Assalamu alaikum, ya nesan!

M.C. Siddhi Lebbe is a beloved national hero, and father to the Saracen. The esteemed reader can enjoy a summarized biography of the man in our post titled "181st birth anniversary of our national hero, M.C. Siddi Lebbe" by Fazli Sameer; while this post will discuss his message, which is as relevant today as it was all those years ago. Much of Siddhi Lebbe’s thoughts and advice are documented in the Muslim Nesan (مسليم نشن), his weekly publication and the inspiration for the Serendib Nesan. Ibn Serendib highly recommends giving the Muslim Nesan a read, if a copy is accessible.


The importance of education is probably the most prominent subject in Siddhi Lebbe’s message. He stressed the need to educate the Saracen, and backed up his call by founding numerous schools, of which, Zahira College is the most prominent. An educated population is not only financially stable, but resilient to outside interference. Education is essential in understanding the complex world we live in, and in responding to the numerous challenges that we face. In the information age, the biggest threat to our community is misguidance. Leading people astray is such a destructive tool that it is the Shaithan’s favorite and therefore creating a community that can act intelligently is of utmost importance.

The importance of education is probably the most prominent subject ...

The lack of penmanship, and media publications within our community is a large void, something Siddhi Lebbe tried to fill with the publication of the “Muslim Nesan”. The Saraceni have firsthand experience on how mainstream media in this country, pervasively neglected our side of the story, and proceeded to add insult to injury during the aftermath of April’s tragedy. The Saraceni were unable to counter them, and the mis-informers took the opportunity to highjack our voice. Therefore, in a world where public opinion is governed by media, the Saraceni should invest in this area, so our community can stand up for itself. Media is an important tool to keep our people educated and informed of current affairs, so they are better prepared for any eventuality.

The Saraceni have firsthand experience on how mainstream media in this country, pervasively neglected our side of the story ...

Siddhi Lebbe urged the Saracen to hold on to their culture, and as a part of that learn and use Arabic more frequently. Our culture is the safety net for our people, born and unborn. It is a pillar of our identity, which is key to our survival in this country. More than a century ago, Siddhi Lebbe saw a threat to the Arabic language, and how people will try to oppose it, by virtue that the Saracen do not speak it. That threat has been realized today, as the some have called for the removal of all Arabic signage. At present this is implemented only for street names, but their call is general, and in time it will extend to even private usage of the Arabic language if we continue the way we are. If the Arabic language is demonized in this way, the Al-Quran will be the next target, and that will be catastrophic to our religion.

... Siddhi Lebbe saw a threat to the Arabic language, and how people will try to oppose it, by virtue that the Saracen do not speak it. 

Through middle-eastern employment, it is a fact, that more none Muslims know Arabic than the Saraceni, and this is indeed a sad statistic. Therefore, let us strive to learn this language, because it is a beautiful one, and has many commercial and international benefits. Our supporters are primarily in the Arabic speaking world, and even today it is they that have sent a powerful message, calling for our safety. Events in that part of the world directly, and indirectly affect the Saraceni, and therefore the ability to communicate with the middle east, and understand information from that region is very important. Learning Arabic has never been as easy as it is today, and therefor let us take advantage of it.

Events in that part of the world [middle east] directly, and indirectly affect the Saraceni, and therefore the ability to communicate with the middle east, and understand information from that region is very important. 

During Siddhi Lebbe’s time, there was no representation of our people in the Legislative Council of Ceylon, and Siddhi Lebbe agitated quite forcefully for politicians to come forward, because he felt the disadvantages very clearly. Without representation in the ruling bodies of the country, we are cattle waiting for slaughter. Even today, those that oppose us target our representatives, and we are in a precarious situation of having our community’s leaders expelled from the decision-making process. Therefore, we must secure what Siddhi Lebbe fought to achieve, and stand by our leaders, as they stand up for our rights. Politics and internal disputes can be attended to later.

Without representation in the ruling bodies of the country, we are cattle waiting for slaughter.

