The Meedhoo Old Friday Mosque

Monday 18th of May 2020

The Meedhoo Old Friday Mosque

Located in Raa Atoll Meedhoo is the only surviving coral stone mosque with Indian clay roofing tiles, which dates back to around 300 years. According to local oral history, it was built in the reign of Sultan Muzaffar Mohamed Imaduddin around 1705 and continues its use as a mosque till today, with good maintenance after a few changes since 1950s.

During the 1900s, the roofing was changed from coconut thatching to Indian clay roofing tiles and the dhaala fitted with timber lattice (miskithu jaali) windows and parts of interiors replaced. Lacquer workers from Baa Atoll Thulhadhoo did the overall lacquer work and interior columns. Even though it was remodeled, the coral structure and exterior form of the mosque remain unchanged.

The mosque compound consists of the mosque building, two water wells and a cemetery with a mausoleum. A large part of the original mosque compound designated to the cemetery is separated with a wall now and has a number of old coral stone grave markers with fine carvings. A coral masonry boundary wall surrounds the mosque with two entrances. Trees such as frangipanis, coconut palms and other flowering plants are present within the complex.

More info: https://coralstonemosques.com/meedhoo-old-friday-mosque/