Maldives’ 900-Year Islamic History and Its Forgotten Buddhist Past
The Maldives is marking 900 Hijri years of Islam, while archaeological evidence reveals the Buddhist and Hindu-Buddhist traditions that shaped the islands before conversion.
The Maldives is marking 900 Hijri years since its last Buddhist ruler converted to Islam in 1153 CE, a transformation that turned the archipelago into an Islamic sultanate. The anniversary has renewed interest in the islands’ much older Buddhist and Hindu-Buddhist heritage.
Archaeological discoveries, including stupas, monasteries and coral-stone carvings, show that Buddhism shaped Maldivian religious and cultural life for centuries. Evidence suggests different Buddhist traditions, including Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana, influenced the islands, with links to the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka.
The traditional account of the conversion comes from Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta, who recorded a story about a Muslim preacher confronting a sea demon called Rannamaari. The preacher reportedly recited Quranic verses through the night, after which the king converted to Islam. Historians regard the episode as a conversion legend rather than independently verified history.
Other evidence points to a more complex transition. Copper-plate records from the late 12th century describe the destruction of Buddhist monasteries and the construction of a mosque over one former religious site. Historical accounts also describe Buddhist monks being killed during the process.
Islam eventually became central to Maldivian statehood. Today, the constitution recognises Islam as the state religion and restricts citizenship to Muslims. Meanwhile, much of the country’s pre-Islamic heritage has disappeared, including most of the National Museum’s ancient collection, destroyed during a 2012 attack.
The 900-year anniversary therefore highlights both the Maldives’ Islamic identity and the Buddhist past preserved in its archaeological remains.
