Gen Mosque Explained

Gen Miskit
Native Name:ގެން މިސްކިތް
Native Name Lang:dv
Religious Affiliation:Islam
Coordinates:-0.2984°N 73.427°W
Location:Dhadimagu, Fuvahmulah
Rite:Sunni / Sufism
State:Gnaviyani Atoll
Country:Maldives
Architecture Style:Traditional Maldivian architecture
Established:c. 1300

Gen Miskit (; alternatively spelled as Gemmiskiy) is one of the oldest mosque in the Maldives built [1] [2] (before 1378).[3] It is made of coral stone and was built straight after the conversion to Islam.[4] It's noted that this mosque isn't facing towards the Qibla.

Gen Miskit is located in the district of Dhadimagu at the northern end of Fuvahmulah. It's now a revered site for its historical significance to the island.[5] It's the first mosque that the residents of the island did their Friday prayer and Eid prayers.[6] [7]

There are disputes whether Gemmiskiy is the oldest mosque in the Maldives and in Fuvahmulah, media reports and residents say that it is the oldest but in a Monograph written by H.C.P. Bell, Fuvahmulah has had four mosques prior to Gen Miskit. It is really uncertain.

There has been some concern about the extinction of the mosque due to lack of maintenance by the Fuvahmulah City Council.[8]

Features

The mosque has a communal well, a rectangular ancient circular bath known as ‘Genmiskiy Veyo’ and a cemetery with enclosed shrines “ziyaarat” of revered religious figures.

Gemmiskiy Shrine

A place constructed with sandstone and protected by bricks. It is also said that the person who built the mosque, Addu's Meedhoo Abu Bakr Naib Kaleygefaanu, is buried at and Ah Naib Al-Hafiz Abubakr, potentially the first proselytizer of Islam in the island.[9]

Gemmiskiy Veu

Gemmiskiy Veu or Veyo is a rectangulat bath that is adjacent to the Southeastern wall of the mosque that has waters going down into the waters. It shares similarities with the baths in monasteries in Pokna and Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka.

Gemmiskiy Well

The well is crafted from sandstones and has unique stories about it. It is said by the residents of the island that the water tastes really sweet and each corner of the well has a unique taste.

Notes and References

  1. News: Sholeh. Muhammad. 9 April 2021. Mengenal Gen Miskit, Masjid Karang Pertama di Maldives. Faktual News. 27 January 2022. id. Get to Know Gen Miskit, Maldives' First Coral Mosque.
  2. News: Solih . Aishath Shuba . 2 April 2024 . Fuvahmulah City – The Days of the Past and Reigning Ramadan Rituals . 19 June 2024 . The Edition.
  3. Web site: ާއާސާރީ މިސްކިތް ތަކުގެ ލިސްޓް . List of ancient mosques . 20 June 2024 . . 26 . dv.
  4. Book: Mauroof, Mohamed Jameel . Coral Stone Mosques of Maldives: The Vanishing Legacy of the Indian Ocean . Ahmad . Yahaya . ORO Editions . 9780986281846.
  5. Web site: Gemmiskiy . 19 June 2024 . Visit Fuvahmulah.
  6. News: 10 April 2023 . ފުވައްމުލަކު ގެން މިސްކިތާއި ހަތަރުކަނުގައި ހަތަރު ރަހަލާކަމަށް ބުނާ ވަޅު . The well in Fuvahmulah's Gen Miskit has four different unique tastes . 20 June 2024 . ThePress . dv.
  7. News: Hassan . Muneeru . 3 September 2015 . ގެންމިސްކިތް: ފުވައްމުލަކުގެ އެންމެ ފުރަތަމަ މިސްކިތް . Gen Miskit: Fuvahmulah's first mosque . 20 June 2024 . Sun . dv.
  8. News: Hassan . Nimaa . 12 March 2023 . ފުވައްމުލަކުގެ އާސާރުތައް ނުބެލެހެއްޓި ނެތިދަނީ . 20 June 2024 . Adhadhu . dv.
  9. Web site: 2 May 2024 . FUVAHMULAH HISTORY . 19 June 2024 . Fuvahmulah City.