Civil Court validates Mayor Azim’s hiba transfer of Male' city property to his wife

The Civil Court has ruled that the portion of property owned by Male’ City Mayor Adam Azim at H. Maadhoofiyaa, K. Male’, and gifted to his wife as an Inter Vivos Transfer (Hiba) under Islamic Sharia, is valid.

The judgment states that Azim’s share of the buildings and immovable property at H. Maadhoofiyaa, 871.25 square feet of private land, was formally separated from his estate and transferred to his wife, Aishath Nasheeda of Chambeyleemaage/Male’. The court noted that the transfer fulfilled the core requirements of hiba: a voluntary gift, clear acceptance, and completion of the transfer.

Judge Ali Abdullah highlighted that Azim’s mother, Aishath Moosa, and his daughter raised no objection to the gift, reinforcing that the transfer met both family-consent norms and Shariah procedural standards.

According to the verdict, Azim and his legal dependents will be accommodated at Seenukarankaage, K. Male’.

The court further stated that the land was not mortgaged or leased, and that Azim had no proven debt that would obstruct a hiba transfer. It also noted that no claim or complaint was submitted by any party after the public announcement inviting anyone asserting ownership of the land.

The Civil Court underscored that Maldivian law places no barrier on gifting property to a spouse, and that hiba remains a legally recognised mechanism for transferring ownership.

As a result, Azim’s share of H. Maadhoofiyaa now legally belongs to his wife, Aishath Nasheeda.