Although many would be surprised to discover this, the tropical paradise of the Maldives is a predominantly Muslim nation, and the Old Friday Mosque is her oldest mezquita.
Location
The mosque is situated in the capital city of Male, on the Kaafu Atoll. It’s actually in one of the most remarkable areas of the city since it is right opposite the Presidential residence known as Muliaage, as well as the Medhuziyaaraiy, which is the tomb of Al-Hafiz Abul Yoosuf who was a famous Islamic activist from Morocco.
History
The mosque was constructed sometime in 1658 within the rule of Ibrahim Iskandar. Interestingly, there was already a mosque at the site and it was demolished to make way for what is now known as the Old Friday Mosque. This was done since the number of Muslims of the city have increased beyond the capacity of that mosque.
Construction and Renovations
The mosque was built over the course of one-and-a-half years and originally featured a thatched roof which was typical of the architecture of that era. A few centuries later, Muhammad Shamsuddeen II replaced the thatched roof with more modern corrugated iron sheeting which was later replaced with aluminium in 1963.
Features
Like most mosques, this one is also oriented towards Mecca, with the carpet angled accordingly as well. The massive carpet can accommodate almost 1400 people. If you’re staying at a Maldives resort nearby, such as Kurumba Maldives this is an essential place to visit.
Damon Starky is a creative nomadic travel writer, who is well informed and experienced on a wide range of interests that would connect to the needs of any type of traveler. Google+