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Maldives historic Male' Friday Mosque - Part 2
Originally
published by the Maldives National Centre for
Linguistic and Historical Research, 1986.
See
also:
English section Part
1
and Plaques
of Hukuru Miskiiy in Male', Maldives
and Dhivehi
section with additional photographs - Part 1
Materials
used for construction
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Coral stones were used for the building of walls, pillars, flooring and also
for some interior and exterior decorations of the mosque. Different types of wood such as
Kaani (Cordia), Haivakaru (Teak), Nirolhu
(Coconut Timber), Kela (Sandalwood), Raiy
baburu kela (Red Sandalwood) and Kanahadhun (Red Wood) were used for the construction of the roof structure, the door and window frames.
Structure
Hukuru Miskiiy has a
parameter of 180 ft. The main building, which is used for conducting prayers even today, is divided into three sections, namely:
Mihraabuge, Medhu Miskiiy and Fahu
Miskiiy. There are three dhaalaas. (a dhaala is a raised platform on either side of each entrance) These platforms are found in the northern, southern and eastern sides of the main building.
Two small rooms were built on either side of the
Mihraabuge. In the early days, the one on the northern side was reserved for the Sultan and the room on the southern side
for Jahaa Hangubeykalun (a group of important government officials who were conferred a certain title and position by the Sultan).
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Fahu
Miskiiy - from the south eastern end |
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Upper
section of a stone pillar |
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Upper
section of a wooden pillar |
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| Sundial |
Wells
The four wells inside the mosque compound were constructed with coral stone blocks, and these wells are for performing the ablution before prayers.
The
Shadow Clock or Sundial
The times 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 or by a shadow clock or sundial. The first such sundial stood on the road in front of the mosque.
This initial sundial was badly worn out and a new one was built in 1327 A.M.
1917 A.D.) by Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddin Iskandar III. This clock has survived until today.
Inscriptions
and carved designs
The stone and wooden structures in the interior of
Hukuru Miskiiy are decorated with intricately carved designs and inscriptions. The inscriptions are mainly in two languages -Arabic and Dhivehi, written in the old Maldivian script
Dhives Akuru.
The Arabic inscriptions were engraved by Chief Justice Al Faqih Al Qazi Jamaludeen Bin Al Sheikh Mohamed Al Mahly. These were mainly quotations from the Holy Quran and The Sayings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). Some historical facts about the construction of the mosque are also inscribed in Arabic.
The inscriptions done 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 1068 A.H. (1658 A.D.)
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An
Arabic inscription from Medhu Miskiiy |
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Old
Dhivehi script (Dhives Akuru)
engraved on a coral stone pillar in Medhu
Miskiiy |
The coral stones used inside and outside
Hukuru Miskiiy have been beautifully carved with abstract geometrical designs as well as with images of leaves, flowers and trees. There is an abundance of beautiful coral carvings and expert lacquer work inside the mosque. The most conspicuous and complex examples of the lacquer technique are found in the
Laage or domes of the ceiling. There are altogether twelve domes built as part of the ceiling and each one is beautifully engraved and lacquered in figural and floral designs. The most commonly used colours in the lacquer works are red, blue, green and gold.
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Inscriptions
on the Mihrab |
According to archeological experts, the styles used in the stone and wood carvings of
Hukuru Miskiiy show an obvious influence ol the 11th century Islamic art. Thus the overall styles used
in the designs are a mixture of Islamic art and old
Maldivian art forms that had come down to the artists of that time from their ancestors.
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Laage
- a unique example of lacquered wood work |
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Laage
- a closer look at the magnificent wooden
carvings |
An attempt has been made in this booklet to present an illustration of this magnificant work of art. But no publication can fully reveal its tremendous artistic wealth as all the interior and exterior decorations have been worked with a high degree of detail and finish.
Mihrab
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On either side of the entrance to the Mihrab are two wooden plates, with Arabic inscriptions on them, which were both installed during the construction of the mosque. The inscriptions on the first plate gives information about the original mosque that stood here and the other plate describes how this present mosquewas built.
Inside the Mihrab is a coral stone Minbar which is used
during the Fridayand Eid prayers for the Imam to preach from. The
Gibla fila, a wooden tablet in front of the Mihrab is a masterpiece of geometric designs and calligraphy. This tablet also carry information on Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar and how this mosque was built.
The
Outer Walls of the Hukuru Miskiiy
The four walls surrounding the mosque compound were built by Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddin Iskandar III in 1331
A.H. (1921 A.D.) and the length of the wall on each side was 666 ft. at that time.
The
Minaret and the Southern Gateway
In 1078
A.H. (1668 A.D.) Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar returned from his pilgrimage to Mecca and ordered the construction of a minaret and a southern gateway to the mosque. The minaret was completed in 1085
A.H. (1675 A.D.) and closely resembled the minarets of Mecca of that time.
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Minaret.
(Arrow points to the Hukuru Miskiiy) |
This minaret was renovated for the first time in 1324
A.H. (1914 A.D.) during the reign of Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddin Iskandar III, who ordered the original rope bindings of the minaret to be replaced by iron chains and copper belts. The inscriptions on the minaret, the words of the
Azaan or the call for prayers, were also renewed and painted during this time.
Since the
minaret was built, the Mudhim, who is the official responsible for calling for prayers, leading the prayers and looking after the mosque, would go up the minaret five times every day to call the believers to prayers. In April 1964, four loudspeakers were installed which made it possible for the Mudhim to call for prayers while standing inside the mosque. The loudspeakers also meant that the call for prayers will be heard from a greater distance.
The southern gateway was constructed with four roofs covering an area of approximately 360 sq. ft with two
dhaalaas on either side. Just after the completion of this gateway in 1085
A.H. (1676 A.D.), the Sultan ordered that the Holy Quran be taught to the children here. This gateway can thus be regarded as the first
'institute' or 'classroom' established in the country to carry out formal education. Since then major changes were brought about to the compound including the demolition of this gateway in 1964 A.D.
Tombs
On the southern side of the mosque and a short distance to the left of the main entrance, stands the
ziyaaraiy or the monumental tomb of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar I. He was well known for his educational reforms and military expertise.
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Ziyaarath
(Monumental Tombs) from the north eastern
end |
In 1059
A.H. (1649 A.D.), his second year of reign, a Portuguese expedition tried to capture Male' and was repulsed, which meant that the
annual payment to Ali Raja of Kannannooru and the Portuguese was no longer rendered. After ruling the nation for 39 years and six months, he died in 1098
A.H. (1687 A.D.) Even today he is remembered as one of the greatest kings of the Maldives.
Besides his tomb, there are many other tombs within the mosque compound. These belong to the various Sultans, princes and ministers who has served the country in the past. These tombs occupy a large part of the western end of the compound and the beautiful carvings on the tombstones are clearly legible even today.
see
also:
Plaques
of Hukuru Miskiiy Male', Maldives
and
English section Part
1
and Dhivehi
section with additional photographs - Part 1
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