Minister of Islamic Affairs and Endowments Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has said the construction of Jami' Al-Sultan Muhammad bin Abdullah will be completed within two years, following the laying of its foundation today.
‘Jami' Al-Sultan Muhammad bin Abdullah’ will be the largest mosque built in the Maldives. Its foundation was laid during a special ceremony held in Hulhumalé Phase II.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Dr Shaheem said plans for the mosque and Islamic Civilisation Centre in Hulhumalé date back 20 years, when the development formed part of the vision for the city. He noted that the original plan was to build the mosque in an area of Hulhumalé Central Park, but no Government had succeeded in carrying out the project until now.
Minister Dr Shaheem said President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced in this year's Presidential Address that work on such a mosque would begin this year. President Dr Muizzu laid the foundation today, and the Minister said the project had been successfully brought to this stage because of the particular importance the President had attached to it.
He added that efforts are under way to complete the mosque within two years.
"Our aim, with the abundant mercy of Allah, is to complete the mosque component within two years, or within two years at most. There are also waqf projects associated with the mosque. However, as there are legal requirements that need to be completed for those projects, we are taking that component forward separately. Allah willing, we are working with determination to begin the mosque component quickly and complete it as soon as possible," Minister Dr Shaheem said.
Minister Dr Shaheem said the Islamic Civilisation Centre, which will be established alongside the largest mosque in the Maldives, will tell the story of how the Maldives embraced Islam and how Islamic civilisation developed over the subsequent 900 years.
He described the development as a project of national importance and said projects of this nature could only progress through collective efforts. Minister Dr Shaheem also highlighted the support provided to the project by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the Maldives and expressed his gratitude for their assistance.