News Desk
MALE’, Maldives — In the annals of Maldivian history, a pilgrimage undertaken 97 years ago, in 1346 AH (1927 AD), resonates with spiritual and familial significance for the nation’s leader, President Dr. Mohammed Muizzu. Drawing on Salahuddin’s book “The Journey of the Hijaz,” a letter from Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III dated October 24, 1927 (16 Rabi’ul Awwal 1347 AH), family accounts shared with Thiladhun Online and historical research, this story illuminates a sacred journey that binds past to present.
The Pilgrims Set Sail
In 1927, a group of 30 Maldivian pilgrims, led by the Malinkalegefaanu — equivalent to the modern Imam of Malé’s Islamic Center — embarked on a government ship from Malé, bound first for Colombo, Sri Lanka, en route to Mecca. Among them was Hussain Khatib Thakur of Thiladunmathi atoll’s Vashafaru Island, a revered figure and President Muizzu’s great-grandfather. The expedition, partly funded by the pilgrims, carried 60,000 Maldivian rufiyaa (equivalent to 5,162,616 MVR today), a substantial sum reflecting the community’s commitment. The group brought two cooks, whose expenses of 1,500 rufiyaa were borne by the pilgrims themselves.
On April 29, 1927 (17 Sha’ban 1346 AH), the pilgrims landed in Colombo, securing lodging at Suriya Gaadi. There, they received smallpox vaccinations, a precaution mandated by British colonial authorities, and obtained passports. As a British protectorate, the Maldives had limited healthcare infrastructure in 1927, relying on Ceylon’s more robust system. Vaccination practices were rudimentary, with smallpox vaccines distributed under colonial oversight, coordinated loosely by the League of Nations Health Organization, a precursor to the World Health Organization.
Hajj pilgrims in 1927 faced significant risks: crowded conditions, poor sanitation, and long sea voyages heightened disease threats. The 1926 International Sanitary Convention, ratified by Britain, imposed health regulations for travelers passing through British colonies and Egypt. Earlier, a major plague outbreak in 1900 had led to a global lockdown, halting Maldivian pilgrimages for five years, according to historian Hassan Tajudeen. This disruption underscored the challenges of international travel during health crises.
The Road to Mecca
By June 2, 1927 (21 Ramadan 1346 AH), the pilgrims reached Suez, Egypt, celebrating Eid al-Fitr before continuing to the Hijaz, the region encompassing Mecca and Medina. Historical accounts describe a stopover in Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa, before the group sailed through the Red Sea to Jeddah.
On July 8, 1927 (5 Dhu al-Hijjah 1346 AH), they arrived in Mecca. On July 10 (7 Dhu al-Hijjah), they entered the holy mosque, and on July 11 (8 Dhu al-Hijjah), they journeyed to Arafat, arriving at their designated tent.
The day in Arafat was marked by adversity. Salahuddin recounts a storm on July 13, 1927 (10 Dhu al-Hijjah): “A shower from the east brought thunder and a dust storm. By 2 p.m., a fierce storm toppled tents and scattered sand.” Yet, he notes, “We held on to the poles of the tent. Our tent did not topple,” a testament to the group’s resilience. Tragically, nine pilgrims died during the journey, likely from illness or exhaustion.
A Tragic Loss
After completing the Hajj, the pilgrims began their return voyage. On August 24, 1927 (1 Safar 1347 AH), they sailed from Suez aboard the Italian ship Sumatra. Hussain Khatib Thakur, ill since the journey’s outset, worsened during the voyage.
On September 6, 1927 (14 Safar 1347 AH), between Karachi and Mumbai, he passed away and was buried at sea.
Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III relayed this news to the Thiladunmathi Atoll Chief on October 24, 1927, 61 days later, noting that Thakur’s property was entrusted to Don Ali Haji of Dihdhoo Island, a fellow pilgrim.
A Family’s Enduring Legacy
President Muizzu’s father, Sheikh Hussain Abdul Rahman, a religious scholar trained at Al Azhar University, was Thakur’s grandson. He is the son of a noble from the island known in Vashafaru as Vashafaru Thakurufaanu.
This century-old journey underscores a legacy of faith and duty, connecting the president’s family to a storied Maldivian past. The Maldives’ history of communal support for such pilgrimages reflects a deep spiritual heritage, one that continues to shape its leaders and people.
This article is based on family accounts provided to Thiladhun Online, Salahuddin’s “The Journey of the Hijaz,” a letter from Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III dated October 24, 1927, and historical research on the period.
