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History of Maldives - Dhivehi Tareek - Preface Preface National Centre of Linguistics and Historical Research Male', Maldives First printing 1981, second printing 1993 translated by Fareesha Abdulla and Michael O'Shea with assistance from Majid Abdul-Wahhab updated 15 February 2006 Preface | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 Preface section A General introduction to the concept of history, by Ibrahim Shihab Preface section B Early historians and the compilation of the Tareek, by Hassan Manik In the name of Allah, the Compassionate and Merciful The Committee of Maldive History and Culture President's Office Male', Maldives History has a very important place in the world's collection of knowledge. Historical knowledge describes and makes coherent the rise and fall of civilisations, but it is not only human beings who draw on its lessons; divine teaching also gives prominence to history. Without doubt, valuable lessons and knowledge can be learnt from history. We have the complete basis and origin of all Islamic knowledge in the Holy Koran and its extensive historical accounts are designed to teach us wisdom. There is almost no need to mention that history is a very wide-ranging discipline. When history explains what happened, it is not only describing human beings but also many of the things and places that existed in the past. History can be categorised into many areas of study, including the histories of people, nations, government, human development, and of science and the arts. There are the histories of all living creatures, the history of all past events, and each individual's history. It is the story of how, when, and why a particular event took place, and its place among other related events.   In 395 AD, the Roman Empire was divided into East and West after the death of Theodosius I (379-95), a pious christian. From 395, Honorius (395-423) ruled in Milan, and Arcadius (395-408) from Constantinople. Shihab may have read this in an Urdu history book, although he also understood English. Shihab translated an Urdu romance into Dhivehi. Scholars have divided history into four main periods. The first division is the time before humankind began to write about society and the environment around them. Academics call this the period of 'pre-history'. In the second period, stone, timber and other materials are used by humans to describe their society. Academics claim this period ended in 395 A.D., and the third period lasted until 1453 AD when Istanbul was captured by the Turks. The fourth period begins in that year and extends to the present time.   1981 sample of Ibrahim Shihab's writing. His Dhivehi thaana script has no arabic script additions, and uses roman numerals. Contrast with Hassan Manik's script sample below. The viewpoint of historians is that history changes as people's perception of events changes. For this reason, true history can be accurately written only by eye-witnesses. However, this method is not without its own problems and controversies. In the past, people usually wrote history about governments and kingdoms and ongoing events were linked to these official institutions. Sometimes these records contain information that rational minds find difficult to believe, but it is possible that the people who wrote these histories were just trying to tell an interesting story. Scholars say that reliable historical method began with the writings of Herodotus, the 'father of history'. It is well-known that various accounts of Maldives have been written by foreigners during the last thousand years, but there is no doubt that the most well-known and valuable indigenous historical work was written by judge Hassan Tajudeen. Therefore, it is a noble gesture beyond description that the present government has decided to publish this history book in the Dhivehi language, based on chronicles that Tajudeen began. It is very desirable that history, and Maldive history in particular, receive recognition and status among Maldivians. 26 July 1981 AD 24 Ramazan 1401 AH Ibrahim Shihab Chairman of the Committee In the name of Allah, the Compassionate and Merciful Department of Information and Broadcasting Male', Maldives In 1902, during the reign of king Haji Mohamed Imadudeen VI, the monarch wanted a 'History of Maldives' written in Dhivehi thaana script, so he assigned a committee to the task. The chronicles started by judge Hassan Tajudeen, and afterwards compiled by various Islamic judges writing in Arabic, were given to that committee along with other records written in Dhivehi at different times. This book is the result. Committee members Sheikh Mohamed Jamaludeen (also known as Naib Tutu), committee chairman. Naib Hussein Salahudeen, deputy