Sayed Muhammed Ali Shihab Thangal

Sayyid
Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal
Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal in July 2008
Born(1936-05-04)4 May 1936
Died1 August 2009(2009-08-01) (aged 73)
Malappuram, Kerala (India)
NationalityIndian
Alma materAl-Azhar University
Cairo University
Occupations
  • Community leader
  • Islamic scholar
  • Politician
Spouses
  • Shareefa Fatima Beevi (died 2006)
  • Aysha Beevi (married 2006)
Children
  • Munavvar Ali Shihab Thangal
  • Basheer Ali Shihab Thangal
Parent
Relatives

Sayed Muhammad Ali Shihab Thangal (Malayalam: സയ്യിദ് മുഹമ്മദലി ഷെഹാബ് തങ്ങൾ) (4 May 1936 – 1 August 2009) was an Indian community leader, Islamic scholar and politician from Kerala. He is sometimes regarded as "the most important Mappila leader" of modern Kerala.

Born in the Hadhrami-origin Thangal Pukkoya family of Panakkad. Shihab Thangal also functioned as the president of the Kerala state committee of the Indian Union Muslim League (1975 - 2009).

According to historian Roland Miller, "wisely and sensitively, he led Muslims through the landmines of state politics for over three decades. He also led the way into cordial relationships with members of other religious communities".