Religion in the Maldives
The constitution requires that citizenship status be based on adherence to the state religion, which legally makes the country's citizens hundred percent Muslim.
The significant role played by Arab traders in the Indian Ocean during the 12th century likely contributed to the conversion of Dhovemi, the last Buddhist king of the Maldives, to Islam in the year 1153.
[7] The renowned Moroccan traveler documented the tale of Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al-Barbari, hailing from North Morocco, who is believed to have played a pivotal role in spreading Islam in the Maldives.
[10] However, certain scholars have proposed the possibility that Ibn Battuta might have misinterpreted Maldivian texts, potentially influenced by a bias or preference for the North African Maghrebi/Berber narrative surrounding this Shaykh.
[16] Embedded within the framework of the 2008 Constitution of the Maldives is the unequivocal mandate stipulating the obligatory adherence to Islam for every individual under the jurisdiction of the nation.
Enshrined within this document is the recognition of Islam as the state religion, thereby establishing its pervasive influence across various facets of Maldivian life.
By enacting this constitutional requirement, the Maldives reaffirms its commitment to upholding Islamic values, customs, and traditions as integral components of its national identity and cultural heritage.
Consequently, all residents, citizens, and visitors within the territorial boundaries of the Maldives are bound by the legal imperative to observe and respect the tenets of Islam, reflecting the deeply ingrained significance of the faith within the socio-political landscape of the country.
[17] The small community of Christians exists amidst a predominantly Muslim society, adhering to the state religion of Islam.
Despite their minority status, these Christians maintain their faith, often practicing in private due to legal restrictions on public displays of non-Islamic religions in the Maldives.
President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom asserted that the Maldives' preservation of its independence is contingent upon maintaining its status as a wholly Muslim nation.
However, rather than genuine conversion, the adoption of Christianity among the Maldivians was primarily motivated by the severe persecution and torture inflicted by the Portuguese upon those who adhered to Islam.
In 1558, the Portuguese established a modest garrison with a Viador (Viyazoru), overseeing a trading post in the Maldives, which they governed from their principal colony in Goa.
These stupas and other archaeological remains, such as foundations of Buddhist buildings Vihara, compound walls and stone baths, are found on many islands of the Maldives.
Local historian Hassan Ahmed Maniku counted as many as 59 islands with Buddhist archaeological sites in a provisional list he published in 1990.
[22] According to a legend in Maldivian folklore, a prince named Koimala from India or Sri Lanka entered the Maldives from the north (Ihavandhu) and became the first king from the House of Theemuge.
Earlier, the Maldives had been settled by people of Dravidian origin from the nearest coasts, like the group today known as the Giravaaru who claim ancestry from ancient Tamils.
The Giraavaru people were just one of the island communities predating Buddhism and the arrival of a Northern Kingly dynasty and the establishment of centralized political and administrative institutions.
According to many officials and interlocutors, most citizens regarded Islam as one of their society's most distinctive characteristics and believed that having it established as the state religion promotes harmony and national identity.
