The earliest mosques of Maldives, built soon after the conversion to Islam in 1153, did not survive in their original state as they were rebuilt and remodeled many times. The earliest surviving mosques are from the 1300s. The following typical features can be observed:
Today four types of traditional mosques survive. They are built between the 14th Century and the 20th Century and can be categorized for their use of material and type of construction.
1153 ގައި ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ އިސްލާމްވުމަށްފަހު، ބިނާކުރެވުނު ފުރަތަމަ މިސްކިތްތައް އަސްލު ގޮތުގައި ފެންނާކަށް ނެތެވެ. އެ މިސްކިތްތައްވަނީ އެކި ފަހަރު މަތީބން އާކޮށް ބަދަލު ގެނެވިފައެވެ. އެންމެ ޒަމާންވީ މިސްކިތަކަށް ހުރީ 1300 ގެ ޒަމާނުގެ މިސްކިތެކެވެ. ތިރީގައި އެވަނީ ޘަޤާފީ މިސްކިތުގެ ސިފަތަކެވެ.
ރާއްޖޭގައި ހަތަރު ވައްތަރެއްގެ ޘަޤާފީ މިސްކިތް ފެންނާން އެބަހުއްޓެވެ. މި ހަތަރު ވައްތަރުގެ މިސްކިތްވެސް ބިނާކުރަން ފަށާފައިވަނީ 14 ވަނަ ޤަރުނާއި 20 ވަނަ ޤަރުނާ ދެމެދުގައެވެ. މި ހަތަރު ވައްތަރު ކަނޑައަޅާފައި އެވަނީ ޢިމާރާތް ކުރުމުގައި ބޭނުން ކޮށްފައި ހުރި ތަކެއްޗާއި ޢިމާރާތް ކޮށްފައިވާ ގޮތަށް ބަލައިގެންނެވެ.
Mosques using veligaa and shaped stone masonry construction techniques.
These are the earliest type of mosque and are few in number. An example is Gen Miskiy in Fuvah Mulah; the date of its construction is unclear, but it was built earlier than 1397. The authors noted 9 mosques of this type.
Mosques using hirigaa and shaped stone carpentry techniques.
These are the best of traditional mosques and are widely distributed throughout the country. They display the skills and craftsmanship of people from a bygone age. Examples of this type of mosque is Male’ Old Friday Mosque built in 1657. The authors noted 20 mosques of this type.
Mosques using both veligaa and hirigaa and shaped stone masonry construction techniques.
Most of these mosques are probably rebuilt or restored old veligaa mosques where part of the old structure was used. A typical example of such a mosque is Vaadhoo Old Friday Mosque, believed to be built in the late 1500s. The authors noted 7 mosques of this type.
Mosques using thelhigaa or chipped coral stone and masonry for construction.
These mosques were introduced during the early 20th century when lime masonry became popular. There are many such mosques but most of them are still not recognised as cultural assets and are very much endangered. One such example is Male’ Bihurozukamana Mosque, rebuilt in 1919. The authors noted 7 mosques of this type.