Panakkad Syed Hyder ali Shihab Thangal

• Born on June 15, 1947 

• Completed SSLC in 1962

• Became founding president of SSF in 1973

• Graduated from Pattikkad Jamia Nooriyya Arabic College in 1974. 

• Became IUML Malappuram district president in 1990

• Following death of Muhammed Ali Shihab Thangal on 1 August 2009, Hyder Ali Thangal became IUML Kerala state president 

• Became managing director of Chandrika daily (IUML mouthpiece) the same year

s the successor to Panakkad Sayed Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal, his elder brother, Hyder Ali Thangal led the IUML in Kerala from August 1, 2009, till the final days of his life. He also served as the vice-president of the Samastha Kerala Jam-Iyyathul Ulema, one of the Sunni Muslim organisations in the state. He was also the chairman of the IUML national political advisory committee.

Till his death, he kept the legacy of the Panakkad family intact. He managed to carry out the not-so-easy task of earning the respect of people from all sections and political parties, like his brother Muhammed Ali Shihab Thangal and others in the Thangal family. 

People reach the Kodappanakkal House in Panakkad every day to share their concerns and problems with the members of the family. Hyder Ali Thangal kept the doors of the house open, offering solace to the struggling.

People, especially those in Malabar, say that Hyder Ali Shihab Thangal never made a decision that broke their expectations of the Thangal family. Even while delivering political statements, he maintained his cool and behaved like a true spiritual leader.

And his decisions and statements, more often than not, were revered by the leaders in the UDF, and even in other political alliances. Hyder Ali Thangal was born as the third son of Puthiya Maliyekkal Sayyid Alavi Pookoya Thangal and Ayisha Cherukunhi Beevi in Kodappanakkal family in Malappuram on June 15, 1947.

He lost his mother in his childhood. He grew up under the protection of his aunt Muthu Beevi. He completed SSLC from the Kozhikode M M High School in 1962. After completing religious studies from Konaloor and Ponnani, he graduated from the Jamia Nooriyya Arabic College in Pattikkad in 1974.

He became the founding president of Samastha’s student body, the SSF, in 1973. He continued in that position until 1979. He headed several religious and educational institutes and served as the Qazi of around 1,000 mahals. 

Hyder Ali Thangal is survived by wife Shareefa Fatima Suhra, and children Sajida, Shahida, Naeem Ali Shihab and Moyeen Ali Shihab. His siblings are the late Muhammed Ali Shihab Thangal and Ummer Ali Shihab Thangal, and Sadik Ali Shihab Thangal, Basheer Ali Shihab Thangal and Kunjibeevi.