Maldivian, Malki in Maldives

People Name:	Maldivian, Malki
Country:	Maldives
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	478,000
World Population:	480,800
Primary Language:	Maldivian
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	0.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Portions
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South Asia Muslim - other
Affinity Bloc:	South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Maldives Islands are located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India. Only about 200 of the nearly 2,000 islands are inhabited. The Maldivians speak Divehi which is related to the Sinhalese language of Sri Lanka but has its own script.

Officially called Divehi Rajje, Maldives gained its independence in 1965 and has been a member of the United Nations since then. The republic is divided into 19 administrative atolls, each of which is governed by an atoll chief and his assistants. Each inhabited island also has its own chief. No one is allowed to leave or come onto the island without the chief's knowledge.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Maldivian are fishermen, merchants and boat builders who take advantage of their position in the center of Indian Ocean trade routes. Despite their trade travels, the Maldivian have not been influenced by the outside world.

The Maldivian economy is based on fishing. The fishermen still use lines and hooks for catching bonito and tuna fish. The men trade their dried fish for items like flour, rice, sugar, kerosene and cloth. Very little agriculture takes place on the islands. A few grains are grown, as well as yams and tapioca in the south. The islands also support breadfruit, banana and papaya trees. A common diet for the islanders consists of grains or yams, fish broth, and coconut; few vegetables are eaten.

Tourism is popular on the islands, with hotels built even on some of the regularly uninhabited islands. Sadly, most of the income from the tourist trade goes to a few wealthy families. There is a chance that Maldivians will have contact with Christian tourists.

The divorce rate among the Maldivian is extremely high because they are often based on manipulation, selfishness and other narcissistic behavior. Fortunately, it is not as high as it was at the beginning of the 21st century. One can easily meet someone who has had 10 or more spouses. Families are often loosely structured. The children live with their mothers and get support from their fathers.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Islam is the official religion of Maldives, and virtually all of the Maldivians are Shafiite Muslims. Ironically, however, the Islamic religion is really only a ritualistic tradition that most people follow. Children are taught to pronounce Arabic so that they can recite the words of the Koran; however, they do not know the meanings of most of the words. A majority of the people do not understand the diversity and depth of Muslim philosophy. Commonly they become dogmatic about non Islamic practices and pre-Islamic beliefs. These matters often divide Maldivians.

To satisfy their spiritual hunger, many Maldivians consult fanditas ("learned people") who conduct rituals for healing, solving problems and becoming successful. The fanditas make their occupations valid by using Islamic terms and chanting Arabic-sounding chants.

The Maldivians are very fearful. They have a fear of the "evil eye" (curses caused by a fixed gaze) and of evil spirits. They also fear jinnis, which are-according to Muslim legend-spirits capable of assuming human or animal form and exercising supernatural influence over people. Most houses keep a lamp burning all night and have no windows in order to keep out the jinnis.

What Are Their Needs?

Many Maldivians follow folk beliefs and often live each day in fear. They need to know that peace and security can only be found through Christ. Currently, there are few Christian resources available in the Divehi language. They need regular prayer until there is a spiritual breakthrough in the Maldive Islands.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to lead Maldivians away from the tragedy of divorce and into a time of family blessings and joy.
Pray for faithful intercessors to pray for the Maldivians until something happens!
Ask the Lord to deliver those who are tormented by fear and restore those who have been broken by divorce.
For for Christ’s ambassadors to have much spiritual influence in the Maldive Islands.
Pray that the Lord will save key Maldivian leaders who will boldly declare the gospel to their own people.
Pray for these leaders to have dreams of the righteous and sovereign Christ that will set them on the path to salvation.
Ask the Lord to raise up strong disciples among the Maldivians.