Introduction

Meedhoo, probably over 2500 years old, is the oldest populated island in Addu Atoll. Its origin and name emerge from the mists of original Indo-Aryan settlers in Maldives (The meaning of Meedhoo or Maidhoo in Sanskrit is “Big Island”). Centuries after the original settlers came and settled at the northeastern tip of the atoll, an Arab Traveler by the name of Yoosuf Naib, planted the seed of Islam and built a place to worship Allah in 12th Century. This island where the first mosque was built in the country to worship the Almighty has ever since known as a centre of learning and religious education.

Meedhoo, one of the largest and important islands in the Maldives, is an island of uniqueness by itself, a harmonious blending of knowledge and craftsmanship, the piety and sincerity of its people who live in a thickly vegetated atmosphere, mingle to create unique ambience. Is-Meedhoo, as we knew it for so long, though Meedhoo as is officially declared now – is an age-old name, intertwined in the history of Maldives for its role and contribution towards the religious scholarship.

Meedhoo is justly famed for the line of erudite scholars it has produced for generations past. Since the sixteenth century not less than fourteen natives of Meedhoo have filled the high office of Chief Justice, at Male’. To this day, Meedhoo ‘Ulamma’ and other noted ecclesiastics, hold their own, or more, with those of the Capital.

Despite its far distant situation and comparatively small size in population, Meedhoo has ever maintained an importance in Maldivian affairs out of all proportions.

It has long established its fame in the group for the sturdy independence and reliability of its inhabitants, peaceful character, and general intellectual equipment (especially marked in religious lore, and Arabic scholarship) which has earned merited admiration from the islanders of other atolls.