Chief of Defence Force, Major General Ahmed Shiyam has said that lessons should be taken from the Jihad of the warrior king, as-Sulṭaan al-Ghaazee Muhamadhu Thakurufaanu al-A'uẓam.
Chief of Defence force made this remark in his message to the people of Maldives on the occasion of the 71st National Day of Maldives.
Major General Ahmed Shiyam said that the story of the great warrior and hero of Maldives, Muhammadhu Thakurufaanu should not only read for entertainment but rather people should take lessons from his life and his sacrifices.
He said he is the most celebrated and most-bravest Maldivian heroes for saving the Maldives from the Portuguese conquerors who ruled over the Maldives from 1558-1573 after killing Sultan Ali VI in Malé.
Major General Shiyam said that this great hero used military tactics and strategy to defeat the enemy which led to the Maldives gaining independence from a cruel ruler, and restoring the faith of Islam in the Maldive Islands.
“The National Day is a day that every Maldivian soldier should renew their purpose and aim. Encouragement should be taken from the remembrance of Muhammadhu Thakurufaanu,” he said.
In the year 1558, Portuguese colonial power attacked Maldives and killed the Sultan of the Maldives and established its colonial rule. It was later in 1573; Muhammad Thakurufaanu arrived the capital Male` along with his companions and succeeded in ending the fifteen-year colonial rule of the Portuguese.
Every year the first day of Rabi' al-awwal is celebrated in the Maldives as the National Day or Gaumee Dhuvas in remembrance of Mohamed Thakurufaanu's defeat of the Portuguese. He was also the first Maldivian king to form the 'Lashkaru (a unified military body).
Lessons should be taken from the Jihad of the warrior king- Shiyam
