Fandiyaru Miskiy
Address: Koagannu, Hulhumeedhoo, Addu City, Maldives.
Geographic coordinates: 0º 34' 51.6" S and 73º 13' 42" E
Mosque capacity: 10 persons.
Mosque area: 12 sqm. approx.
Hulhumeedhoo Fandiyaaru Mosque located in the Koagannu area in the island of Hulhumeedhoo (Addu City) was probably built around 1586 during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim III and continues its use as a mosque till today. The Koagannu area is the largest and the oldest cemetery in Maldives with more than 500 coral grave markers, a sheltered mausoleum and 15 open mausoleums. It had six small mosques but now four small mosques remain. They are Koagannu Miskiy c.1397, Boadhaa Miskiy c.1403, Athara Miskiy c.1417 and Fandiyaru Miskiy c.1586. The largest coral stone tombstone is located in this site and is 2.4 metres tall.
The mosque building is a small single space prayer hall an open fenda on the entrance linked to a well with stepping-stones and a small minaret. It is built on a small platform of coral with mouldings and has the features of a traditional mosque. The mosque is very basic and do not have exterior or interior decorations. The mosque is built using hiriga or coral block masonry along with timber carpentry techniques for construction.
Hulhumeedhoo Fandiyaaru Mosque was probably built during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim III also known as Kalaafaanu (1585-1609). Koagannu traditionally was a remote part of the island and sometimes small mosques are located in remote areas to be used for I'thikaf; a retreat of many days to a mosque for prayers.
It is not clear who built the mosque but traditionally the mosques in Koagannu were built and maintained for generations by families of Hulhumeedhoo. Fandiyaru mosque was traditionally maintained and looked after by the family of Sheikh al Gazee Mohamed Bodufandiyaaru Thakurufaanu. Now it is maintained by the state and still continues its use as a mosque.
Koagannu area originally did not have a boundary wall and the first boundary wall was built during President Mohamed Amin’s era c.1953. Even though the dates are undetermined, it is evident that the mosque has gone through stages of restoration and renovation. The roof is the most visible example.
މިއީ، އަޞްލު ގޮތުގައި މިސްކިތުގެ ޙާލަތު ރަގަނޅަށް ހުރި އެންމެ ދުވަސްވީ އެންމެ ކުޑަ ހިރިގަލު ވަޑާމުގެ މިސްކިތެވެ. މި މިސްކިތް ހުރީ ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި އޮތް އެންމެ ޒަމާންވީ އެންމެ ބޮޑު ޤަބުރުސްތާނު ކަމުގައިވާ އައްޑޫ ސިޓީގެ ހުޅުމީދޫ ކޯގަންނު ސަރަޚައްދުގައެވެ. ލަފާ ކުރެވެނީ ހުޅުމީދޫ ފަނޑިޔާރު މިސްކިތް ބިނާކުރެވިފައިވަނީ 1586 ހައި ތަނުގައި ކަމަށެވެ. އައްސުލްޠާން އިބްރާހީމް 3 (ކަލާފާނު – 1585 ން 1609) ގެ ރަސްކަމުގެ ދުވަސްވަރުއެވެ. އެ މިސްކިތުގައި މިހާރުވެސް ނަމާދު ކުރެއެވެ. މި މިސްކިތަކީ ގަލުވަޑާމުގައި ކުރެހުންތައް އަޅާފައި ނެތް ސާދާކޮށް ހުރި މިސްކިތެއް ނަމަވެސް، ޒަމާންތަކާއެކު ހިރިގަލު މިސްކިތްތަކަށް އައިސްފައިވާ ބަދަލުތައް ދައްކައިދޭ މުހިންމު މިސްކިތެކެވެ.
