In the biography of Syed Fazl, Dr. K K Muhammad Abdul Sathar traces the political outlook and disposition of Mamburam Syed Fazal Tangal (1824- 1900) from his roots among Ba alwis in Yemen to the Malabar of the 19th century. There are references to Syed Fazal as a religious scholar, reformer, and spiritual guide, all these roles buttressing his political stance against the British and the feudal aristocracy