Cheraman Jum'ah Masjid

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