Asia14 September, 20263 min read
Muizzu Marks Maldives’ Confession of Islam Day as Flooding Hits Addu Feydhoo
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Maldives marks the 900th anniversary of Islam’s arrival, celebrated as Confession of Islam Day. Heavy rains cause flooding in Addu Feydhoo, affecting nine houses.
900 Years, New Mosque
On Sunday, September 13, Maldivians commemorated the 900th anniversary of the entry of Islam into the country, a national occasion locally known as “Maldives’ Confession of Islam Day.” In the Maldives, the National Disaster Management Authority said heavy rainfall across the southern atolls caused widespread damage, including nine houses in Addu Feydhoo affected by flooding, while the Islamic ministry and city council activities continued alongside the anniversary.
President Muizzu marked the occasion by saying the arrival of Islam guaranteed the right to life for all Maldivians, and he described pre-Islamic Maldivian society as a period when Maldivians carved false idols from coral stone and practiced human sacrifice.
The foundation stone for Jamiul Sultan Mohamed Bin Abdulla was laid in Hulhumalé, planned to become the Maldives’ largest mosque with a capacity of 10,000 worshippers, and the foundation was laid jointly by President Muizzu, Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, Al Rajhi Company CEO Bandar Abdullah Alrajhi and Saudi Ambassador to the Maldives Yahya Hassan Al-Qahtani.
The Islamic ministry said the mosque will include offices for imams and administrative staff, an Islamic library, a cultural centre, a Quran museum, an exhibition hall for Islamic and historical exhibitions, a multipurpose community hall and visitor facilities featuring gift shops and Islamic bookshops.
Gayoom’s Message
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom issued a rare video message on social media marking the 900th anniversary of the Maldives’ conversion to Islam, and he said Islam is the foundation of the Maldives as a nation-state and that Maldivians cannot afford to stray from the religion. In a separate social media post commemorating the 900th hijri anniversary, Gayoom said that he hopes the country remains steadfast upon the lessons of the country’s 900-year Islamic heritage, adding, "We cannot afford to let go of this Islam,". The day Maldives embraced Islam is marked annually on the second day of Jumada Al Akhira, and the practice had been halted for several years when Gayoom renewed the celebration during his tenure as President.
The Maldives’ 900-year anniversary is also tied to historical narratives that say the most significant event occurred in 1153 CE, when the kingdom peacefully and completely converted from Buddhism to Islam. Traditional accounts described King Dofomi’s conversion under the guidance of the preacher and Muslim scholar Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al-Barbari, and said that after his Islam the king changed his name to Sultan Muhammad bin Abdullah.
Hulhumalé Foundation Details
Maldives Minister of Islamic affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shahim, announced a new milestone tied to the country’s Islamic heritage by stating that the country stands before a historic moment marked by laying the foundation stone of “The Grand Mosque of Sultan Muhammad bin Abdullah and the Center of Islamic Civilization.”
Shahim said the naming of the landmark after Sultan Muhammad bin Abdullah is in homage to the first Maldivian kings who embraced Islam in 548 AH, corresponding to 1153 CE, and he said the unveiling of the monument coincides with the 900th anniversary of Islam’s entry into the Maldives.
The foundation stone was laid in Hulhumalé, a modern urban area linked to the capital Malé, and the Islamic ministry said the mosque will include visitor facilities featuring gift shops and Islamic bookshops.
In addition to the mosque plans, the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority annual report showed that over 60,000 Maldivians earned a monthly income in excess of MVR60,000 (US$3,890) last year, with 23,098 people earning income from monthly salaries.
The Health Protection Agency reported an increase in cases of flu and diarrhoea and urged the public to take precautions, including washing hands regularly with soap and water and staying hydrated.