Cheraman Mosque

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The mosque considered to be the oldest in the Indian subcontinent was built in 629 AD. The celebrated Islamic scholar & preacher Malik Deenar is credited with building the mosque. 

Malik Deeenar was the first preacher of Islam to arrive in India entrusted with the mission to propogate Islam to the east. There is an unscripted belief that the mosque was built over a Buddhist Shrine which was in a state of neglect & only had a hanging lamp. The mosque during its construction faced the east rather than the Kaaba as did all the mosques around the world. The change in direction was later made in the 11th century when the mosque was renovated & reconstructed. The lamps are considered to be over 1000 years old & still are lit to keep the sacred light glowing always.

The mosque constructed in traditional Kerala architecture in the 11th century was completely destroyed by the Portuguese in 1504. It was in a state of dilapidation for many years & it was only in the 17th century that the mosque was built again with new additions like the thatched roof replaced by Minarets. It was in 1984 that the mosque was again renovated to accommodate more devotees. The mosque has changed in the way it looks from the time it was built by Malik Deenar but the central sanctum has not been changed & still retains its heritage. The mosque now has a museum which shows the old structure of the mosque with other historical portraits & documents. 

The story behind the mosque originates from the life of Cheraman Perumal who was the last of the Chera Kings. It is said that Perumal was so attracted to the teachings of Prophet Mohammed that he undertook a journey to Mecca. He reached Mecca, met the Prophet & embraced Islam at his feet. Cheraman advised his son to go back & take over the reins of his kingdom while he stayed back in Mecca. He gave the preachers from Mecca a letter written by him asking his people to welcome the scholars & give them a place to build mosques. One such letter was carried by Malik Deenar & that is how the first mosque was built in Kodungallur. 

Before the advent of Islam, Malabar was frequented by merchants & traders from Arabia. The mosque helped these merchants to dock at Kodungallur & pray at the mosque thus making it an important port for the traders from the west. The mosque has allowed people from all faiths to pray here & is a symbol of unique secular ideology maintained even after nearly a millennium. The mosque allows non Muslims to conduct Vidyarambham which is a Hindu tradition to initiate learning in young children. The Muslim Imam traces alphabets on the tongue of young children with a ring, an event not seen anywhere. 

The mosque has been present in the Kerala social fabric from the time of Prophet & has been a place which preaches the teachings of Mohammed & is still revered. The annual Uroos held here is a time for people all around to meet.




Location: Kodungallur, Kerala, India

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