The Mappilas (historically called Moplahs) are a Muslim community in Kerala and neighbouring states and territories of India. They are the earliest known Indian Muslim community, having been founded by Arab merchants who settled the Malabar coast in the 8th century, with the permission of the Chera dynasty. Subsequently, Mappilas adopted the local Dravidian language that would develop into Malayalam. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Mappilas were known for several mass-suicide attacks against Hindu and British landowners, including the 1921 Moplah Revolt . In recent years many Kerala Muslims have found work in the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere in the Middle East, often sending remittances home to support families in Kerala.
According to the 2001 census, about one-quarter of Kerala's population (or 78,63,842 people) were Muslims. While this figure includes some Muslims who are not Mappilas, there are also many Mappilas who have left Kerala for other states in India. There are also substantial numbers of Mappilas in nearby Lakshadweep and Kodagu (Coorg).