Finally, Ibn Serendib would like to draw his reader’s attention to Siddhi Lebbe’s most pervasive message, which is the message of unity and togetherness. We are but a few and our community is but small. We need each and everyone we have, in order to stand shoulder to shoulder with the other communities in this nation. If we scatter, our strength will be lost, and along with that so will our freedoms and our rights, and we will leave our future generations vulnerable to untold exploitations. Therefore, let us resolve to get closer to one another, understand each other and ultimately support ourselves. The phrase “Api wenuwen api” is something that has worked for other communities, and there is no reason why it shouldn’t work for us.

May Allah grant our noble hero Janath-ul-Firdous, and grant the Saraceni prosperity!

By Fazli Sameer

This day marks the 181st birth anniversary of M.C.Siddi Lebbe; national hero, son of Ceylon, and father of the modern Muslim community. He is what every Muslim aspires to be; well groomed, educated, religious, charitable and restless with patriotism to his people. His vision and foresight from more than a century ago shaped our community and helped us rise from despair, making us resilient in the face of change and ultimately, a prominent minority in our country.


Muhammad Cassim Siddi Lebbe was born on June 11th, 1938, in Kandy. The ancestors of Siddi Lebbe were Arabs who had migrated to the Kandyan kingdom. His father, Muhammad Lebbe Siddi Lebbe, was one of the first Ceylonese Proctors and also the Head Moorman in 1833. Muhammad Cassim was also known as Siddi Lebbe just like his father. Siddi Lebbe had an older brother, who was an Arabic educated Aalim, under whose care he learnt to read the Quran and studied Tamil and English.

After his preliminary education at Quran School, Kandy, Muhammad Cassim (M.C.) Siddi Lebbe continued his studies and qualified as a Proctor of the District Court in 1862. Two years later he became a Proctor of the Supreme Court and practiced as a Notary Public. He married the sister-in-law of Casie Lebbe Marikar Muhammad Yousoof, grandson of O.L.M. Shekhadi Marikar, whose ancestors hailed from Konya, in Central Turkey.

Muslim Nesan, circa 1882

He studied the Arabic language to perfection and read many significant works of Islamic scholars and thereby excelled in religious knowledge, surpassing some of the local Ulema of the time. He started a Muslim journal called the “Muslim Nesan”, in English and Tamil, in order to educate his fellow Muslim community members. He also published a monthly journal called the “Torch of Wisdom”. He clamored to teach the Muslims their religion through these two journals where he urged the community to study the Arabic language.

Siddi Lebbe also wrote and published “Hidayathul Cassimiya”, “TuhuwathulNahwa” (key to grammar), “Shurut As Salat” (observance of Prayer), and the Arabic Study Book Part I & II. His Tamil works were “Tamil Primer”, a novel of Hassen Bey, “History of the Turkish and Greek War”, and “History of the Moors of Ceylon”, Gnana Teepan(1892), Assembly “Udaya Kathai” which was a Tamil novel (1885), Abu Navas, and Asrarul A’lam.

His wide scheme of educating the Muslim community resulted in the establishment of many Tamil and Arabic Schools in many parts of the Central Province including Kandy, Gampola, Polgahawela, Kurunegala, some of which he managed and financed by himself. Helped by the munificence of A.M. Wappachi Marikar, he founded Madrasathul Zahira which became the present day Zahira College, in Colombo in 1892. He also established a girl’s school at his residence in Kandy where his sister was the head-teacher.

M.C. Siddi Lebbe's house in Kandy, now a boutique hotel called the "The Secret Kandy"

M.C. Siddi Lebbe passed away on the 5th of February, 1898. During his life he used the medium of newspaper articles, books, and speeches to induce the Muslim community to make an attempt to uplift themselves from the backward condition they were in. And for his service to our community and the independence movement, he was named a national hero, when Sri Lanka gained its independence in 1948.

May Allah grant him Janath-ul-Fridous, and bless us with more men of his caliber!