Written By: Jumana Shareef

A faint blue streak across an ink-black sky forewarned the approaching dawn. A middle-aged man carried on with his post-fajr walk, deep in thought, intently staring up at the heavens he was so familiar with. Nisfu (Yusuf) was well-known as “Handhegirin” in these parts since his appointment as Home Minister to Sultan Usman from Fehendhoo. There was a sense of change in the air as he spotted a small paddle boat and her two oars approaching the Furamale’ (Pre-Eminent Male’) beach where he stood. The vessel fatefully thudded against the eroded rise along the coastline, and a small shriek pierced the deep blue morning as Gólhâvehi Kan’bulo fell belly-first onto the beach, much to the concern of her husband, Fageeru (poor) Hilali Kalo. That very morning, Handhegirin was overheard telling Sultan Usman that a pregnant “toad” had “belly flopped” into Male’ and that under no circumstance should they be permitted residence on the island, for grave misfortune will befall the Sultan should he do so. “We musn’t make life even harder for the poor couple,” replied the Sultan.

Soon, the expectant couple were granted permission to settle down at the outskirts of the city around Lonuziyaaraiykolhu where the Dhun’gethi (Glory Bower) trees grew wild. The couple were ordered to tear down their thatched palm house after Handhegirin deemed the moment too auspicious. Always a step ahead, Gólhâvehi Kan’bulo instructed her husband to break the stilts holding up the structure. The King’s intervention allowed them to reconstruct the house again; the new stilts were placed right atop the old ones, foiling the old Vizir’s plans.

It was around the same time that Handhegirin was also expecting a child. Even though his meticulous planetary calculations showed that his son will be born at a prosperous time, the Hilali twin brothers were born at that time. Handhegiri’s son, Mohamed Manik was born soon after Hassan and Hussain, all of whose fates intertwined throughout what would result in the chaotic, violent, and revolutionary 180-year-old Hilali Dynasty. 

The manipulations of the Vizir didn’t end there, however, as he convinced the Sultan that the “kind” thing to do would be to take one of the twins under his wing and raise him in his household. The younger Hussain was taken from his mother’s arms, while the older Hassan was sent off without warning with a ship from Noonu Landhoo when he was nearing his teenage years. The infamous narrator of Maldivian folklore, Buraara Mohamed Fulhu touted that an unnamed mysterious vessel laden with gold and numerous treasures was discovered by Hassan one day in Landhoo. At which moment he decided to take over the Sultanate, we can only guess.

He arrived with a crew to Male’ and convinced the Sultan it was a good idea to leave the capital on a shark-fishing expedition in the rough outskirts of the atoll - only he wasn’t able to join the Sultan at departure after saying he was going home to get the gear. The Sultan soon grew impatient and set off with his cabinet (including Handhegirin and his son Mohamed Manik) as well as the younger Hussain. Legend says that upon hearing the gunshot announcing the Sultan’s leave via Gaadhookolhu (eastern Malé harbor), Hassan made his way to the Nabus-khana (palace drumhouse) and banged the drums and essentially calling upon both military units into the fold and succeeding with the coup.

Somewhere between Male’ and the Funadhoo islet, the Sultan's barge made a last-ditch effort to turn around and return just as Hussain jumped overboard. For all to overhear, Hussain is said to have suggested that the Sultan settle down in Kolhumadulu Guraidhoo to which Handhegirin famously shouted, “Hassan, then Mohamed (his son)”. Hussain is said to have replied, “Hassan, then Hussain, then Mohamed”. 

Sultan Hassan-ul-Hilali Sri Vira Bovana Maharadhun officially ascended the throne with all the pomp and circumstance of the coronation (Koli) upon the death of Sultan Usman while still in exile in Guraidhoo in 1388. The Fehendhoo Rasgefaanu Ziyaarai (monument) and grave still stand today. As for Handhegiri, his son became Dhanna (learned) Mohamed Rasgefaanu, about 23 years after the decade-long reign of Sultan Hassan ended with his death. It was truly Hassan, then Hussain, then Mohamed.