chairman. Mohamed ibn Sayyid Kateeb Ibrahim (also known as Kuda Seedhee). Moosa Manik ibn Vazir Ali, government secretary. Buchaa Mohamed ibn Ibrahim, chief ship's master. Knowing the members of this committee, we have no hesitation in praising and congratulating them on the thoroughness and depth of their work. Each of these able and learned men is a shining star in the sky of Maldive history. The first two members were in charge of updating and translating the Arabic chronicles. The other three members compiled the Dhivehi language sections and made them easy to understand. The king also ordered a group of appropriate people to assist the committee, and work began on Friday 22 August 1902. King Mohamed Imadudeen VI Without doubt, among the services king Mohamed Imadudeen performed for the country, this book was very valuable work. I would be the first to admit that not much of the king's legacy remains. However this book remains valuable even today, both in the way it is written and for the information it contains. King Mohamed Imadudeen VI, also known as Haji Imadudeen, was the son of prince Hassan Izudeen and Annabeela Maandhooge Didi. Hassan Izudeen was the son of king Mohamed Imadudeen IV. King Mohamed Imadudeen VI came to the throne on 20 July 1893. At the beginning of his reign, the position of prime minister was held by Athireege Ibrahim Didi who was later known as Ibrahim Doshimeyna Kilegefan. The king left Male' to make the haj in the eighth year of his reign. Yes! On a Sunday afternoon during the fasting month of Ramazan in December 1901, the king was accompanied by Maandhooge Doshimanipulu, the king's mother, his queen and their son. The royal trip was in a relatively small ship that traded in Male' for Jeevanjee's shop. The haj was completed and the royal journey finished with his return to Male' on Thursday 22 May 1902. Disembarkation took place during Friday morning the following day. In November 1902, the king left Maldives to marry an Egyptian woman in what became known as the Suez marriage. Before long, we see King Mohamed Shamsudeen III being appointed to the throne on 12 March 1903. King Mohamed Imadudeen VI died in Egypt on 30 September 1932. Judge Hassan Tajudeen (1661-1727) In the preparation of this book, the main source was Hassan Tajudeen's Maldive history chronicles. Yes! Today, that book cannot be found. The original documents, written by the hands of the judges Hassan Tajudeen, Mohamed Muhibudeen Sheikh Islam and Ibrahim Sirajudeen, were destroyed in 1752 when Malabari moslems burnt the palace. Since then, the most reliable extant copy was seen by H.C.P. Bell in Male' in 1920 and 1922. That copy was given as a gift to the government of Ceylon by king Mohamed Shamsudeen III. I think, no, I am sure, this copy is very similar to the original written by Hassan Tajudeen. It would not be outside our frame of reference to give a short introduction to judge Hassan Tajudeen. He was the son of Mahumood of Gan island, Hadhunmathi (Laam) atoll. He was born in 1661/62, and from an early age, he showed a love for learning. Due to the unstable political situation in the kingdom and the palace at that time, he left the country for a short period and returned to Male' in December 1690 during the reign of king Kuda Mohamed. He was punished to a limited degree and then exiled to his home island at Gan, Hadhunmathi atoll. When that king's reign ended, the new king Mohamed Muhiyudeen recalled Hassan Tajudeen to Male' and gave him the position of leading advisor. During the reign of Sayyid Rasgefan, Hassan Tajudeen and other noblemen were educated by the king. From the time of the new moon at the beginning of Rajab month until the end of Ramazan twelve weeks later, hadith was taught in the Friday mosque for an hour from sunset prayer until late-evening prayer time. Devadhoo Fandiyaru Takurufan was the chief judge until the reign of Sayyid Rasgefan when the office was declared vacant on 4 November 1692. The king appointed Hassan Tajudeen to the position on Wednesday 12 November 1692. Hassan Tajudeen resigned from the position of chief judge on 21 January 1701 and left with his family for Mecca. Not many days after his arrival there, he received an official letter from king Ibrahim Muluhirudeen requesting his return to Male'. Tajudeen returned immediately and was treated with great respect. The king left for the haj in January 1704 accompanied by Hassan Tajudeen. Soon there were many difficulties to be faced, because when they returned to Male' the kingdom had changed. King Mulaffaru Mohamed Imadudeen was on the throne. With this change and as a consequence of Tajudeen's connections with the previous king, Hassan once again found himself exiled to Gan island, Hadhunmathi (Laam) atoll. However, he was very quickly