Cheraman Juma Masjid (built in Hijra 629 or 7 A.D.) in Kodungalloor - Kerala of India is 1375-year-old and is considered as India’s oldest ...
Cheraman Juma Masjid (built in Hijra 629 or 7 A.D.) in Kodungalloor - Kerala of India is 1375-year-old and is considered as India’s oldest Islamic shrine. More important is the fact that it is the world’s second oldest Juma mosque, where the Juma (Friday) prayers have been held for the last 1375 years, since the days of Prophet Mohammed (570-634 A.D.). The first Juma mosque in the world is the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah (Masjid Nabawi), which is also his memorial tomb.
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| The original CheramanJuma Masjid in Kodungaloor, Kerala, where Friday prayers have been held for thelast 1375 years. |
In 622 – 628 A.D (Hijra 1 to 7) Kodungalloor was the capital of the kings of Kerala and the ruler was a great person, by name Cheraman Perumal Bhaskara Ravi Varma. At that time the ruler viewed the splitting of moon, the historical miracle by Prophet Mohammed Rasoolullah and he came to know about the Prophet from and Arabian traders. The love for Holy Prophet as the Messenger of God and Islam grew in his heart and he became the one of first Muslim convert of present day India.
This ‘Moon Splitting’ is also mentioned in the hadith. As per narrations of Abdullah bin Masud: “During the lifetime of the Prophet, the moon was split into two parts and on that the Prophet said, ‘Bear witness (to thus).’” (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Virtues and Merits of the Prophet and his Companions, Volume 4, Book 56, Number 830)
He decided to visit Makkah and he turned into Muslim and accepted the name Tajuddin. While on his way back to home along with some devotees he passed away in the coastal town of Oman, Salalah.
Malabar logs from India Office Library mentions about these historical events due to its importance in the Kerala history and culture. Perumal had wrote several letters addressed to the rulers of different states of Kerala asking to provide necessary help and facilities. Malik Bin Dinar and his companions were the other travelers in the return journey of Cheraman Perumal. They arrived in Kodungalloor with the letters and handed over it to the ruler of Muzuris (Kodungalloor was then known by this name).
From the historical notes and library records we can conclude that Kerala played an important role in the start of Islam in India and its spreading.
They were helped in respect to the died Cheraman Perumal and his letters. The rulers helped Malik Bin Dinar and companions (followers of Prophet Mohammed) to set up the mosque and spread Islam in Kerala.
The second Juma Mosque in the world was built by Malik bin Dinar with the help of the Rajah of Kodungalloor in 629 A.D and since then Friday prayers have been offering here. It is situated in the Mithala village of Kodungalloor, hardly 35km from the Cochin International Airport, Nedumbassery.
The mosque had been repaired twice to keep the structure in stable conditions and some modifications have been made in these renovation works.
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| Cheraman mosqueafter the renovations by the local Jama'at committee. |
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