In this week’s radio address, President Mohamed Nasheed has said Islamic Shari’ah has a unique position in the Maldives. He said the Maldives was among the few countries that had the longest uninterrupted history of Shari’ah.
He said, “Since the conversion to Islam about 900 years ago, the Maldives has continuously practiced Shari’ah.”
Taking some examples, President Nasheed said, during colonial times, “Egypt, after Napoleon invaded the country, more or less, adopted Napoleonic Code. And, famous Muslims countries such as Malaysia adopted English common law.”
He added some of those countries established limited Shari’ah courts quite recently.
He also pointed out that Saudi Arabia itself was founded in 1932, while by then the Maldives had a constitution based on the tenets of Islam.
In his weekly address, the President noted the role of Islamic scholars who served as chief justices in the Maldives. Historically, chief justice was the highest authority of Islam in the Maldives.
He said Islamic scholars who served as chief justices, including many overseas scholars ensured the continuity of the practice of Shari’ah in the Maldives.
The Maldives, he said, had developed a strong and proud Islamic identity over the years.
President Nasheed conveyed well wishes of on the occasion of the Milad of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
