 1911,R.N.Thaine etc. (14)

In the 1940s Land Settlement Officers started settling land in the Balngoda area and the Muslims claimed two plots in Tanjantenna, Balangoda, where the mosque is situated. Following representations the Settlement Officer agreed four acres to the Muslims. (15)

The survey was done in May 1953 and m the claim of the Muslims was accepted by the government. On 18 February 1958 the government agent sent the draft to the Trustees to bring the Dafther Jailany annual feast under the Pilgrimage Ordinance. (16)

In the midst vested political interests once again started to claim that Kuragala was a place of Buddhist importance and The Archaeological Department started building a new dagoba at Dafther Jailany In 1971. (17)

However when it was pointed out, cabinet ordered the construction of the dagoba be stopped and the area where the mosque and cave were situated were declared an Archaeological Reserve in 1971. (18)

The fact that there was no dagoba at Kuragala was confirmed by Rev Kiriella Gnanawimala Thero in an article in the Davasa newspaper on 21 January 1971. (19)

Later the Archaeological Department also issued a notice on 13 September 1973 in all three languages to the effect that” The Muslims who have been using Kuragala as a pace of worship will not be affected. (20)

However tension started rising a following a claim by Jathika Hela Urumaya which accompanied by people visited Kuragala claiming that it is a Buddhist centre. (21)

This was aggravated by an extremely inflammatory speech by ethno religious fascist by Bodu Bala Sena inciting Sinhalese to rise up against Muslims. At the Kandy meeting on 17 March 2013 BBS said ” get ready to celebrate Wesak at Kuragala”. (22)

And recently, the popular YouTuber @irajonline became another figure speaks for Kuragala during the elections(I’m not sure he knows this full history) (23/23)

dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/…

Thank you @ifhamnawas and Fazhan Nawas for few points & pictures. #Lka #Politics