Usthazul Jeel Muhammad Jameel Didi of Maldives

Al Sheikh Muhammed Jameel Didi ( dv, މުޙައްމަދު ޖަމީލުދީދީ; May 1, 1915 – March 15, 1989), popularly known as Jameel Didi'','' was a Maldivian

political figure A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

and poet who was famous for his writings and speeches. He was born on 1 May 1915 to Abdullah Kamaaludhin the Attorney General and Fenfoa'gan'duvaru Aminaa Didi. At first, he studied at the Majeedhiyya School and later went abroad to

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

and studied at

Al-Azhar University , image = جامعة_الأزهر_بالقاهرة.jpg , image_size = 250 , caption = Al-Azhar University portal , motto = , established = *970/972 first foundat ...

. After returning, he became a member of the sentence committee (niyaa kanda alhaa komety). He later served as Minister of Justice from 10 September 1953 and as Attorney General from 30 May 1956. Muhammad Jameel Didi has written many books. To help with

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 ...

grammar he wrote a book called "Fiyavalhu", and also "kudakudhinge bageecha 1" and "kudakudhinge bageecha 2", two Dhivehi children's books. He also wrote Islamic books such as "Thauleemuh Dhiyana" and "Dhuroosul Akhlaaq". The Maldivian national anthem,

Gaumii salaam "" (also transliterated as ""; dv, ޤައުމީ ސަލާމް , "National Salute") is the national anthem of the Maldives. The lyrics were written by Muhammad Jameel Didi in 1948, and the melody was composed by Sri Lankan maestro Pandit Amarad ...

, uses lyrics written by Jameel Didi in 1948 and until 1972 was sung to the tune of ''

Auld Lang Syne "Auld Lang Syne" (: note "s" rather than "z") is a popular song, particularly in the English-speaking world. Traditionally, it is sung to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. By extension, it is also often ...

'' which he heard on his uncle's alarm clock. Many of Jameel's children and grandchildren were and are renowned politicians in the governments of Presidents Maumoon and

Nasheed A nasheed (Arabic: singular ', plural ', meaning: "chants") is a work of vocal music, partially coincident with hymns, that is either sung ''a cappella'' or with instruments, according to a particular style or tradition within Islam. Nasheed ...

. Sheikh Jameel Didi died on March 15, 1989 at the age of 73. He is buried in ''Galolhu'' Cemetery where many of the Maldivian royal family are buried. After his death the honour of Usthazul Jeel (the teacher of the generation) was bestowed upon him by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Muhammad Jameel was one of the foremost Maldivian learned men. He translated religious books and foreign tales or fables, adapting them to the island context, making a contribution to

Maldivian folklore Maldivian mythology or Maldivian folklore is the body of myths, tales and anecdotes belonging to the oral tradition of Maldivians. Even though some of the Maldivian myths were already mentioned briefly by British commissioner in Ceylon HCP Bell tow ...

Xavier Romero-Frias Xavier or Xabier may refer to: Place * Xavier, Spain People * Xavier (surname) * Xavier (given name) * Francis Xavier (1506–1552), Catholic saint ** St. Francis Xavier (disambiguation) * St. Xavier (disambiguation) * Xavier (footballer, born ...

, ''The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom''. Barcelona 1999,

References

Muslim poets Maldivian writers 1915 births 1989 deaths National anthem writers Al-Azhar University alumni Government ministers of the Maldives 20th-century poets 20th-century Maldivian writers {{Maldives-politician-stub

See also

References