Malé Hukuru Miskiy, Mosque in Malé, Maldives
This mosque in the capital is one of the oldest religious buildings in the Maldives and is also known as the Friday Mosque. Its walls are made of cut coral blocks fitted together, and the roof rests on a structure of carved wooden beams and coral stone columns.
The building was erected in 1658 under Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar I and replaced an earlier mosque from the 12th century. The site has remained a central place for Friday prayers and religious gatherings of the community over the centuries.
The interior incorporates traditional Maldivian craftsmanship through detailed woodcarvings, coral stone columns, and intricate lacquerwork designs representing regional artistic methods.
Visitors need permission from the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs to enter the interior. Clothing should cover arms and legs, and shoes are removed before entering.
The adjacent cemetery contains coral stone tombstones whose shape indicates the gender of the deceased: rounded tops mark female graves, while pointed tops indicate male graves. Gilded inscriptions on some stones point to royal burials.
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