These documents establish endowments and detail the resources stipulated for the construction and maintenance of mosques, mausoleum shrines (ziyaaraiy) and other religious institutions
Manuscripts: Waqf endowment
MAHS-MDV-COL-001-O-0024
The Isdhoo Loamaafaanu consists of 21 copper plates threaded on a ring, each plate measuring 33.1cm x 7cm. The plates are inscribed in the old Eveyla Akuru script with a text in the Dhivehi language. The text is written on both sides, except for the first and last plate which have writing only on the front face. The plates are numbered on the front and back using ancient Dhivehi numerals. The text tells of the reallocation of lands previously held by Buddhist religious institutions on the island of Isdhoo (Laamu Atoll) to support the foundation of a mosque and the establishment of a new Islamic order. This set of inscribed copper plates is currently held in the collections of the National Museum in Malé (M 003 / RN 1893). H.C.P. identified this text as 'Hadhumathee Loamafaanuu I (H.C.P. Bell, The Maldive Islands: Monograph on the History, Archaeology, and Epigraphy. Colombo: Ceylon Government Press, 1940, pp. 180-181.) A facsimile with modern Dhivehi transcription and annotated English translation has been published as: Hassan A. Maniku & G.D. Wijayawardhana, Isdhoo Loamaafaanu (Colombo: Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, 1986).