English
New Delhi: Maldives will celebrate the 896th anniversary of the adoption of Islam on the occasion of the second date of Rabi-ul-Akhir, the day the nation embraced Islam. This religious conversion of Maldives was not just a religious change, but it also deeply influenced the culture, traditions and governance system of the country.
Here we tell you how Maldives adopted Islam and how it became a part of its identity.
Before Islam in Maldives, the number of Buddhists was very high, so Buddhism was prevalent there. It is believed that Buddhism came to Maldives in the third century BC. Even today, the remains of Buddhist stupas and monasteries are found on many islands of Maldives, which reflect the religious beliefs of that time. In the 12th century, a scholar and Islam preacher Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al-Barbari reached Maldives.
According to some historical sources, Al-Barbari was from North Africa, while others believe he may have been from present-day Somalia or Iran. He inspired the then king Dhovemi to embrace Islam, who later became known as Sultan Muhammad al-Adil.
After the adoption of Islam, there was a major change in the culture, traditions and governance of the Maldives. Religious education became deeply integrated into the society, which affected everything from lifestyle to architecture.
After the Islamic rule came, Sharia law was included in the judicial and administrative structure of the Maldives. For many centuries, the Maldives remained an Islamic sultanate. However, it became a republic in 1968, but Islam is still the foundation of the country’s constitution and governance.
Today Maldives is an Islamic nation, where Islam has the status of a state religion. Mosques are an important part of society and religious traditions play a major role in everyday life.
Maldives has become a favourite destination for many Muslim tourists. However, in recent years, Maldives has faced challenges such as religious extremism and protection of cultural identity.
The government is taking active steps to promote a balanced and tradition-based Islamic lifestyle.
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