Calicut through the Eyes of Abdur Razzak
"In the year 845 (AD 1442), the author of this narrative, Abdur Razzak, the son of Ishaq, in obedience to the orders of the sovereign of the world [Mirza Shah Rukh of Persia] set out on his journey towards the province of Hormuz and the shores of the [Indian] ocean."
Abdur Razzak served as the ambassador of the Timurid ruler Mirza Shah Rukh (r: 1405-1447) of Iran (Persia), to the Samoothiri (Zamorin) of Calicut. He documented his mission in India in a book called 'Matla-us-Sadain wa Majma-ul-Bahrain.'
Calicut is a safe harbor that attracts merchants from all over the world, similar to Hormuz on the Persian Gulf. Here, one can find a variety of precious items from maritime countries like Abyssinia (Ethiopia, Northeast Africa), Zirbad (Indonesia, Southeast Asia) and Zanzibar (East Africa). Ships from Mecca and other towns in Hejaz also occasionally visit this port.
Calicut is a city mainly inhabited by Hindus, but a significant number of Muslims also reside there. They have built two mosques where they gather for Friday prayers. The city is known for its security and justice, allowing wealthy merchants to bring large cargoes of merchandise from maritime countries and store them in the lanes and bazaar without fear of theft. The custom house officers ensure the protection of these goods, and a custom duty of one-fortieth is levied if they are sold.
According to Abdur Razzak, some ambassadors of Mirza Shah Rukh had to stay in Calicut on their way back from Bengal. They described the wealth, prosperity, and power of Shah Rukh's realm to the Samoothiri, the ruler of Calicut. The Samoothiri had also heard from reliable sources that rulers from all over the world had sent emissaries and messages to Shah Rukh's court, seeing it as the solution to their every need and a refuge for their every hope. This time, the Mirza was called upon to settle a dispute between the Sultanates of Bengal and Jaunpur.
Razzak further notes that upon learning about all of this, the Samoothiri collected various gifts and tribute and sent a messenger to inform Shah Rukh that the khutba of Islam is recited during Friday and holiday prayers at his port. If the Persian monarch permits, they would recite the khutba in his royal name.
Upon arriving at Herat, the emissaries from Bengal presented the Samoothiri's petition to the monarch. The chief envoy sent to Herat was a Muslim, who proposed that if Shah Rukh will send an ambassador to Calicut, the Samoothiri might convert to Islam. This proposal appeared reasonable to Shah Rukh, so Abdur Razzak Samarqandi was selected as the ambassador to India and sent with lavish gifts such as horses, robes of gold cloth, caps, and other valuable items.
Upon arriving at Calicut, Abdur Razzak saw a tribe of people with dark skin, who moved about with almost no clothing, wearing only pieces of cloth known as langots that covered them from their navels to just above their knees. They carried daggers in one hand and leather shields in the other. It was difficult to distinguish between the king and a beggar among them. However, the Muslims wore rich luxurious clothing like the Arabs.
At Calicut, a quarter was assigned to Razzak, and three days after his arrival, he was given an audience with the Samoothiri, amidst a grand assembly of 2000-3000 Hindus and distinguished Muslim chiefs. Razzak noted, "When the Samoothiri dies, his sister's son takes his place [Marumakkathayam or Matrilineal System] and the throne is not given to son, brother or other relative. No one becomes king by force. The Hindus are of many sorts: Brahmins, Yogis and others. Although they all share the same polytheism and idolatry, every group has a different system. There is one group whose women have multiple husbands, each of whom has a specific tasks to perform. They divide the day and night, and each one goes to her quarters at a specified time. So long as one is there no other can go in. The Samoothiri is of this group."
During Razzak's audience with the Samoothiri, the letter from Shah Rukh was read out and gifts were handed over. However, the Samoothiri showed little respect to the embassy, causing Abdur Razzak to leave the court and return to his quarters.
Abdur Razzak was very distressed during his time in Calicut from November 1442 to April 1443. He expressed that "we were afflicted by having to stay in that infelicitous place." It was during this time that Abdur Razzak was invited to Vijayanagar by Deva Raya II.
Abdur Razzak served as the ambassador of the Timurid ruler Mirza Shah Rukh (r: 1405-1447) of Iran (Persia), to the Samoothiri (Zamorin) of Calicut. He documented his mission in India in a book called 'Matla-us-Sadain wa Majma-ul-Bahrain.'
