Cheraman Juma Masjid

Cheraman Juma Masjid is widely regarded as the oldest mosque in India. It stands on Arakulam Road in Kodungallur, Kerala 680664. Tradition dates it to 629 CE and credits its founding to Malik Bin Dinar, an Arab preacher of Islam, during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad. Kodungallur is the ancient port town once known as Muziris, about 30 km north of Kochi, so the mosque is an easy trip from Ernakulam.

The mosque takes its name from Cheraman Perumal, the title of the Chera rulers. According to popular legend, one of these kings saw the moon split in a dream, later travelled to Arabia and embraced Islam. Historians point out that this account rests on oral tradition and cannot be fully verified. It remains central to the identity and heritage of the masjid.

The building looks quite different from the domed mosques many visitors expect. It resembles a traditional Kerala tharavad, with a sloping tiled roof, carved wooden doors and a mix of Kerala and Middle Eastern design. It has been renovated several times over the centuries, yet the inner prayer hall, the wooden ceiling and the old wooden steps preserve its early character. An ancient oil lamp, believed by devotees to have burned for generations, and the tombs of Habib Bin Malik and his wife add to the atmosphere.

Today the masjid holds daily prayers and Friday Juma prayers, and it welcomes visitors of every faith. Restoration under the Muziris Heritage Project has added an Islamic history museum in the complex. It uses murals, paintings and audio-visual displays to tell the story of Islam in Kerala. Pilgrims, history lovers and families exploring Kodungallur’s other landmarks will find this a peaceful and meaningful place to visit.