How the Entire Buddhist Population of Maldives Became Muslim
An Amazing Story of the Maldives.
Located just southwest of India, which is predominantly a Hindu area, and Sri Lanka, which is predominantly a Buddhist area, it does make one wonder how this came to be.
The story behind it includes an Arab trader from Morocco, who was visiting the Maldives in the 12th century.
The Buddhists were here since around the 3rd century BC. The last Buddhist King of the Maldives converted to Islam in the 12th century. He became a Sultan and took the name Sultan Muhammad Ibn Abdullah.
All because the Maldives was an important stop for Arab traders at that time, and one influential trader in particular, Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al-Barbari from North Africa. After arrival at Malé, Abul Barakat Yoosuf Al Barbary stayed in Malé for several days. He was a Hafiz, a person who could recite the entire Holy Qur’an from memory.
In the 12th century, the people of the Maldives lived in fear of an evil sea demon, Rannamaari. According to the Buddhist King at the time, this demon demanded the sacrifice of a virgin, monthly, to protect the people from its wrath. Each month, the king held a lottery to select a woman for sacrifice. The selected woman was placed in a tower for Rannamaari, and each time, she was tragically found lifeless the next day.
Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al-Barbari was visiting when one of the young women was selected. In fact, the woman selected was the only daughter of the family home he was visiting. The family was so distraught, the trader offered to spend the evening in place of the young girl. Instead of their daughter going to the tower, the trader went in her place and spent the entire night in the tower reciting verses from the Qur’an.
The demon showed that night, but upon hearing the verses of the Qur’an, he turned away. Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al-Barbari lived through the night. The King, amazed, wanted to make sure Rannamaari would never return. He vowed to convert the nation to Islam if the trader was able to permanently remove the demon.
Rannamarri never returned. Upon this success, the King followed through with his promise and converted the entire island to Islam.
Even after Maldivians adopted Islam Abul Barakat Yoosuf Al Barbary stayed in the Maldives to teach Islam to the people. He died during the reign of Dharumavantha Rasgefaanu (Muhammed Ibn Abdullah). According to historian Hassan Thaajuddheen, he was laid to rest at the shrine at Medhuziyaaraiy in Malé.
The popular title attributed to Sultan Muhammed Ibn Abdulla, which is Dharumavantha Rasgefaanu implies that the Sultan was a pious and kind-hearted person who was generous, especially to the weak and poor. During his reign he strengthened adherence to the rules and principles of Islam, established laws of governance and destroyed the symbols of Buddhism. It is said that a long time after Abul Barakat Yoosuf Al Barbary’s death, the Sultan left on pilgrimage to Mecca and did not return.
The first Friday Mosque to be built in Malé and the Dharumavantha Rasgefaanu Miski at Malé were commissioned by Sultan Muhammad Ibn Abdulla.
The first Jumma (Friday) Masjid built in Malé and the Dharumavantha Rasgefaanu Miskiy at Malé were commissioned by Sultan Muhammed Ibn Abdullah.
All this happened because of the Power of the Kalaam of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, The Qur’an Kareem!
Muhammad Bashir Bharadia
(Taken from various sources)
