“Sathakam or Eulogy? A Critical Study of K.M. Sheriff’s Nabiye Engal Nayagame”
- Section
- Articles
- Received
- Revised
- Accepted
- Published
- Pages
- 596-601
Abstract
This article examines the structure and literary classification of K. M. Sheriff’s Tamil work “Nabiye Engal Nayagame!” with particular attention to its relationship to the Islamic satakam tradition. The study first outlines the general features of satakam literature, a minor literary genre conventionally associated with a composition of one hundred verses organized around a central subject and often marked by a recurring refrain. It then considers the author’s background and the religious and ethical concerns expressed in the work. The text praises Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), presenting episodes from his life and teachings alongside Islamic beliefs, duties, and moral values. The section titled “Nannabi Vazhthup Pamalai” consists of one hundred verses, composed in the same metrical form and linked by the recurring concluding phrase “Vazhiyaro Vazhi.” The article also notes that the complete work contains 114 verses, including additional material beyond this hundred-verse section. Although the work shares certain formal features with satakam literature—such as its central subject, verse count within a section, and refrain—the article argues that the whole composition does not fully conform to the conventional structural requirements of a satakam. It therefore concludes that “Nabiye Engal Nayagame!” is more appropriately understood as a work of praise dedicated to Prophet Muhammad than classified simply as a satakam. Through this structural examination, the article highlights the importance of genre criteria when classifying Tamil Islamic literary works.
Keywords: K.M. Sheriff, Nabiye Engal Nayagame, Tamil Islamic Literature, Satakam Literature, Prophet Muhammad, Literary Structure, Genre Classification, Islamic Ethics
References
- கண்ணன், இரா. சிற்றிலக்கிய ஆராய்ச்சி. முதல் தொகுதி, அப்பர் பதிப்பகம்,
- கண்ணன், இரா. சிற்றிலக்கிய ஆராய்ச்சி. இரண்டாம் தொகுதி, அப்பர் பதிப்பகம், 2002.
Cite this article
Dr. U. Alibava. (2026). கவி கா.மு.ஷெரீபின் ‘நபியே எங்கள் நாயகமே! ’ - சதக இலக்கியமா?. KALANJIYAM – International Journal of Tamil Studies, 6(03), 596–601. https://doi.org/10.63300/kijts603112026.50
Dr. U. Alibava. “கவி கா.மு.ஷெரீபின் ‘நபியே எங்கள் நாயகமே! ’ - சதக இலக்கியமா?.” KALANJIYAM – International Journal of Tamil Studies, vol. 6, no. 03, 2026, pp. 596–601, https://doi.org/10.63300/kijts603112026.50.
@article{drualibava2026,
author = {Dr. U. Alibava},
title = {கவி கா.மு.ஷெரீபின் ‘நபியே எங்கள் நாயகமே! ’ - சதக இலக்கியமா?},
journal = {KALANJIYAM – International Journal of Tamil Studies},
year = {2026},
volume = {6},
number = {03},
pages = {596--601},
issn = {2456-5148},
doi = {10.63300/kijts603112026.50},
url = {https://doi.org/10.63300/kijts603112026.50}
}TY - JOUR AU - Dr. U. Alibava TI - கவி கா.மு.ஷெரீபின் ‘நபியே எங்கள் நாயகமே! ’ - சதக இலக்கியமா? JO - KALANJIYAM – International Journal of Tamil Studies PY - 2026 DA - 2026/11/12 VL - 6 IS - 03 SP - 596 EP - 601 SN - 2456-5148 PB - Department of Library Nallamuthu Gounder Mahalingam College DO - 10.63300/kijts603112026.50 UR - https://doi.org/10.63300/kijts603112026.50 LA - en KW - K.M. Sheriff KW - Nabiye Engal Nayagame KW - Tamil Islamic Literature KW - Satakam Literature KW - Prophet Muhammad KW - Literary Structure KW - Genre Classification KW - Islamic Ethics AB - This article examines the structure and literary classification of K. M. Sheriff’s Tamil work “Nabiye Engal Nayagame!” with particular attention to its relationship to the Islamic satakam tradition. The study first outlines the general features of satakam literature, a minor literary genre conventionally associated with a composition of one hundred verses organized around a central subject and often marked by a recurring refrain. It then considers the author’s background and the religious and ethical concerns expressed in the work. The text praises Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), presenting episodes from his life and teachings alongside Islamic beliefs, duties, and moral values. The section titled “Nannabi Vazhthup Pamalai” consists of one hundred verses, composed in the same metrical form and linked by the recurring concluding phrase “Vazhiyaro Vazhi.” The article also notes that the complete work contains 114 verses, including additional material beyond this hundred-verse section. Although the work shares certain formal features with satakam literature—such as its central subject, verse count within a section, and refrain—the article argues that the whole composition does not fully conform to the conventional structural requirements of a satakam. It therefore concludes that “Nabiye Engal Nayagame!” is more appropriately understood as a work of praise dedicated to Prophet Muhammad than classified simply as a satakam. Through this structural examination, the article highlights the importance of genre criteria when classifying Tamil Islamic literary works. ER -