- Address: Orchid Magu, Malé, Maldives
- Phone: +960 302 0200
- Website: islamicaffairs.gov.mv
- Year of construction: 1984.
- Capacity: more than 5000 people
The largest mosque in the Muslim world in Asia is located in the center of the city of Male in the Maldives. The monument was opened by the President of the country Monon Abdul Gayum in 1984. The main prayer hall was built in honor of the hero of the Maldivian Sultan Muhammad Tukurufan who helped fight the Portuguese colonization of the island.
What is the interest of the Islamic Center Male in the Maldives?
The huge building of the center and its Great Mosque are the pride of the entire Islamic world. This place is a very important tourist center even though people of other faiths are not very welcome here. But the guests are going to meet, because the revenues from tourism business make up a large part of the country's GDP. To visitors of interest both the architecture of this unusual building, and its interior:
- Appearance. The dome of the minaret, sparkling with gold, is the main landmark of the city. The building of the mosque is built of white marble. It is both simple and elegant. Gold domes are made of anodized aluminum, and the top is decorated with a traditional Muslim symbol - a crescent moon. In the yard there are four wells and a sundial.
- Interior decoration. Visitors note an unusually beautiful tile on the floor and woven to order Pakistani carpets. The unique design of the walls with wooden carved panels and the inscriptions in Arabic give a sense of solemnity. The prayer hall of the Islamic center is able to accommodate more than 5,000 people, and these are not just words - the room during prayer is very often full.
Due to the fact that the building of the Islamic Center was erected on the old, already existing foundation, it was not possible to locate it according to all the rules, and it does not appeal to Mecca. But it did not become a problem, because special carpets tell the parishioners the rules of accommodation, and a knowledgeable person will not violate the rules of prayer.
In addition to the prayer hall, whose decoration can be watched for hours, the Islamic Center of Male includes a roomy conference room and a rich library that stores valuable books. There are also spacious classrooms for students. In 2008, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, which came to replace the Supreme Council, was located here.
Rules for visiting the Islamic Center of Male
You can get into the Muslim shrine in between prayers. The center is open from 9:00 to 17:00, but for the time of prayers the doors are closed for 15 minutes. Experienced tourists are advised to visit this place from 14:00 to 15:00. In order not to provoke conflicts, when visiting the mosque, women should wear a long robe, hiding their arms, legs and covering their head, and men will have enough trousers and shirts with long sleeves. Shoes are left behind the doors of the mosque, after which they wash their feet in the ritual pool - and only then are allowed to enter.
How to find a tourist attraction?
It is easy to find the road - it is located just opposite the presidential palace , not far from the main pier of the city, at the intersection of Chandani Magu and Medusiyarai-Magu streets. As a rule, travelers choose to walk to the Islamic center of Male or to this end rent a taxi.