Panakkad Sayyid Nasir Abdul Hai Shihabuddin Thangal Appointed New Qazi of Dakshina Kannada
The respected Islamic scholar, who currently serves more than 300 mohallas across Kerala, will now oversee the district's religious affairs.
Panakkad Sayyid Nasir Abdul Hai Shihabuddin Thangal Ba Alavi has been appointed as the new Qazi of Dakshina Kannada district. The appointment was officially announced by Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi, President of the Management Committee of Zeenat Baksh Central Jumma Masjid and Eidgah Masjid in Mangaluru.
Born in May 1966 at Poovad near Panakkad in Kerala’s Malappuram district, Thangal belongs to the respected Yemeni Sayyid lineage, which traces its ancestry to Prophet Muhammad. He received his early religious education in his hometown before spending 13 years pursuing higher Islamic studies under traditional scholars.
After the passing of his father, Thangal took on religious and judicial responsibilities as the Qazi of the Andaman Islands. In 2009, he was appointed as the Grand Qazi of Kozhikode, further strengthening his role as a respected Islamic scholar and community leader.
Thangal currently serves as the Qazi and spiritual head of more than 300 mohallas across the Kerala districts of Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, and Thrissur. He also leads several educational institutions, serving as the Principal of Imam Ghazali Academy and Rashidiya Arabic College in Wayanad. In addition, he is the patron of the Sign Institute of Social Leadership in Wayanad.
Apart from his academic and religious responsibilities, Thangal holds several important positions in Islamic organisations. He is the President of the Malappuram District Maslahat Committee under the Sunni Mahal Federation, a member of the Kerala State Committee of the Sunni Yuvajana Sangham, and the Vice President of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama Tirurangadi Taluk Committee.
Community leaders and mosque management committees in Mangaluru have welcomed the appointment and expressed confidence that Thangal’s extensive experience in Islamic scholarship and community leadership will strengthen the district’s religious institutions. As the new Qazi, he will guide the Muslim community on religious matters, including Islamic jurisprudence, community mediation, and moon sighting announcements.