The following is the text of a missive addressed to the people of a number of islands by the Chief Justice of the Maldives in his dual role as the chief Islamic priest. As the mullahs began reasserting control in Malé in the early part of the 20^th century, these missives became quite regular in Malé, less so in the far flung atolls.

In Malé the ceremony was called "naibukamaa hiñgun". Officials of the court of Shariah walked the main circuit route of the island and read out the edict at street junctions. Those who were found to be in violation of Islamic laws were dragged out to the junctions and flogged with the durrah, a strap made of leather, rattan and metal studs. This ritual was deemed to be barbaric and was abolished in 1964.