Koagannu Cemetery, Hulhumeedhoo, Maldives

The Koagannu Cemetery on the island of Hulhumeedhoo in Seenu Atoll is the largest early Muslim cemetery in the Maldives. The site is associated with Yusuf Na'ib, who is traditionally credited with the Islamization of the island. He is believed to be buried here in the Medhu Ziyaarat (mausoleum shrine). The four other standing buildings on this site are all small mosques: Koagannu Miskiy, Boadha Miskiy, Fandiyaaru Miskiy, and Athaaru Miskiy. Local tradition holds, however, that previously there were actually seven mosques on site – one each for the traditional families of nobility on the island. There is also a short standalone minaret standing nearby the Fandiyaaru Miskiy.
The largest grave on the site consists of two towering and elaborately carved coral stones set within a high-walled bisthaan (burial enclosure). This is said to be the resting place of Dhon Khadeejahbee, mother of two daughters who married two sons of Sultan Hasan Izz al-Din: Sultan Hasan Nur al-Din and Sultan Muhammad Mu’izz al-Din.

This is site number MAHS-MDV-SEN-HMD-1 in the MAHS database. For open-access to our complete dataset of archaeological sites and historical artifacts and other resources on Maldivian history, pease visit us at: https://maritimeasiaheritage.cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp