Cheraman Jum'ah Masjid old Photo |
Cheraman Jum'ah Masjid (Malayalam: ചേരമാൻ ജുമാമസ്ജിദ്) is a masjid in Methala,
Kodungallur Taluk, Thrissur district in the Indian state of Kerala. The Cheraman Masjid is said to be the very first Masjid in
India, built in 629 AD by Malik lbn Dinar. It is believed that this mosque was first renovated and
reconstructed in the 11th century AD. Many non-Muslims conduct initiation
ceremonies to the world of letters of their children here.
History
Kerala Vyasan Kunhikuttan
Thampuran is of the opinion that an
ancient Buddha vihar was gifted to the Muslims to establish a masjid. Since ancient times, trade relations between Arabia and the Indian subcontinent were
active. Even before Islam had
been established in Arabia, Arab traders visited the Malabar
region, which was a major link between
the ports of South and Southeast
Asia. With the advent of Islam, the Arab
merchants became carriers of the new religion and they propagated it wherever
they went. The oral tradition is that Cheraman Perumal, the Chera king,
went to Arabia where he met the Prophet and embraced Islam. From there he had
sent letters with Malik Ibn Dinar to his relatives in Kerala, asking them to be
courteous to the latter. According to Burnell he was a contemporary of Islamic
Prophet Muhammad.
Belief goes that a group of Arabs
led by Malik Bin Deenar and Malik bin Habib arrived in north Kerala and
constructed a Masjid at Kodungalloor, naming it after their contemporary Cheraman Perumal.
The masjid has an ancient oil lamp
which always burns and which is believed to be more than a thousand years old.
People of all religions bring oil for the lamp as offering. Like most masjid in Kerala, this masjid allows entry for
Non-Muslims .The then president of India Abdul Kalam is
among the notable visitors to this masjid.
Cheraman Jum'ah Masjid |
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