Dhovemi of the Maldives
Encyclopedia
Dhovemi Kalaminja Siri Thiribuvana-aadiththa Maha Radun (Dhivehi
: ދޮވެމި ކަލަމިންޖާ ސިރީ ބަވަނަ އާދީއްތަ މަހާ ރަދުން) or Donei Kalaminjaa (Dhivehi
: ދޮނެއި ކަލަމިންޖާ) was the second king of the Maldives
from 1141 to 1166 or 1176 according to the Raadhavalhi and the Loamaafaanu copper plate writings (two sources from which the early history of the Maldives is studied). The Taarikh chronicles. however calls this king Sultan
Muhammad ibn Abdullah which is probably the Muslim
name of the king after his conversion to Islam
in the 12th year of his reign. Later on the title of Dharumavantha (Dharumas) Rasgefaanu or 'the benevolent king' was bestowed upon him. He is also known as the first ruler of the Theemuge Dynastry (not considering King Koimala of the Lunar Dynastry). This name was derived from his house's name, Theemuge, some sourced refer to the royal house as the Maalei Dharikolhu. Though it was being called Theemuge Darikolhu they were descendents of the Buddhist Kings of the Lunar Dynastry or Soma Vansa.
Dhovemi was the son of Henevi Maavaa Kilage (Dhivehi
: ހެނެވި މާވާ ކިލެގެ) the sister of the first King Koimala of all the Maldives. He ruled for 25 years, 12 years as a Buddhist
and 13 years after his conversion to Islam. The conversion of Dhovemi and later the whole Maldivian Kingdom to Islam was accredited by Ibn Batuta to Abu al Barakat ul Barbari (previously thought to be a berber
from the Magrib
). But the chronicles of Raadavalhi and Tharik credits the Persian from the Tabriz
, called Yusuf Shamsud-din for the conversion of the Maldivian Kingdom to Islam in the year 1153. It is now accepted that all the sources in fact talks of the same person Abu al Barakat Yusuf al Barbari. The newly converted king became the first sultan of the Maldives. The governace of the country is said to have been carried out by the king as advised by Abu al Barakat Yusuf al Barbari. King Dhovemi sent emissaries to the different atolls to convert all the inhabitants without exception to the Muslim faith. The king himself sailed to the island of Nilandhoo
in North Nilande Atoll
and converted them to Islam. He is also said to have built a mosque there. The conversion of the whole country is said to have taken place on the 2nd day of Rabi'-ul-Akhir
548 AH (1153 AD) on the 17th year of Al-Muqtafi, the Caliph
of Baghdad
, and since then the Maldives has been a predominantly Islamic country. By the order of the king as his brother Siri Kalo the first Friday mosuque of Male' was built by Al-Wazir Shanivirazaa. The Dharumavantha Miskyii -the oldest mosque in Male'- is said the have been built by King Dhovemi.
Sultan Dhovemi was the first to enforce Islamic law. All traces of idolatry were effaced during this period of major reformation and mosque
s were built on many of the inhabited islands. The sultan is said to have been just, impartial, pious, secular and was beloved by his subjects for his wisdom, kindliness and generosity.
The death of the Sultan is not recorded, but he is said to have disappeared in 1166 on a voyage to Mecca
to perform the Hajj
. The Taarikh writes as revived from the Isdhoo loamaafanu:
"(he said) next Friday a ship will arrive, whereon I shall sail for Makkah. The day named verily a vessel anchored at Male'. The Sultan, having performed the Jumu'ah
(Friday-noon prayers) at the mosque, hurried to the seashore and embarked in the vessel without attendants or provisions. Forwith the ship passed from sight as suddenly as lightning (and he was not heard from thence)"
On the disappearance of his uncle, Muthey Kalaminja
took over the throne of the Maldives and ruled as the sultan from 1166 according to the Raadhavalhi. The Isdhoo (1195–1196) and Dhan'bidhoo (1196–1197) Loamaafaanus (copper plates) give the date as 1176.
Dhivehi language
Maldivian is an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken by about 350,000 people in the Maldives where it is the national language. It is also the first language of nearly 10,000 people in the island of Minicoy in the Union territory of Lakshadweep, India where the Mahl dialect of the Maldivian...
: ދޮވެމި ކަލަމިންޖާ ސިރީ ބަވަނަ އާދީއްތަ މަހާ ރަދުން) or Donei Kalaminjaa (Dhivehi
Dhivehi language
Maldivian is an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken by about 350,000 people in the Maldives where it is the national language. It is also the first language of nearly 10,000 people in the island of Minicoy in the Union territory of Lakshadweep, India where the Mahl dialect of the Maldivian...
