Long before the Maldives became a 100% Muslim nation, these islands held a very different spiritual identity. For more than a thousand years, Buddhism was the dominant religion, and archaeological evidence suggests that people lived in the Maldives as early as 500 B.C. Over time, the island chain absorbed cultural influences from India, Sri Lanka, and the wider Indian Ocean.
By the 12th century, Islam had spread across the archipelago. After converting, the reigning Maldivian king dispatched learned men to teach the faith throughout the islands. With this shift came new customs, laws, and religious structures. Many Buddhist shrines were demolished or repurposed, and mosques began to emerge across the country.
One of the most important of these early Islamic structures stands in Fuvahmulah: Geimiski, believed to be the island’s first mosque and a cornerstone of its cultural heritage.
The Man Who Brought Islam to Fuvahmulah
Local tradition tells of a man from Hoadhadi ward who played a key role in introducing Islam to Fuvahmulah. He is believed to have led the conversion effort on the island and to have built Geimiski, the first mosque in Fuvahmulah.
Though the exact date of construction is unknown, residents believe that a Buddhist temple once stood on the very spot where Geimiski now rests. This connection between Buddhist and Islamic structures is common across the Maldives, where many early mosques were built over older religious foundations.
A Mosque Built From Stone and Skill
Geimiski is widely regarded as Fuvahmulah’s oldest mosque and one of the island’s most significant cultural sites. Located about 500 feet from Havitta, the ruins of a former Buddhist monastery, the mosque offers valuable insight into early Maldivian architecture.
The foundations and lower walls of Geimiski were constructed from large, hand-cut sandstone blocks, carefully stacked without mortar—an impressive engineering feat still visible today. The mosque has a rectangular layout and originally featured ceilings lined with malho, thin wooden sheets traditionally used in bedmaking.
Interestingly, the mosque does not face the qibla perfectly; instead, it is oriented slightly northeast. Its simple interior consists of a single prayer hall with a smaller adjoining space on the left. The entrance opens into a fenda, an open veranda leading to a stone-lined water well accessed by steps—showcasing the craftsmanship and practical ingenuity of early Fuvahmulah builders.
Though renovations over the years altered parts of the structure, the original design is still recognized as a masterpiece of local architecture.
The Mosque Grounds: Tombs, Coral Stones, and Rituals of the Past
The Geimiski complex includes a cemetery featuring coral-stone grave markers and a sandstone-roofed mausoleum. Many believe that Abu Bakr Naaib, an Islamic preacher from Addu Atoll, is buried here.
Close to the mosque lies a large water bath (veyo) that was once used for bathing and ritual cleansing. This feature, common in historic mosques, reflects both religious practice and the importance of community water sources in island life.
For generations, people from nearby atolls traveled to Fuvahmulah to visit the mausoleum and make vows (nadhuru benun). Families brought children, porridge, bananas, and other offerings. One striking ritual involved a large coral stone topped with a swinging wooden board. A child sat on one end while fruit offerings were placed on the other—an act believed to bring blessings or healing.
On Fridays and Mondays, visitors erected small flags over the tomb and placed thin coral stones on its roof. The Mudhim—the mosque caretaker responsible for calling the azan—oversaw these ceremonies, receiving food and gifts from visitors in return.
Though such practices are no longer common, they remain an important part of Fuvahmulah’s cultural memory.
Geimiski in the Eyes of Early Explorers
Fuvahmulah’s architecture attracted the attention of foreign travelers centuries ago.
H.C.P. Bell’s Observations
The first Archaeological Commissioner of Ceylon, H.C.P. Bell, visited the Maldives in 1879, 1920, and 1922. During his 1922 visit to Fuvahmulah, he documented the ruins of Havitta, noting the historical significance of the island’s mosques. His writings became the earliest formal documentation of Fuvahmulah’s Islamic monuments.
A French Expedition in 1529
French explorers Jean and Raoul Parmentier visited Fuvahmulah in 1529 and were astonished by the craftsmanship of the island’s mosques. They described impressive stonework, finely carved woodwork, and a beautifully constructed ablution tank—paved with black stone resembling polished marble.
They also noted wells lined with the same stone used for the mosque’s toilet facilities, and tools such as poles topped with gourds used for drawing water.
Frederick de Houtman’s Discovery
Dutch navigator Frederick de Houtman, visiting in the 17th century, was similarly impressed. He described a small island filled with “beautiful buildings,” many in ruins but still exhibiting exceptional construction.
He noted temples with:
- blue lazulite stone
- mouldings and capitals
- friezes and grooved stone steps
- structures fitted so precisely that “a knife blade could not pass between the stones”
All held together not with mortar, but with interlocking grooves and keystones—a testament to ancient Maldivian engineering skill.
The Maldives Through Edris’ Eyes
The earliest written account of Maldivian architecture appears in Geographie d’Edris. Between 1099 and 1186, Edris described the islanders as “industrious, adroit and intelligent.” He praised their stone buildings, slender ship timbers, and use of imported and scented woods—echoing the craftsmanship seen at sites like Geimiski.
A Heritage Worth Preserving
Though Geimiski has undergone extensive repairs over the centuries, its cultural and historical value remains undeniable. It stands today not only as Fuvahmulah’s oldest mosque but also as a bridge connecting the island’s Buddhist past with its Islamic present.
For travelers seeking more than beaches and sunsets, Geimiski offers a rare opportunity to explore the Maldives’ ancient architecture, spiritual history, and island traditions.
Here, among sandstone foundations and coral graves, the Maldives reveals a chapter of its story that few visitors ever see—a story carved in stone and carried forward by the people of Fuvahmulah.
