Coral mosque in Malé reflects 400 years of history
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In Malé, the capital of the Maldives, people have worshipped at Hukuru Miskiiy, or the Old Friday Mosque, for nearly 400 years.
The current structure, completed in 1657 under Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar I, replaced earlier mosques built after the Maldives converted to Islam in 1153. Maldivian builders constructed the mosque primarily from blocks of Porites coral, carefully interlocking them without mortar. The mosque’s walls display geometric patterns, floral designs, Arabic calligraphy, and Dhives Akuru, an old Maldivian script.
Inside, timber and sandalwood feature intricate carvings. The building accommodates over 100 worshippers, who stand at a 30-degree angle to the structure to face Makkah, a practice potentially linked to a previous Buddhist temple on the site. Beside the mosque stands the Munnaaru, a coral-stone tower built in 1675 that once dominated Malé’s skyline. The mosque grounds also include four ancient wells and a cemetery containing the remains of former rulers.
These elements combine to make Hukuru Miskiiy a living monument to the country’s history, as the Maldives celebrated 900 years since its conversion to Islam this year.
