President Dr Mohamed Muizzu paid a visit to the centuries-old Ghaazee Mosque on Meemu Kolhufushi during his tour of the atoll, taking time to examine the mosque’s condition and discuss ongoing preservation needs.

The Ghaazee Mosque is one of the Maldives’ most treasured heritage sites. Built by national hero al-Sultan al-Ghaazee Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-A’uzam, known as Bodu Thakurufaanu, after his victory over Portuguese forces, it stands as a symbol of the nation’s Islamic identity. Timber from Kalhuohfummi, the famed vessel used in his liberation campaign, was incorporated into the mosque’s traditional wooden roof after the boat was safely beached at Dhihthun’di.

Today marks 899 years since the Maldives embraced Islam, an anniversary observed annually on the 2nd of Rabi ul-Akhir, adding special resonance to the President’s visit.

The mosque has endured centuries of change and even sustained structural damage during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, when remnants of the historic vessel were exposed. Ghaazee Mosque once safeguarded Bodu Thakurufaanu’s sword, later recorded and illustrated by historian H. C. P. Bell, underscoring the site’s enduring cultural and historical importance.