Where does the idea that Somalis brought Islam to the Maldives come from?
- Thread starter Globglogabgalab
- Start date
Arabsiyawi
HA Activist.
In medieval times Barbari mainly used to refer to North African natives. However, since the same name was used in antiquity and earlier for North East Africa some travelers still used it for us, but made sure to make the distinction. I think even Ibn Battuta had to add that the “Berbers”, here Somalis, were the ones that pre-Islamic Arab poet Imru lQays was writing about and not the North Africans.
No they have been Maliki mostly, it doesnt make any sense for one of them to travel all the way there to convert some random Island, especially if the island today doesn't share the same madhab as the one who converted them ?
The first Moroccan to reach that part of the world was Ibn Battuta and he documented the presence of a Somali governor there, that guy he met is probably the descendant of the Barbari guy who converted the Island and the locals awarded him with an island, ibn battuta says abd al aziz is the واليها owner of the island.
Maldives is Shaafi and Somalis are Shaafi too
Arabsiyawi
HA Activist.
Doesn't mean much. North Africa was once Shia, had sizeable Ibadi followers... The Horn had Zaydis...
Check this : Some locals claim to descend from him and bear the name "Maghribi". A moroccan tourists a few years ago met with a local who gave him his whole nasab in video, I can't find it rn but I'lll be glad to send it once I see it again.
Youre just waffling atp
It's not about you. He answered your question - his nisbah says he was Somali, and so he was Somali. Whether or not he's responsible for converting the Maldives idk. But idk man u come off as a midwit idk why I'm explaining all this.
*than
Ibn Batuta found a shrine dedicated to a “Shaikh Najib Al Habshi” in the Maldives. He is still considered a popular saint till this day. East african scholars, traders, slaves and soldiers became rulers and saints as far as Sri Lanka, India and Bengal. I would not be surprised if an East African sheikh spread Islam to the Maldives. It makes more sense than a Moroccan.
