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Male' Hukuru Miskiy/enclosing cemetery and Minaret

	Maldives (Asia and the Pacific)
Date of Submission:	12/02/2008
Criteria:	(i)(iv)(vi)
Category:	Cultural
Submitted by:	National Centre for Linguistic and Historical Research
State, Province or Region:	Male'
Ref.:	5354

Description

Built in 1658 AD, by the then Sultan of the Maldives, the Friday Mosque is a unique example of meticulous coral stone architecture and detailed lacquer work. Built within a span of two years, the Male' Hukuru Miskiy or The Friday Mosque of Male' represents one of the most prolific pieces of local artistic expression. Admired by locally and internationally, the Mosque is surrounded by a graveyard dating back to the late 17th century. The graveyard has within its enclosure coral stone tombstones carved with unique designs, not seen in any other part of the world. Adjoining the Mosque is a large coral stone Minaret that represents the beginning of round minarets in the country and forms an interesting contrast with the pre-Islamic past of the country.

The Friday Mosque has been admired both for its architectural uniqueness, aesthetic value as well as for its spiritual significance for the locals. In addition it also holds a special place in the hearts of tourists whose tours in the Capital is often incomplete without an introduction of this unique piece of Maldivian heritage.

Justification for Outstanding Universal Value

Satements of authenticity and/or integrity

The Male' Friday Mosque, built 1658 AD has seen little of no change to the actual coral stone structure of the timber works within the Mosque. Given below is a timeline depicting the changes that have come about since the construction of the Friday Mosque.

• 1153 AD (The First Muslim Sultan, Sultan Mohamed Bin Abdullah constructs the first Mosque in Male')
• 1338 AD (Sultan Ahmed Shihaabuddheen I renovates the fist ever Mosque and documents the extent of renovation and changes on a wooden board)
• 1656 AD (Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar orders the construction of the Mosque)
• 1658 AD (Friday Mosque is completed)
• 1675 AD (Construction of the Minaret)
• 1676 AD (Construction of the southern Gateway)
• 1912 AD (Sultan Mohammed Shamsuddheen III replaces original thatched roof with corrugated iron sheets)
• 1914 AD (Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddheen III renovates the Minaret)
• 1964 (southern Gateway demolished)
• 1964 (Rafters replaced with teak and corrugated iron roof replaced with corrugated aluminium sheets)
• 1988 (Conservation work carried out on the Friday Mosque by Maldivian Government with Professional Assistance by the Indian Government).

Apart from the change to the roof material, the Friday Mosque has remained virtually unchanged and is one of the best managed sites in the country. The coral stone remains as was built in the 17th century and the lacquer work remain unhindered. During the conservation work a DAMANBALAP approach was used in order to minimize the impact of change and maximize the retention of heritage value. The repair of coral stone was done using conspicuous material to ensure that future studies cm spot the areas preserved during the process.

The Mosque has retained its original use and continues to be a hub of spiritual and religious congregation. The continuity of practice has stretched from the 17th century to the present day without interruption and continues to be used for the same purpose.

According to some of the old historic records, Sultan Ibrahim lskandhar I, the very Sultan who constructed the Friday Mosque and had actually built his shrine before his passing away. It is mentioned in documents that when the Sultan passed away he was buried in the special shrine on the morning of the very next day. This information serves to illustrate the importance of the shrines as well as the main Mosque building to the complete integrity of the site.

The Male' Friday Mosque is used even today by many students as a place to revise and study their school work particularly during the exams. The fact that the Southern Gateway of the Mosque was the first ever institution to act as a school provides a unique backdrop for the use of the Mosque today.

Local stakeholders arc involved in the day to day management of the system and awareness programs are being implemented to promote the heritage value together with the religious and spiritual value attributed to the site by the local people.

Given below are available details about the site for a more comprehensive statement of authenticity:

• Coral Stones were used for the building of the walls, pillars, flooring and also for some interior and exterior decorations of the Mosque. An amalgamation of wood such as Cordia, Teak, Coconut Timber, Sandalwood, Red Sandalwood and Redwood were used for the construction of the roof structure and the window frames.
• Hukuru Miskiy (Friday Mosque) has a perimeter of 199 ft. The main building which is still used for conducting the daily prayers is divided into three sections:

