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]
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.
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 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.
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.