Meedhoo’s Literary History

Meedhoo is not only famed for the learned men it has produced, but equally gained its superiority in other areas of propagating education and knowledge. Hence, Meedhoo has been a leading island in Maldivian Literature and production of books.

● First known book written in Dhivehi was written by El-Qazi Mahmoodh, a native of Meedhoo, who later became the Chief Justice of the country.

● It was a well respected scholar and a businessman of Meedhoo, known as Fandiyaaru Thakurufaanu ge Dhonmanik, who first initiated printing in the country by using a litho printing machine imported to the island by him.

● Sheikh Abdu Rahman of Meedhoo was the first Maldivian to have obtained Shahaada Aalamiyya (present day equivalent of a university degree) from the famous Al-Azhar University. And he was the first Maldivian to have held a high position in an institute of such magnitude. Sheikh Abdu Rahman taught at Al-Azhar University as a lecturer and later became the Sheikh of Ruvaaqul Hunoodh. He also authored many books in Dhivehi.

● The most comprehensive and researched work in writing a Dhivehi book was carried out by Sheikh Ahmed Didi, the son of Aisaadharu Dhonbeyya. The book he wrote was a traditional medicine book titled as “Thibbul Fuqaraai fi Ah’kaamil U’maraai”, which was the most voluminous book ever written in Dhivehi.

● The first work of translating a Dhivehi book into English was carried out by a native of Meedhoo. Mr. Mohamed Farooq from Meedhoo translated the storey of Sultan Mohamed Thakurufan, the great national hero, who fought Portuguese and got the country's independence during the 16^th century.

● It was Dr. Mohamed Munavvar, a citizen of Meedhoo, who became the first Maldivian to have written a book of international recognition and printed by an international publisher. The title of his book was "OCEAN STATES: Archipelagic Regimes in the law of the Sea"

The following page is from the book titled Ahmed Didi's Tharutheeb, written by Sheikh Ahmed Didi of Naabuge of Meedhoo. This was the second book written in Dhivehi on Islamic Fiqh after Ali Eduru's Bodutharutheeb.