The Maldives today celebrated the day it embraced Islam, a nation-wide celebration and public holiday.
President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed this morning inaugurated the first Islamic Bank in the Maldives in celebration of the day, the first such Shariah-compliant institution in the Maldives.
The main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has announced that it will host a special ceremony tonight at Dharubaaruge in celebration of the day, in an SMS message circulated by dismissed former Deputy Leader Umar Naseer.
The Maldives will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day with a special event at the Artificial Beach in Male’ this evening, from 9-11pm.
The event is being organised by UNFPA in collaboration with Thirees Nuvaeh, an NGO focused on promoting traditional Maldivian culture.
The legend of how the Maldives embraced Islam is taught to children studying in Maldivian schools.
It is said that long ago, an evil demon named ‘Rannamaari’ appeared from the sea on the first of every month, and the only way it would leave the islanders alone was through the sacrifice of a virgin girl.
Every month the islanders selected a girl to be sacrificed for the demon, only to discover her body on the beach the following morning.
This continued until one day a Muslim traveler named Abul Barakathul Yousuful Baru Bary arrived in Male’ and coincidentally stayed in the house of the next virgin girl selected.
As he saw the whole family weeping in sorrow he asked what was going on, and learnt about the incident.
He then decided to disguise himself as the virgin girl and go to the temple instead. The following morning, the islanders found him alive and reciting the verses of the Quran.
The King and his people were impressed that the demon never appeared after that incident, and decided to embrace Islam from that day onwards.
However, this story is dismissed by the young generation today as a myth. Many today believe that it was the King himself pretending to be the sea demon, allegedly raping and murdering the virgin girl every month and leaving her bod yon the beach.
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It is truly sad to see that schools in maldives does not teach our history and would rather pass on the myths.
This is a legend shared by other countries not only Maldives...
One thing that bothers me is that Maldivians would reject any South Asian-ness try to connect everything to anywhere else possible, Arabs Africans C Colonial European et el, South Asia is an ancient and rich civilization why dont we find more of our south asian roots.
"The Maldives today celebrated the day it embraced Islam".
Did Maldivians have any free choice in the matter? Somehow I think not.
How dare this reporter write down such conjecture in a website that represents the Maldives to foreign peoples.
There are sources and credible historical evidence which reveal that King Dharumavantha's main concern was the growing power of Buddhist priests who demanded human sacrifices and sex slavery of women in their temples.
Before anyone jumps to judge, we are speaking about an ancient culture and very different paradigms of thought and living. King Dharumavantha might have enlisted the aid of Muslim travelers and merchants in order to consolidate power in his hands. It might have been a purely political decision.
There is no good or evil to be discussed in history but rather the agency and actions of the people involved. Get your facts straight Mr. Nazeer and at least back up your hearsay with comments from actual historians.
@tsk tsk
i am deeply intrigued. Do you know where I can find such sources?
thanks.
@ tsk tsk
reporter specifically mentions the story is what is taught in schools on how we converted to islam. and he's not wrong.
you people need to stop getting pissed at these reporters when they tell the truth, just because some foreigners might see us in a bad light. grow a pair, and face reality!