What Religion is Maldives? An Overview of Faith in the Maldivian Islands

The Maldives is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, located southwest of Sri Lanka and India. With a population of over half a million people, the Maldives has a diverse religious landscape that is predominantly Muslim.

Islam was introduced to the islands many centuries ago and today plays a central role in Maldivian culture and society. However, other belief systems are also present in the Maldives, reflecting the islands’ location at a crossroads of Indian Ocean trade networks.

This article will provide an overview of the major religions practiced in Maldives today, exploring their history, rituals, demographics, and role in Maldivian life.

What is the Main Religion in Maldives?

Islam is the Official and Dominant Religion

Islam is the official state religion of Maldives and is practiced by the vast majority of Maldivians today. According to the country’s constitution, all citizens of Maldives must be Muslims.

The Maldives has been an Islamic nation for over 800 years since converting from Buddhism in the 12th century CE. After this shift, Islam became deeply ingrained in Maldivian society, culture, laws, and governance.

Approximately 98% of Maldivians today identify as Sunni Muslim. The practice of Islam in Maldives is shaped by the Shafi’i school of Sunni jurisprudence. Most Muslims in Maldives follow a liberal interpretation of Islam that incorporates Sufi influences.

This brand offolk Islam blends Islamic traditions with local culture. For instance, Dhivehi music and Bodu Beru (Big Drum) performances feature Islamic phrases but also contain pre-Islamic elements.

The islands have a thriving Islamic intellectual tradition, and many Maldivians perform the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Mosques can be found in every inhabited island of the Maldives, and the Islamic call to prayer echoes across many islands five times a day. Islamic rituals and holidays also set the rhythms of social life.

Small Minorities Practice Other Religions

While Islam dominates the religious landscape, Maldives is also home to small populations of Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, and those who do not adhere to any religion. According to Maldives’ last census in 2014:

• 0.6% of citizens identified as Buddhist
• 0.1% identified as Christian
• 0.5% identified as Hindu
• 0.5% had no religious affiliation

Foreign workers in Maldives, especially those from India and Sri Lanka, make up higher percentages of the non-Muslim population. About 5% of foreign residents are estimated to be Buddhist, and 7% Hindu.

However, these foreign workers are barred from practicing their faith openly. Maldives only recognizes Islam as an acceptable public religion. The constitution also requires all Maldivian citizens to be Muslim.

History and Origins of Religion in Maldives

Buddhism Dominated Maldives Until the 12th Century

The Maldives has been inhabited since around 500 BCE. Buddhism was the predominant religion on the islands from the 3rd century BCE through the 12th century CE.

The islands were even one of the earliest Buddhist centers outside of India. Many Buddhist relics and ruins of stupas, monasteries, and Buddha statues remain scattered across Maldives.

Early Buddhist traditions in Maldives were linked to Sinhalese Theravada Buddhism from Sri Lanka. However, starting in the 8th century, Tantric Buddhism from Bengal (now Bangladesh) gained influence in Maldivian Buddhist practice and rituals.

The Maldives was a key stop on Indian Ocean trade networks, allowing Buddhist ideas from various regions to intermingle on the islands.

By the 12th century, Buddhism in Maldives coexisted with Hinduism as well as early Islamic contacts with Arab merchants.

Islam Spread in the 12th Century Under Muhammaed al-Adil

The pivotal shift from Buddhism to Islam in Maldives began in 1153 when the Muslim king Abu’l Barakat al-Barbari of Morocco sent an expedition to establish Islam on the islands. Led by Moroccan traveler and scholar Mulana Shah Muhammad, the expedition introduced the first version of Islam to Maldives.

However, the full adoption of Islam is credited to Muhammad al-Adil, a prince from the powerful Fars region of Iran. Al-Adil was shipwrecked in Maldives around 1193 on his voyage to Sri Lanka. He managed to convert the Maldivian king, who then enabled the spread of Islam across Maldivian society.

Within a few decades, the population had largely embraced the new faith. Mosques were built, Buddhist temples were razed, and Islamic principles were enacted into laws and social mores.

