Islam Continues To Thrive In The Maldives After Nine Centuries

This writer’s plan to explore the bustling streets of Malé, the capital of the Maldives, was briefly put on hold when his eyes fell on a striking mosque in the city centre.

Built from blocks of coral stone, lines of Arabic calligraphy adorn the walls of the ancient Old Friday Mosque, known locally as Hukuru Miskiiy.

The Maldives is widely known as a global tourism hotspot that remains largely untouched by over-commercialisation, with its main attractions being the crystal-clear seas and fine, powdery white-sand beaches.