According to tradition, the Maldives was converted to Islam in the year 1153 AD by a Muslim from Maghrib (Morocco) by the name of Abul Barakat Yoosuf Al Barbary. Abdul Barakat was a Hafiz, someone who had memorised the entire Holy Quran and he set about converting the local king, Sri Tribuvana Aditiya, to Islam.
After much effort and perseverance, he managed to convert the king, who took the name Muhammed Ibn Abdulla. Following the conversion of the king and his family, the king sent missionaries to convert the local people on the various islands in the Maldives.
After the conversion of the islands, Abdul Barakat stayed in the Maldives for the rest of his life. His tomb is called Medhu Ziyaaraiy and stands within the grounds of Hukuru Mosque in the capital Malé, the first Friday masque to be built on the islands.
Before the conversion to Islam, the islands had been following the Buddhist religion since the 4th century BC.
Nowadays Islam is the state religion of the Maldives and all citizens must follow the Islamic faith.
The Maldives is the smallest Muslim country in the world.
The Day Maldives Embraced Islam was first celebrated in 1374. The celebrations ended in 1387, and it wasn’t until 2001 that the Day Maldives Embraced Islam became a national holiday.