In honor of this seminal shift, the Maldives National Museum displays an engraved coral stone from the 13th century CE that declares the islands a “100 percent Muslim Nation” from that time onward. This Persian stone is one of the oldest Islamic artifacts in Maldives.

Demographics and Geographic Spread of Religion

Islam Concentrated in Northern and Central Maldives

The population of Muslims is spread across Maldives but concentrated more heavily in the central and northern regions. The northern atolls of Raa, Noonu, and Haa Alif have the highest percentages of Muslims at over 99% in each area. The capital city Malé in central Maldives as well as nearby Kaafu atolls also approach 100% Muslim.

Meanwhile, the southern atolls tend to have slightly more religious diversity. The southern atoll Addu has 98% Muslim population, but also has noticeable percentages of Buddhists and Hindus.

The atolls Laamu and Gaafu Dhaalu also have reduced Muslim populations at 95-96%. These southern islands likely had more historical contact with Buddhist and Hindu populations from Sri Lanka and India.

Non-Muslim Populations Cluster in Malé Region

Followers of other religions beyond Islam are concentrated in and around Malé. As the capital and largest city, Malé attracts foreign workers from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and other Asian countries.

Many of these expatriates bring religious traditions like Buddhism and Hinduism with them. The atolls nearby Malé such as Alif Alif, Alif Dhaal, and Vaavu also have higher percentages of non-Muslim residents.

However, these non-Muslim groups experience restrictions on worship. Maldives designates Islam as the only religion that can be practiced publicly. Instead, non-Muslim groups tend to gather for private worship in homes or community centers. The foreign resident populations are also more transient, fluctuating based on labor needs.

Role and Impact of Religion in Maldivian Life

Islam Shapes Government and Social Codes

As the official state religion enshrined in the constitution, Islam plays a central role in public life and governance in Maldives. Government policies and laws adhere to Islamic principles, customs, and codes of conduct.

Social norms are also heavily guided by Islamic traditions. For instance, alcohol, pork, shellfish and other non-halal foods are banned in Maldives.

Mosques and prayer spaces are omnipresent across the islands. Public spaces often have separate areas for men and women. Conservative dress is the norm, and all citizens are required to wear head coverings and attire deemed modest during certain activities. Major policy decisions also consider the viewpoints of Islamic scholars and imams.

Religious Holidays Set National Calendar

The Maldivian calendar revolves around Islamic events and occasions. Major national public holidays include key celebrations like Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday, and the Islamic New Year.

Other holidays follow the rhythms of the Islamic lunar calendar, changing dates annually on the Gregorian calendar. For instance, Mawlid, Ramadan, and the hijri New Year have floating dates each year. Friday is the weekly holiday, coinciding with communal Friday prayers.

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sundown, Islmic programming dominates radio and television, and restaurants are closed until the fasting period ends. Similarly, nighttime activities are banned during this month.

Mosques are Community Hubs

In villages across Maldives, the mosque is the center of community life. Mosques host regular prayer services five times daily but also drive other social activities. Mosques organize Quranic study sessions for children and adults alike. They provide assistance to those in need. Mosque compounds have space for socializing and community events.

Imams play a highly respected leadership role on islands. They lead prayer services and offer religious guidance to the community. Mosques and their imams anchor the community identity on each island.

Non-Muslims Face Limits on Worship

Non-Islamic faiths confront barriers to worship in Maldives. Only mosques are allowed to hold public religious services, even on islands with significant non-Muslim populations. Instead, non-Islamic groups must gather for private worship out of public view.

The 2008 Constitution states that citizenship is strictly limited to Muslims. Non-Muslims cannot become citizens or vote. All visitors must also still respect Islamic behavioral codes in public. These constraints on minority faiths generate tensions with advocates for a more pluralistic society.

Religious Controversies and Divisions

Debates Over Wahhabi Strands of Islam

In recent decades, stricter interpretations of Islam influenced by Wahhabism have taken root in parts of Maldivian society. Saudi Arabia has funded religious education scholarships for Maldivians that expose them to Wahhabi ideology. Upon return, some of these students advocate for more purist and fundamentalist observances of Islam.

