“Medhu Ziyaaraih” will not be opened to public

Ministry of Home Affairs has rescinded its earlier decision open the historical “Medhu Ziyaaraih” to public to celebrate The Day Maldives Embraced Islam, which falls on December 31, 2016.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Maaz Ahmed Saleem reported to “Sun” this Thursday that the ministry had decided against opening “Medhu Ziyaaraih” to public after committee discussions.

“Sun” has been informed that the decision not to open it to public was made due to divided opinion regarding the decision among scholars.

Speaking during a press conference held by Ministry of Islamic Affairs last Wednesday regarding celebrations for The Day Maldives Embraced Islam, Deputy Minister Maaz Saleem announced that “Medhu Ziyaaraih” would be open to public during specified hours for a week, starting from December 21.

He also said that officials from Dhivehi Language Academy and Islamic scholars will operate in the area around The Munnar to disseminate information regarding how Maldives embraced Islam.

Maaz Saleem said this Thursday that though the “Medhu Ziyaaraih” will not be open to public, officials from Dhivehi Language Academy and Islamic scholars will be disseminating information in the area around The Munnar as planned.

“Medhu Ziyaaraih” was opened to public for the first time in 2009, a controversial decision which many Islamic scholars opposed. It had nevertheless drawn large crowds, despite the protest.

“Medhu Ziyaaraih” is the burial ground of Abdul Barakat Yoosuful Barbaree who brought Islam to Maldives in 1153, and an Arab king who ruled Maldives in 1692.

The burial site started being called “Medhu Ziyaaraih” – central burial site – as it lay in the center of Male’ City before land reclamation changed its landscape.

The exact year in which “Medhu Ziyaaraih” was built is unclear, but it had been during King Shamsuddin’s reign that the burial site was transformed from a place made of palm leaves to the place it resembles now.