1. Mihuraabuge: The room or section used by the Imam in leading the prayers.

2. Medhu Miskiy: The middle Mosque.

3. Fahu Miskiy: The back Mosque.

• There are three dhaalas or raised platforms on either side of each entrance. These platforms are found in the northern, southern and eastern sides of the main building.
• Two smaller rooms were built on either side of the Mihuraabuge. In the early days, the room on the northern side was reserved for the Sultan and the room on the Southern side was reserved for a certain group of important government officials known as Jahaa Hangubeykalun.
• There are four wells inside the Mosque compound. They were constructed with coral stone blocks and are used for ablution before the prayers.
• The time of the five daily prayers in Islam are calculated according to the apparent motion of the sun and the times of the daylight prayers are worked out by measuring the moving shadow of a vertical object of by a shadow clock or sundial. The first ever sundial in Maldives was built at the Friday Mosque and was located in the front of the Mosque. The initial sundial was badly worn out and a new sundial was built in 1917 AD. By Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddheen. The sundial still survives at the same location.
• The stone and wooden structure in the interior of the Hukuru Miskiy are decorated with intricately carved designs and inscriptions. The inscriptions are mainly in Arabic and Dhivehi, written in the old Maldivian script Dhives Akm.
• The Arabic inscriptions were engraved by Chief Justice Al Faqih Al Qazi Jamaaluddheen Bin Al Sheikh Mohamed Al Mahli. These were mainly quotations from the Holy Quaran and the Sayings of Prophet Mohamed (PBUH). Some historical facts about the construction of the Mosque are also inscribed in Arabic.
• The inscriptions in Dhives Akuru spell out the main duties assigned to the Imaams and to the other members holding various offices in the Mosque such as Malims and Dhoshun. Records show that these inscriptions were done in 1658 AD.
• The coral stones used inside and outside Hukuru Miskiy have been carefully carved with abstract geometric designs as well as with images of leaves, flowers and trees. There is an abundance of beautiful coral carving and expert lacquer work inside and outside the Mosque.
• According to experts, the styles used in the stone and wood carving at Hukuru Miskiy show an obvious influence of the 11th century Islamic Art. Thus the design of the Mosque depicts a mixture of 11th century Islamic architecture and local Maldivian styles used prior to the conversion to Islam. In this regard it presents a unique fusion of Islamic architecture and local creativity.
• The outer walls surrounding the Mosque compound were built by Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddheen III in 1921 AD and at the time of construction the length of the wall on each side was 666 ft.
• The minaret adjoining the Mosque was built by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar in 1675 AD. The order for the construction was given in l668 AD. The minaret was first renovated by Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddheen III in 1914 AD. He ordered the original rope binding around the minaret to be replaced by iron chains and copper belts. The inscription on the minaret were painted during this time.
• The southern gateway was constructed with four roofs covering an area of 360 sq ft with two platforms on cither side. Just after the completion of this gateway in 1676 AD, the Sultan ordered that the Holy Quran be taught to the children there. The gateway is thus regarded as the first institution of classroom established in the country. However, major changes were brought about in 1964 where this gateway was demolished.
• On the southern side of the Mosque and a short distance to the left of the main entrance stands the Ziyaarai or Tomb of the King who constructed the Mosque. The tomb itself is meticulously designed and depict unique Maldivian styles coupled with the old Islamic architecture. In addition several other tombs are also located within the compound.

The Male' Friday Mosque has retained all elements that demonstrates its outstanding universal value, including the continued use of the place. Although the site faces some management issues including traffic and other such predicaments, a cooperative effort by all stakeholders has ensured that the problems can be solved. In order to solve problems relating to the conservation of coral stone and timber due to moisture, a nearby water fountain has been stopped and similarly to avoid damage from a diesel turbine, the continued use of the turbine has also being ceased. In addition, to find a solution to the problems arising from traffic (namely from particulate matter from the tire, smoke etc) a traffic diversion plan is underway to make the area a pedestrian zone and to create a buffer around the Mosque which will, act as a traffic free zone. Every possible effort is being made to ensure the continued protection of the Mosque and to draw up a comprehensive management plan with the participation of all stakeholders. Once such a plan is complete, the future of the Friday Mosque, although even quite certain now, will be completely secure.

Comparison with other similar properties

The Male' Friday Mosque has an architectural style corresponding to what the experts refer to as Monsoon Architecture. And similar designs do appear in parts of Lakshadweep. Moreover Buddhist temples of Sri Lanka and India also feature some of the artistic characteristics of the Mosque making the aesthetic connection between the flourishing creativity of the region. In addition the Maldives itself has several Mosques with similar designs both in the capital and the local Islands. But the most conspicuous comparison can he made to an 18th century Mosque in Male' called 'Eid Mosque'.