The Ihavandhoo Old Friday Mosque
Tuesday 12th of May 2020
The Ihavandhoo Old Friday Mosque
Minister Yumna Maumoon announces the official website which provides information regarding the coral stone mosques in Maldives. The website developed by Mauroof Jameel, is funded by European Union and supported by Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage. One of these architecturally unique cultural sites is the Ihavandhoo Old Friday Mosque.
Completed in 16th December 1701 CE (15 Rajab 1113 A. H.) during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Muzhiruddin (1701-1705), Ihavandhoo Old Friday Mosque is a small coral stone mosque with intricate stone and lacquer work. However, over the period major extensions compromised its visual integrity from outside. The old mosque is still intact in its original condition within extensions. During the 1950s, the roofing was upgraded from coconut thatching to Indian clay roofing tiles and the dhaala was extended with timber lattice (miskit jaali) windows. The floor would have gotten a new screed. The short minaret was also part of the upgrade.
The mosque compound includes an octagonal stone well, cemetery with grave markers and a small minaret, all made from coral stone. The cemetery has tombstones of eminent people with rare and high-quality carvings. Some of the grave markers belong to members from the Utheem Boduthakurufaanu family and the wazir of the Dhiyamigil Dynasty. The original mosque compound did not have a boundary wall, but a new boundary wall surrounds the mosque with three entrances. During the 1990s, the first electrification and linoleum floors finishes were introduced.
In 2015, the roof was changed from clay roofing tiles to metal profile sheets. The fenda was extended without raising the floor level and timber lattice windows and doors were added. The floor was changed to ceramic tiles. Modern facilities like electrical lights, fans and sound systems were added. The present mosque building consists of the old original mosque built using coral stone carpentry construction and a new extension built with masonry construction.
Typically the old mosque is built on a raised coral stone plinth with carvings, with coral stone walls, timber sliding doors and a tired roof. The prayer hall has fenda on three sides and rising entrance stair with dhaala. There is no mihrab chamber and the mimbar is located near the corner of the mihrab wall. Typical to all the mosques it is entered opposite the mihrab side. The interior has lacquered calligraphy panels, lacquered beams, coffered ceilings with a decorated laage'.