Muslim Nesan (مسليم نشن, Tamil: முஸ்லிம் நேசன், "The Muslim Friend") was an Arwi (Arabic Tamil) and English-language weekly newspaper, published from Colombo, British Ceylon between 1882 and 1889.[1][2][3][4][5] M. C. Siddi Lebbe was the publisher, owner and editor of Muslim Nesan.[2][4][6] He founded Muslim Nesan in Kandy in December 1882. The name of the publication was possibly inspired by the journal Ilankai Nesan ("Friend of the Ceylonese") of Arumuka Navalar.[5] In setting up the newspaper Cittilevvai was inspired by the Aligarh Movement, Navalar and Colonel Henry Steel Olcott.[7] The first issue appeared on 21 December 1882.[1][2][3]
 1884 issue of Muslim Nesan | |
| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Editor | M. C. Siddi Lebbe |
| Founded | 21 December 1882 |
| Language | Arwi/English |
| Ceased publication | 1889 |
| Headquarters | Colombo, British Ceylon |
Muslim Nesan carried news from Muslim countries.[3] The newspaper purposefully sought to politicize the Muslim community.[8] Muslim Nesan had subscribers in Ceylon, South India, Penang and Singapore.[4] Muslim Nesan was, along with Sarvajana Nesan, one of the two most prominent Muslim newspapers in the Tamil-speaking world at the time.[6] Muslim Nesan had a network of correspondents in different parts of South-East Asia.[9] Material from Muslim Nesan was reproduced in other publications, such as Singai Nesan.[4]
Between 1883 and 1885 Muslim Nesan carried a series of articles on the history of Ceylonese Muslims, authored by Cittilevvai.[10] In the page of Muslim Nesan Cittilevvai argued for educational reforms in the Muslim community and reproduced articles by Syed Ahmad Khan, a North Indian social reformer. The newspaper also carried an interview with the exiled Egyptian nationalist leader Ahmed Orabi, soon after his arrival in Ceylon.[4] Cittilevvai also argued in Muslim Nesan that Muslims should adopt Arabic as their day-to-day language.[11]
