Gen Miskit

Gen Miskit (Dhivehi: ގެން މިސްކިތް; alternatively spelled as Gemmiskiy) is one of the oldest mosque in the Maldives built c. 1300[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.[3]

Gen Miskit
ގެން މިސްކިތް
Gen Miskit in 1984
Religion
AffiliationIslam
RiteSunni / Sufism
Location
LocationDhadimagu, Fuvahmulah
StateGnaviyani Atoll
CountryMaldives
Geographic coordinates0°17′54.1″S 73°25′37.1″E
Architecture
StyleTraditional Maldivian architecture
Date establishedc. 1300

Gen Miskit is located in the district of Dhadimagu at the northern end of Fuvahmulah.[2] 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.[2][6][7] 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.[5]

Gemmiskiy Shrine

A place constructed with sandstone and protected by bricks.[5] 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.[5][9][7]

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.[5] It shares similarities with the baths in monasteries in Pokna and Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka.[5]

Gemmiskiy Well

The well is crafted from sandstones and has unique stories about it.[5] 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.[6]

  • Shrine, Gen Miskiy
  • Veyo, Gen Miskiy
  • Unmarked grave, Gen Miskiy

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