Cheraman Juma Masjid, Kodangallur - FIRST MASJID IN INDIA

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Cheraman Juma Masjid

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These are pictures of the first Masjid in India, in a place called Kodangallur in Kerala. The story about this Masjid is that the king of that place, Raja Rama Kulasekhara accepted Islam at the hands of the Sahabi of RasoolAllah(SAS),Malik Deenar (not the Tabayi of the same name but the Sahabi) who came here in 4 Hijri. He gave him and his companions land to build a Masjid which was built by local
carpenters.

It resembles a Kerala temple in construction and has a brass lamp for lighting. Inside it has a mimbar and mihraab. Just outside the main chamber are the graves of the son of Malik Deenar's son and his wife. Malik Deenar himself left this place and went to Kasargod where his grave is.


It is said that Raja Rama Kulasekhara then left to go to meet RasoolAllah(SAS) but died enroute (or maybe after he met Him - are there any a hadith to this effect?) and is buried in Salala in Oman. Can someone in Oman verify this please? Jazakallahu khairan.
Regrettably the grave of Malik Deenar in Kasargod has been made into a dargah with all attendant charming practices. But the graves of his son and daughter in law in the Masjid in Kodangallur seem to be free
from most such practices. The only thing I saw was that they place some green colored cloth on the two graves which they then sell as tabarruk. But at least none of the abominations that we see in the dargahs of most Sufis are done here.


This Masjid also had the dubious honour of a visit by the current President of India who predictably called it a symbol of secularism.
How a place of worship can be a symbol of godlessness is something which only a rocket scientist can understand, it seems.

At any rate this Masjid is historic proof that Islam has been in India from
629AD(4Hijri) for 1376 years. So much for the BJP theories of Muslims being new comers to India.





The video of the month is a special one due to its historic significance. The video features the historic Cheraman Juma Masjid, at Kodungallur in Thrissur District, which was built during 629 AD and is a combination of Arab and Kerala styles of architecture. It is the first mosque in India and is visited by people from different communities. The mosque was the outcome of the desire of former Kerala ruler, Cheraman Perumal.

Unlike a typical mosque, the interior of the Cheraman Juma Masjid has several decorative items like the traditional Kerala lamp and also finely crafted wood work, especially that of the pulpit.

Ref:www.keralatourism.org













[Special Thankx to Dr. Kizar Nawaz, Chennai for this valuable info & Pictures]

Posted in: Kerala