Meedhoo

Meedhoo (also Midu)is the oldest populated island in Addu Atoll, having been settled between 1000 and 500 BCE. Its present population is about 2300. Its name comes from the original Indo-Aryan settlers; Meedhoo means Big Island in Sanskrit.

The original settlers came from Surat in Gujarat State of India or Patna, a city in north-east India on the banks of the Ganges, capital of the state of Bihar. Originally known as Pataliputra, and settled at the northern most tip of the atoll, an Arab traveller by the name of Yoosuf Naib planted the seed of Islam and built a place to worship Allah in the 12th Century.

Meedhoo is one of the largest and most important islands in the Maldives. It is famous for the scholars it has produced. Since the sixteenth century eight natives of Meedhoo have served as Fandiyaaru, or Qazi, at Malé. To this day, Meedhoo Ulamma and other noted ecclesiastics hold their own with those of the capital.

Despite its distant location and comparatively small population, Meedhoo has maintained importance in Maldivian affairs.

External links

http://www.dhivehiobserver.com/history/islam_maldives_01.htm