Dhivehi
Dhivehi, also spelled Divehi, may refer to:
*Dhivehi people, an ethnic group native to the historic region of the Maldive Islands.
*Dhivehi language, an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken by about 350,000 people in the Republic of Maldives
...
: ހުސެއިން ސަލާހުއްދީން; April 14, 1881 – September 20, 1948), was an influential Maldivian writer, poet, essayist and scholar.
Salahuddin was one of the most prolific writers of early modern Maldivian literature (Dhivehi: Era of Crawling), and contributed to Maldivian literature during a time when tremendous growth and innovations took place in the Maldivian literary scene. He was the father of
Ibrahim Shihab
Honorable Maldivian Al-Usthaaz Ibrahim Shihab (1926–1988), was an influential Maldivian writer, poet, essayist and statesman. He was the son of scholar Husain Salaahuddin. Hussain Salaahuddin was a famous Maldivian poet and also served as the ...
, statesman of the Maldives.He was famous for writing Maldivian literature.
Lifetime and career
Husain Salahuddin was born on April 14, 1881. He signed his writings as Salahuddin Hussein bin Moosa al-Mahli (صلاح الدين حسين بن موسى المحلى), meaning "Salahuddin Hussein, son of Moosa from
Malé
Malé (, ; dv, މާލެ) is the capital and most populous city of the Maldives. With a population of 252,768 and an area of , it is also one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The city is geographically located at the southern ...
". He obtained his education on the island of Meedhoo. His master was Al-Allam al-Shaikh al-Hafiz Ibrahim Thakurufaan (Aisaabeegedaru Dhon Beyyaa). He subsequently studied under al-Shaikh Muhamed Jamaluddin Naib Thutthu. He is recognized for his contributions to Maldivian literature, including the translation of various books written in
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
into
Dhivehi
Dhivehi, also spelled Divehi, may refer to:
*Dhivehi people, an ethnic group native to the historic region of the Maldive Islands.
*Dhivehi language, an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken by about 350,000 people in the Republic of Maldives
...
.
He also served in various key positions in the Maldivian government. He became the Attorney General of the Maldives at the young age of 18. He also served as the Chief Justice of the Maldives for a long time. Among the other positions that he assumed were the posts of Secretary and Prime Minister for the
Majlis
( ar, المجلس, pl. ') is an Arabic term meaning "sitting room", used to describe various types of special gatherings among common interest groups of administrative, social or religious nature in countries with linguistic or cultural conne ...
Malé
Malé (, ; dv, މާލެ) is the capital and most populous city of the Maldives. With a population of 252,768 and an area of , it is also one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The city is geographically located at the southern ...
, the first institution of formal education in the Maldives. Majeediyya School was started on the front veranda of Bageechaage, Salahuddin's residence.
During his lifetime, Salahuddin served in the National Literary Committee established by the President of the Maldives,
Mohamed Amin Didi
Sumuvvul Ameer Mohamed Amin Dhoshimeynaa Kilegefaanu (Dhivehi: ސުމުއްވުލް އަމީރު މުހައްމަދު އަމީން ދޮށިމޭނާ ކިލެގެފާނު) (July 20, 1910 – January 19, 1954), popularly known as Mohamed Amin Didi ...
.
Salahuddin published some of the most famous and influential books and poems in Dhivehi. Books that he wrote include: ''The Story of Dhon Beefaan; The Story of Thakurufaan the Great; Shaikh Zubair,'' an interpretation of the works of two great Maldivian poets; ''Nu'umaan and Mariyam''; two anthologies of poetry titled ''Morning Star I and II''; and his most famous work, ''The Biography of
Prophet Muhammad
Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the monoth ...
'', in which he translated and combined various Arabic books about Muhammad into
Dhivehi
Dhivehi, also spelled Divehi, may refer to:
*Dhivehi people, an ethnic group native to the historic region of the Maldive Islands.
*Dhivehi language, an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken by about 350,000 people in the Republic of Maldives
...
.
Influence and legacy
An audiobook version of the ''Biography of Prophet Muhammad'' is broadcast every
Ramadan
, type = islam
, longtype = Religious
, image = Ramadan montage.jpg
, caption=From top, left to right: A crescent moon over Sarıçam, Turkey, marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Ramadan. Ramadan Quran reading in Bandar Torkaman, Iran. ...
on Maldivian radio. The ''Biography'' is said to be the quintessence of Maldivian writing, even though it was a translation from Arabic works on the subject.
''The Story of Thakurufaan the Great'' is nationally considered to be the definitive account of the life and times of the national hero, Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaan al Auzam. The book was based on orally transmitted folktales and legends concerning the man's life. Although Salaahuddin had used his own literary style in its writing, he remained faithful to the original folktales, the result being one of the true Maldivian epics. Even so, the National Day in the Maldives is celebrated on Rabi' al-awwal the first, celebrating the liberation of the Maldives from the Portuguese invaders.
Death
Husain Salahuddin died on November 14, 1997. He was buried in
Colombo
Colombo ( ; si, කොළඹ, translit=Koḷam̆ba, ; ta, கொழும்பு, translit=Koḻumpu, ) is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo me ...
, Sri Lanka.
Children
Hussain Salaahuddin's children were all writers, poets and speakers who filled various high positions in the government.
Children of Dhon Didi:
* Hawwa Saeed
* Khadheeja
Children of Sanfa Manike:
* Aishath
* Mohamed Saeed
Children of Medhuganduvaru Thuththu Gomaa:
* Adnan Hussain
* Mohamed
* Fathimath Saeed
* Ibrahim Shihab
*Maryam Saeed