: ދޮނެއި ކަލަމިންޖާ) was the second king of the Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
from 1141 to 1166 or 1176 according to the Raadhavalhi and the Loamaafaanu copper plate writings (two sources from which the early history of the Maldives is studied). The Taarikh chronicles. however calls this king Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
Muhammad ibn Abdullah which is probably the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
name of the king after his conversion to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in the 12th year of his reign. Later on the title of Dharumavantha (Dharumas) Rasgefaanu or 'the benevolent king' was bestowed upon him. He is also known as the first ruler of the Theemuge Dynastry (not considering King Koimala of the Lunar Dynastry). This name was derived from his house's name, Theemuge, some sourced refer to the royal house as the Maalei Dharikolhu. Though it was being called Theemuge Darikolhu they were descendents of the Buddhist Kings of the Lunar Dynastry or Soma Vansa.
Dhivehi language
Maldivian is an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken by about 350,000 people in the Maldives where it is the national language. It is also the first language of nearly 10,000 people in the island of Minicoy in the Union territory of Lakshadweep, India where the Mahl dialect of the Maldivian...
: ހެނެވި މާވާ ކިލެގެ) the sister of the first King Koimala of all the Maldives. He ruled for 25 years, 12 years as a Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and 13 years after his conversion to Islam. The conversion of Dhovemi and later the whole Maldivian Kingdom to Islam was accredited by Ibn Batuta to Abu al Barakat ul Barbari (previously thought to be a berber
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
from the Magrib
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
). But the chronicles of Raadavalhi and Tharik credits the Persian from the Tabriz
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
, called Yusuf Shamsud-din for the conversion of the Maldivian Kingdom to Islam in the year 1153. It is now accepted that all the sources in fact talks of the same person Abu al Barakat Yusuf al Barbari. The newly converted king became the first sultan of the Maldives. The governace of the country is said to have been carried out by the king as advised by Abu al Barakat Yusuf al Barbari. King Dhovemi sent emissaries to the different atolls to convert all the inhabitants without exception to the Muslim faith. The king himself sailed to the island of Nilandhoo
Nilandhoo (Faafu Atoll)
Nilandhoo is in Faafu Atoll.Nilandhoo is the capital of faafu atoll. There are 5 inhabited island in which Nilandhoo takes the lead being the capital of faafu atoll. About the population of the islands Nilandhoo takes the lead too with its land size comparing to other islands of faafu atoll...
in North Nilande Atoll
Faafu Atoll
Northern Nilandhe Atoll, Nilande Atoll North or Faafu Atoll is an administrative division of the Maldives.It corresponds to the natural atoll of the same name.Certain islands of this atoll used to be inhabited, like Himithi...
and converted them to Islam. He is also said to have built a mosque there. The conversion of the whole country is said to have taken place on the 2nd day of Rabi'-ul-Akhir
Rabi' al-thani
Rabī’ al-Thānī is the fourth month in the Islamic Calendar. It is also known as Rabī` al-Ākhir .-Timing:The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year,...
548 AH (1153 AD) on the 17th year of Al-Muqtafi, the Caliph
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, and since then the Maldives has been a predominantly Islamic country. By the order of the king as his brother Siri Kalo the first Friday mosuque of Male' was built by Al-Wazir Shanivirazaa. The Dharumavantha Miskyii -the oldest mosque in Male'- is said the have been built by King Dhovemi.
Sultan Dhovemi was the first to enforce Islamic law. All traces of idolatry were effaced during this period of major reformation and mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
s were built on many of the inhabited islands. The sultan is said to have been just, impartial, pious, secular and was beloved by his subjects for his wisdom, kindliness and generosity.
The death of the Sultan is not recorded, but he is said to have disappeared in 1166 on a voyage to Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
to perform the Hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
. The Taarikh writes as revived from the Isdhoo loamaafanu:
"(he said) next Friday a ship will arrive, whereon I shall sail for Makkah. The day named verily a vessel anchored at Male'. The Sultan, having performed the Jumu'ah
Jumu'ah
Jumu'ah is a congregational prayer that Muslims hold every Friday, just after noon in lieu of dhuhr...
(Friday-noon prayers) at the mosque, hurried to the seashore and embarked in the vessel without attendants or provisions. Forwith the ship passed from sight as suddenly as lightning (and he was not heard from thence)"
On the disappearance of his uncle, Muthey Kalaminja
Muthey of the Maldives
Al-Sultan Muthey Kalaminja Siri Bavana Abaarana Mahaa Radun was the Sultan of the Maldives from 1166 to 1185. He was the son of Mulee Maavaa Kilege , the maternal aunt of Sultan Dhovemi and sister of King Koimala...
took over the throne of the Maldives and ruled as the sultan from 1166 according to the Raadhavalhi. The Isdhoo (1195–1196) and Dhan'bidhoo (1196–1197) Loamaafaanus (copper plates) give the date as 1176.