recalled and made chief judge again in February 1705. This period marks the beginning of the greatest service anyone has every done for Maldive history. At the instruction of the king, Hassan Tajudeen began to write the history of the country. Various written accounts and orally transmitted stories were examined and assembled in a reliable and useful way by Hassan Tajudeen. The last sentence he wrote was '…on the 24 January 1725 the king's wife Aishath Kabafan gave birth to a daughter named Aminath Ranikilegefan.' Hassan Tajudeen was 67 years old when he abandoned this temporary world near dawn on Friday 28 February 1727. For thirty-seven years, he had been chief judge. He was buried in the Friday mosque in Male'. In addition to his history, Hassan Tajudeen also left some Arabic poems. Anyone who looks at his work will realise the extent of Hassan Tajudeen's learning and the meticulous manner of his research. He did not hesitate to state the facts, for he loved the truth, and his work is proof of this. Judge Mohamed Muhibudeen After his death, the records were kept by Hassan Tajudeen's younger brother judge Mohamed Muhibudeen Sheikh Islam, the son of Hussein Afeefudeen Bandara Naib Manikfan. This person began his record with the following sentence, '…in 1726, on Friday 26 July, a royal daughter was born.' On Friday 23 September 1740, judge Muhibudeen was appointed as island chief of Male'. On Thursday 16 March 1747 he was appointed as attorney-general and given the power to conduct trials under sharia law. He was forty-one years old. In the early morning of Wednesday 20 December 1752, Malabari moslems invaded Male', burnt the palace and kidnapped the king. While the Malabaris were in charge, the position of chief judge was given to Naib Kateeb Mohamed Muhibudeen. Shortly after this, he left Male' for a quick visit to the Ali Rajah at Cannanore. As far as we know, he only reached Maalhosmadulu (now Raa and Baa) atoll. While he was there, good news arrived that the government in Male' was back under Maldivian control and he promptly returned. Lord Hassan Izadeen became king and Mohamed Muhibudeen remained the chief judge. In 1760/61 Muhibudeen left for the haj, and his records finish when Ibrahim Bahaudeen became judge. In 1768/69, during the reign of king Mohamed Giyasudeen, Mohamed Muhibudeen became the chief judge for a second time until he died on Wednesday 10 August 1785. He was buried in Male's Friday mosque. Judge Ibrahim Sirajudeen The historical records became the responsibility of Judge Ibrahim Sirajudeen who was Hassan Tajudeen's grandson and the son of Kateeb Ahmed Muhibudeen. King Haji Hassan Noorudeen I appointed Sirajudeen as chief judge on Thursday 26 July 1787. A short time later, in 1789/90, 'the judge and some people with him had a conversation about usurping the kingship.' Sirajudeen was removed from his position and exiled to Kadu Hulhudhoo island on northern Huvadhu (Gaaf Alifu) atoll. However, during the reign of king Mohamed Mu-eenudeen I, he was appointed judge for the second time in April 1806. Sirajudeen died in office on Friday 18 February 1831. Yes! Hassan Tajudeen began a tradition of recording history that continued for generations. These words have been a brief comment on the lives of the record keepers.   1981 Dhivehi script mixed with arabic, used by Hassan Ahmed Manik to write this section of the preface. His numerals are also arabic. This book is based on chronicles and other historical documents collated by a committee of learned people on the instructions of king Mohamed Imadudeen VI. It is not a direct translation of the chronicles kept by Hassan Tajudeen and other historians. With joy, I say that this publication will fill the hearts of all Maldivian history students with gratitude. Yes! After our ancestors' sacrifices and struggles to preserve their proud history, some of the records are being published in a reliable form to give tiny Maldives its place in the history of the world. Miguel Cervantes, a respected Spanish writer, says of history: 'Historians must be fair, honest and objective people. They should not abandon the truth with an emotional reaction to events. History is the mother of all activities. It competes with time and is a treasury of important events, and the witness of the past. History provides examples and lessons for the present and a telescopic view of the future.' O holy Allah, guide the present and future generations of Maldivians in the same way as You have in the proud past, and maintain their independence and good actions so that they may follow in the holy and indomitable footsteps left by our nation's ancestors. Hassan Ahmed Manik Director Department of Information and Broadcasting 26 July 1981 top

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