Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al Auzam
Encyclopedia
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
(Dhivehhi Rajje) from 1573 to 1585 AD. He was a great captain, environmentalist and a military strategist. He is one of the most celebrated Maldivian heroes who saved Maldives from the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
conquerors who ruled over the Maldives from 1585-1573 after killing Sultan Ali VI in Malé
Malé
Malé , is the capital and most populous city in the Republic of Maldives. It is located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll . It is also one of the Administrative divisions of the Maldives. Traditionally it was the King's Island, from where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties ruled and where...
.
Mohamed Thakurufan learned hevikan in Bidadi
Bidadi
Bidadi is a town situated on the Bangalore - Mysore expressway and is in the Ramanagaram Taluk of Ramanagara district Bidadi (Urdu: بيداڑى) is a town situated on the Bangalore - Mysore expressway and is in the Ramanagaram Taluk of Ramanagara district Bidadi (Urdu: بيداڑى) is a town situated on the...
(ބޭދާޅީ) in India.
Muhammad Thakurufaanu was the son of Khatheeb (island chief) Husain of Utheemu in Thiladhummathi Atoll
Haa Alif Atoll
Haa Alif Atoll - officially referred as Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi is the northernmost administrative division of the Maldives....
and Lady Amina Dio of Ihavandhoo
Ihavandhoo (Haa Alif Atoll)
Ihavandhoo is a typical island in Maldives. The first settlers of the island were a mystery to historians. It is believed that they are early Maldivian settlers dating back to 5th century BC with the Aryan immigrants coming from neighboring countries India and Srilanka...
. After the invasion, the Portuguese ruled most cruelly over the Maldive islands in a period which the Tharikh fgh describe as ‘‘a time when intolerable enormities were committed by the invading infidels, a time when the sea grew red with Maldivian blood, a time when people were sunk in despair…’’
To bring an end to this, Muhammad Thakurufaanu, left the Maldive Islands with his brothers Ali and Hasan to Maliku off the coast of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in the Laccadive Archipelago. The three Utheemu brothers built the ship Kalhuoffummi, the sailing boat used by the heroic character, Mohamed Thakurufaanu in his endeavor to free the country of the occupation by the Portuguese, and got Dandehelu to captain the ship. The sails of the ship were made on the island of Maroshi
Maroshi (Shaviyani Atoll)
Maroshi is one of the inhabited islands of the Shaviyani Atoll administrative division and geographically part of the Miladhummadulhu Atoll in the Maldives.-Geography:...
, Shaviyani Atoll
Shaviyani Atoll
Shaviyani atoll is geographically located within the naturally occurring northern mostatoll formation of Thiladhunmathi. A total of 52 islands, 15 inhabited and...
. This island is historic as it has the tree that grew from the Kaani Mundi (a raw wooden post) used to make the sail of Kalhuoffummi. It is also the largest tree of its kind in the country, and probably the oldest as well. They, three brothers landed on a different island every night, fought the Portuguese and set sail into the ocean before daybreak. They reached the capital island Malé
Malé
Malé , is the capital and most populous city in the Republic of Maldives. It is located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll . It is also one of the Administrative divisions of the Maldives. Traditionally it was the King's Island, from where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties ruled and where...
on the night before the day fixed by the Portuguese garrison of Andiri Andiri for the forcible conversion of the inhabitants to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, on the penalty of death for non-compliance. The Utheemu brothers along with other Maldivians who were determined to die for their country and faith, slew the whole Portuguese garrison and gained independence for the country from its invaders. Adri Adri was killed by a musket shot of Muhammad Thakurufaanu himself.
It is said that Mohamed Thakurufaanu received a lot of help from the renowned Maroshi Raaveribe (toddy-tapper) in his fight for national independence. It was his job to mend and maintain the sail of the Kalhuoffummi - the ship used in the 'battle' and supply water to the vessel every time it docked at Maroshi
Maroshi (Shaviyani Atoll)
Maroshi is one of the inhabited islands of the Shaviyani Atoll administrative division and geographically part of the Miladhummadulhu Atoll in the Maldives.-Geography:...
, which was an important port during this fight.
The Maldivians assigned Muhammad Thakurufaanu as their Sultan, no longer recognizing the sovereignty of the self-exiled Christian kings in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
or their appointed regents. The chronicles report him to have ruled wisely, being just and considerate, protecting the poor, and even solicitous for the people’s interests. He was the first Maldivian king to form the Ashkaru (a unified military body). Muhammed Thakurufaanu died a natural death on August 26, 1585.
Every year the first day of Rabi' al-awwal
Rabi' al-awwal
Rabi' al-awwal is the third month in the Islamic calendar. During this month, Muslims around the world celebrate Mawlid - the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Sunni Muslims believe the exact date of birth of Muhammad to have been on the twelfth of this month, whereas Shi'a Muslims believe...
is celebrated the Maldives as National Day or Gaumee Dhuvas in remembrance of Mohamed Thakurufaanu's defeat of the Portuguese.