Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has said today that the government is working to declare the death of Ali Mushfiq Mohamed Shareef's death, who went missing at sea after the vessel he was travelling on caught fire earlier last week, and hold his funeral prayer next Friday.
L. Maavah island, where Mushfiq is originally from, had previously arranged a funeral prayer in absentia after noon prayers today. However, minister Shaheem published a post on Facebook saying those who go missing at sea must be declared dead via court.
In a message to the Islamic Ministry's media group, Minister Shaheem said he had spoken to Mushfiq's family and added that the funeral prayer scheduled for today had been cancelled.
Shaheem said he would try to arrange Mushfiq's funeral for next Friday after his death is proven through court. The minister also said funeral prayer arrangements would also be made at the Islamic Centre.
"[We] will try to arrange the funeral prayer for next Friday after the death is proved through the court in accordance with Islamic Sharia," Shaheem's message said.
Shaheem also said last night that some scholars are of the opinion that a missing person should be declared dead four years after they go missing. However, if it is more likely that a person who went missing at sea has died, that a judge would be able to declare their death sooner as well, he explained.
Prior to the minister's announcement, Maavah Island Council had also issued a statement cancelling the initial funeral prayer arrangements.
The prayer, which was initially planned for Masjid al-Bilal in Maavah, was delayed following consultations with religious scholar, legal experts and based on a publication by the Fatwa Committee, the council said.
"Although Ali Mushfiq Mohamed Shareef's funeral prayer in absentia was previously announced for 11 April 2025, the recommendations of religious scholars, legal experts and the number the 466/2020/02's 20th fatwa published by Maldives' Supreme Council for Fatwa states that the death of a missing person must be declared by a judge based on information made available following efforts to find the missing person," the council's statement said.
The statement clarified that although Mushfiq's funeral prayers for Friday have been cancelled, it would be held at a later date once the court proceedings are completed.
Mushfiq went missing on Wednesday last week when the cargo boat he was travelling on caught fire with 18 people onboard.
Maavashu Council's president Ahmed Moosa told Mihaaru News earlier that the funeral prayers were arranged upon the request of Mushfiq's family.
"Mushfiq's younger brother knows he sank. Since he has not been found until now, the family believes 100 percent that Mushfiq would not be found alive," Ahmed said.
Despite the initial funeral prayer announcement, Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) said that they did not conclude efforts to find the youth, who worked at Villa International High School and was seen as a role model to many in his island.
Mushfiq was also studying architecture at Maldives Polytechnic when he went missing.