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| Calicut, on the coast of Malabar, From James Forbes'"Oriental Memoirs" |
Narrative of the Journey of Abdur Razzak to Calicut
Abdur Razzak began his journey from Herat, Afghanistan on January 13, 1442, traveling through Qohistan. He arrived at the shore of the Sea of Oman and the port of Hormuz by the end of February. Razzak stayed at Hormuz for two months before traveling to Muscat and then Qurayyat. He and his companions then journeyed to Qalhat and Sur. Finally, they set off for Hindustan, and after 18 days at sea, they reached the port of Kalikot (Calicut) in South India in November 1442.Calicut is a safe harbor that attracts merchants from all over the world, similar to Hormuz on the Persian Gulf. Here, one can find a variety of precious items from maritime countries like Abyssinia (Ethiopia, Northeast Africa), Zirbad (Indonesia, Southeast Asia) and Zanzibar (East Africa). Ships from Mecca and other towns in Hejaz also occasionally visit this port.
Calicut is a city mainly inhabited by Hindus, but a significant number of Muslims also reside there. They have built two mosques where they gather for Friday prayers. The city is known for its security and justice, allowing wealthy merchants to bring large cargoes of merchandise from maritime countries and store them in the lanes and bazaar without fear of theft. The custom house officers ensure the protection of these goods, and a custom duty of one-fortieth is levied if they are sold.
According to Abdur Razzak, some ambassadors of Mirza Shah Rukh had to stay in Calicut on their way back from Bengal. They described the wealth, prosperity, and power of Shah Rukh's realm to the Samoothiri, the ruler of Calicut. The Samoothiri had also heard from reliable sources that rulers from all over the world had sent emissaries and messages to Shah Rukh's court, seeing it as the solution to their every need and a refuge for their every hope. This time, the Mirza was called upon to settle a dispute between the Sultanates of Bengal and Jaunpur.
Razzak further notes that upon learning about all of this, the Samoothiri collected various gifts and tribute and sent a messenger to inform Shah Rukh that the khutba of Islam is recited during Friday and holiday prayers at his port. If the Persian monarch permits, they would recite the khutba in his royal name.
Upon arriving at Herat, the emissaries from Bengal presented the Samoothiri's petition to the monarch. The chief envoy sent to Herat was a Muslim, who proposed that if Shah Rukh will send an ambassador to Calicut, the Samoothiri might convert to Islam. This proposal appeared reasonable to Shah Rukh, so Abdur Razzak Samarqandi was selected as the ambassador to India and sent with lavish gifts such as horses, robes of gold cloth, caps, and other valuable items.
Upon arriving at Calicut, Abdur Razzak saw a tribe of people with dark skin, who moved about with almost no clothing, wearing only pieces of cloth known as langots that covered them from their navels to just above their knees. They carried daggers in one hand and leather shields in the other. It was difficult to distinguish between the king and a beggar among them. However, the Muslims wore rich luxurious clothing like the Arabs.
At Calicut, a quarter was assigned to Razzak, and three days after his arrival, he was given an audience with the Samoothiri, amidst a grand assembly of 2000-3000 Hindus and distinguished Muslim chiefs. Razzak noted, "When the Samoothiri dies, his sister's son takes his place [Marumakkathayam or Matrilineal System] and the throne is not given to son, brother or other relative. No one becomes king by force. The Hindus are of many sorts: Brahmins, Yogis and others. Although they all share the same polytheism and idolatry, every group has a different system. There is one group whose women have multiple husbands, each of whom has a specific tasks to perform. They divide the day and night, and each one goes to her quarters at a specified time. So long as one is there no other can go in. The Samoothiri is of this group."
Audience with the Samoothiri
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| The Samorin of Calicut, 1604, anonymous, after Johann Theodor and Johann Israel de Bry, 1644 - 1646 |
During Razzak's audience with the Samoothiri, the letter from Shah Rukh was read out and gifts were handed over. However, the Samoothiri showed little respect to the embassy, causing Abdur Razzak to leave the court and return to his quarters.
Abdur Razzak was very distressed during his time in Calicut from November 1442 to April 1443. He expressed that "we were afflicted by having to stay in that infelicitous place." It was during this time that Abdur Razzak was invited to Vijayanagar by Deva Raya II.
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