Wahhabi advocates have destroyed some monuments of Maldives’ Buddhist past, like coral Buddhist sculptures, deeming them idolatrous. More rigid stances toward woman’s dress, music, and gender mixing have emerged. Fights have erupted over whether women should wear veils to hide their faces in public.

This Wahhabi influence generates tensions with the traditionally liberal Maldivian “folk Islam.” Debates continue over how much Wahhabi conservatism will shape the future practice of Islam in Maldives.

Sectarian Violence Previously Erupted in Malé

In the early 2010s, Malé experienced a series of protests and riots targeting non-Muslim groups, emblematic of creeping fundamentalism. In late 2011, crowds damaged Malé’s National Museum for showcasing pre-Islamic Buddhist statues among its artifacts.

In 2012, protesters threw rocks and smashed windows at Malé’s Hindu temple. Mob attacks also broke out against non-Muslim figures accused of undermining Islam.

The violence threatened Maldives’ reputation for religious tolerance. However, leaders have spoken out against extremism, pushed new laws to curb violence and hate speech, and pursued community dialogue programs to restore harmony. Many hope Maldives can retain its traditional brand of moderate Islam while keeping its multi-faith character.

Conclusion

The Maldives islands have been home to diverse religious traditions throughout their history, but today stand as a thoroughly Islamic nation. The roots of Islam in Maldives stretch back over eight centuries, making the faith an integral pillar of Maldivian culture and society. As Islam spread across Asia and the Middle East, it unified the islands under one creed and came to define daily rhythms and customs.

However, religious diversity persists in Maldives, particularly among the foreign labor population. Debates also continue over interpreting Islam’s role in modern Maldivian life and governance, especially regarding fundamentalist influences.

This complex religious landscape reveals the Maldives’ strategic location at the crossroads of Asia and its ongoing engagement in pan-Islamic networks across the Indian Ocean world. Looking ahead, the nation’s leaders will continue balancing Islamic heritage and pluralistic values to shape the Maldives’ future as a diverse society.

Frequently Asked Questions about Religion in Maldives

When did Islam become the dominant religion in Maldives?

Islam became the predominant religion in Maldives in the 12th century CE, starting around 1153 CE with early Arab contacts. The full conversion of Maldivians to Islam occurred under Muhammad al-Adil, an Iranian prince, in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Prior to this, from around 500 BCE to 1153 CE, Buddhism was the main religion practiced in Maldives.

How many Maldivians are Muslim versus other faiths?

Approximately 98% of Maldivians practice Sunni Islam, the vast majority adhering to the Shafi’i school. Of the remaining Maldivian population, 0.6% identify as Buddhist, 0.1% as Christian, and 0.5% as Hindu according to the 2014 census.

About 0.5% report having no religious affiliation. Higher percentages of foreign workers in Maldives practice Buddhism, Christianity, and Hinduism.

What are the major Islamic holy days celebrated in Maldives?

The biggest Islamic holidays in the Maldivian calendar are Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Other major celebrations include the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday, Maldives National Day commemorating conversion to Islam, and the Islamic New Year. Festivals like Ramadan and Mawlid also deeply shape yearly rhythms.

How do non-Muslim groups worship in Maldives?

Non-Islamic faiths face tight restrictions in Maldives and cannot hold public services or build standalone houses of worship. Non-Muslim expatriate workers largely worship privately in their homes or community centers. Some foreign embassies like Sri Lanka’s also host religious services for non-Muslim citizens working in Maldives.

What are the debates surrounding fundamentalist Islam in Maldives?

Increasing influences from fundamentalist Wahhabi Islam have created tensions in Maldives. Debates have emerged over issues like veiling for women, destruction of non-Muslim monuments, and violence against non-Muslim groups. Many Maldivians hope the country maintains its traditional moderate and culturally liberal interpretation of Islam.