The Islamic Centre (officially named Masjid al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-Auzam) ( ar, مسجد السلطان محمد تكرفان الاعظم) ( dv, މަސްޖިދް އަލް-ސުލްޠާން މުޙައްމަދު ތަކުރުފާނު އަލް-އަޢުޡަމް) is an architectural landmark in
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 ...
,
Maldives
Maldives (, ; dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ, translit=Dhivehi Raajje, ), officially the Republic of Maldives ( dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ, translit=Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa, label=none, ), is an archipelag ...
opened in November 1984 by President
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (; dv, މައުމޫން ޢަބްދުލް ޤައްޔޫމް; born 29 December 1937) is a Maldivian politician and an Islamic scholar who served as the President of Maldives from 1978 to 2008. After serving as Minister of Trans ...
.
The Islamic Centre was built with the assistance of the Saudi Arabian government in the 1980s, and it was opened in November 1984. The building is an impressive structure, with a large golden dome and a minaret that stands at 142 feet tall. The building was designed by a group of Maldivian architects and engineers, and it was constructed using traditional Islamic architectural elements and local materials.
The Grand Friday Mosque located in the centre is named after one of the most celebrated Maldivian heroes, Sultan
Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-Auzam of the Maldives. The mosque is the second largest in the Maldives after the King Salman Mosque, and also one of the largest in
South Asia
South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;;;;; ...
, admitting over 5,000 people.
The centre also serves as a conference hall where official meetings and ceremonies are held, an Islamic library and a number of offices.
The centre also houses the Ministry of Islamic-Affairs from 11 November 2008 onwards, which replaced the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs that was established by the former president
Mamoon Abdul Gayoom.
Furthermore, the Islamic Centre acts as a major tourist attraction of Malé, because of its location near the main jetty of Malé and due to the beautiful architecture of the mosque. The magnificent golden dome of the mosque is also evident on the skyline of Malé. The shining golden dome of the mosque is a standout as are also the interior walls decorated with beautiful woodcarvings and Arabic calligraphy. The center also houses a library and a conference hall. The most famous architectural landmark of Male’ is the three-storey Islamic Centre, opened in November 1984. The center's Grand Friday Mosque, Masjid al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-Auzam, is the second biggest in the Maldives, accommodating more than 5,000 worshippers.
See also
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Islam in the Maldives
Islam is the state religion of Maldives. The 2008 Constitution "Fehi Ganoon" states the significance of the Islamic law in the country. The constitution requires that citizenship status be based on adherence to the state religion, which current ...
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History of Maldives
The history of the Maldives is intertwined with the history of the broader Indian subcontinent and the surrounding regions, comprising the areas of South Asia and Indian Ocean; and the modern nation consisting of 26 natural atolls, comprising 11 ...
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Culture of Maldives
References
Event venues in the Maldives
Mosques in the Maldives
Mosques completed in 1984
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