The Maldives is a country consisting of small tropical
islands. The people outside of Maldives call this country as paradise on the
earth. The citizens of this county are proud of the fact that it is a 100%
Muslim country. But if we look at its past, Maldives hasn’t been a Muslim
country the entire time.
Maldives converted to Islam in the year 1153 AD by a Muslim
from the Maghreb (Moroccan) called Abul Barakat Yoosuf Al Barbary. When he
visited the Maldives, the reigning king was Sri Tribuvana Aditiya. The first king
of the Theemuge dynasty King Sri Mahabarana was his maternal uncle. Sri
Tribuvana Aditiya ascended the throne around 1138 AD. After conversion to Islam,
he adopted the name, Muhammad Ibn Abdulla. He sent missionaries to various
parts of the Maldives to spread Islam. Sultan Muhammed Ibn Abdulla commissioned
the first Friday Mosque to be built in Malé and the Dharumavantha Rasgefaanu
Miskiy at Malé.
It is said that after he arrived at Malé, Abul Barakat
Yoosuf Al Barbary stayed in Malé for several days. He was a Hafiz, a person who
could recite the entire Holy Quran from memory. According to Thangeehu Kurevunu
Dhivehi Raajjeyge Thaareekhuge Thanthankolhu (researched excerpts from the
History of the Maldives), the Hafiz succeeded in converting Maldivians to Islam
after much effort and endeavour. His first efforts to proselytise was not
successful. However, his relentless perseverance turned out to be a tremendous
service to the nation, as Maldivians finally embraced Islam. The first convert
was the king himself, who was followed by his wives and children and the
members of the court. After the people embraced Islam, the Buddhist temples and
idols were destroyed. Archaeological excavations carried out in Malé at various
times during this century confirm the fact that there had been Buddhist temples
in Malé during the 12th century.
Even after Maldivians adopted Islam, Abul Barakat Yoosuf Al
Barbary stayed in the Maldives to teach Islam to the people. He died during the
reign of Dharumavantha Rasgefaanu (Muhammed Ibn Abdulla). According to
historian Hassan Thaajuddheen, he was laid to rest at the shrine at
Medhuziyaaraiy in Malé.
The popular title attributed to Sultan Muhammed Ibn Abdulla, which is Dharumavantha Rasgefaanu implies that the Sultan was a pious and kind-hearted person who was generous especially to the weak and the poor. During his reign, he strengthened adherence to the rules and principles of Islam, established laws of governance and destroyed the symbols of Buddhism. It is said that a long time after Abul Barakat Yoosuf Al Barbary’s death, the Sultan left on a pilgrimage to Mecca and did not return.
The Day Maldives Embraced Islam was first celebrated in
1374. The celebrations ended in 1387, and it wasn’t until 2001 that the Day
Maldives Embraced Islam became a national holiday. The date of this holiday is
set under the Islamic calendar and falls on the first day of the month of Rabi’
Al-Thani, the fourth month of the Hijri (Islamic) calendar.
This year it began on the evening of 16/11/2020 and ended just before the evening of 17/11/2020. The day was celebrated in our school as well. Grade 8 students performed a skit about the same.
President of Media Club,
Maradhoo School.
0 Comments