Trading contacts with the kingdoms of Southern Arabia resulted in the formation of the earliest Muslim communities of Kerala. When foreign traders arrived at the port of Muziris, near the capital of Chera kingdom, the reigning kings treated them with respect, and extended facilities for their settlement, and establishment of their faith in the land.

Islam spread in Kerala through the migration of new groups from Arabia and the gradual intermarriage and conversion of native population in the permissive social set up of Kerala. The First mosque, Cheraman Juma Masjid, dates back to 629 AD, to the time of Malik bin Dinar, one of the followers of Prophet Mohammad, who came to Kerala to spread Islam. The mosque building has undergone extensive repairs, but the traces of the original construction are visible in the columns and the roof. In the twelfth century A.D there were at least ten major settlements of Muslims, each centered round a mosque.

The well-known fourteenth century Arab traveler, Ibn-Battuta wrote about the colonies of Arab settlers in Kerala in his travelogues. In The Coasts of Malabar and Coramandal, published in 1732, Philip Baldaeus wrote- “this great shipping business had rendered the country of the Cochin king busy, rich, and opulent. The king and the inhabitants agree well with the Portuguese, the Jews, and the Moors and live in peace. The town of Cochin might compare with some of the best cities in Europe”.

With the advent of Portuguese and their monopolization of trade at Kochi, Muslim trade was concentrated in Northern Kerala. Their primacy in trade, and the experience of the sea made Muslims a prominent class. Kozikode became an important trading port and began to attract many Muslim traders. The prosperity of the kingdom depended on Arab trade, and the Samuthiri rulers of Kozikode conferred many privileges on them. According to tradition, Muslim trade intermediaries who played a significant role in spice trade were taken into the service of Samoothiri, and eventually became the 'Marakkars' (Admirals) of his naval fleet. During the time the Marakkars Islam spread from port areas to hillsides of Kerala.

The Muslims of Kerala are known as Mappilas. Influenced by the culinary traditions of traders from the Gulf region, and leaning heavily on the Indian spice combinations, Mappila cuisine is known for its distinct taste. This cuisine is spicy and wholesome, and has a lot in common with other foods of Kerala: its base is rice and it is spicy and hot and both coconut and coconut oil are liberally used. Black pepper is obviously predominant, followed by cloves and cardamom. Even cashew is a large presence. Unfortunately just like many other culinary treasures of south India, Mappila cuisine has remained mostly anonymous to the western world....more>