PM Modi is likely to pay a visit to the India’s centuries-old Cheraman Juma Masjid.
But do you know why the oldest Muslim shrine, Cheraman Juma Masjid was constructed by a group of Arabs led by Malik Bin Dinar in the year 628 AD and it is named after Chera King, Cheraman Perumal?
Cheraman Perumal, the reigning King of Kerala, with Kodungallur as its capital, once experienced an unusual dream of the new moon being split into two halves at the horizon.
His Court astrologers could not give him a satisfactory explanation. Later on when a group of Arab traders on their way to Ceylon met the Perumal, he mentioned about his dream. They put in plain words that this could probably be the miracle Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) performed at Arabia (Holy Qur’an-54:1-5).
He was convinced by their elucidation and make up his mind to embrace Islam. His decision to leave for Makkah was kept a secret.
After assigning various territories to local chieftains to ensure smooth governance, he left for Makkah, met the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and embraced Islam.
He spent a few years of his life there. On his way back from Mahhah, Perumal fell ill and breathe his last breath at Dhufar in Oman.
Prior to his death, he wrote letters to local rulers of Malabar and handed them to his friends. Later on, when Malik Bin Dinar and his companions arrived at Kodungallur in Keral and showed the rulers, the letters written by Perumal about his new religious experience to the ruling Chieftain.
In his letter he had asked his relatives “to receive the bearers of the letter and to treat them well”. The rulers of Kerala honoured the letter and allowed Malik Ibn Dinar and his fellow Arab Muslim traders to construct mosques in different places.
The first mosque thus constructed at Kodungallur is the first to be established and Malik Bin Dinar himself was the first Ghazi of this “Cheraman Masjid”.
More details about the mosque can be find at: http://www.cheramanmosque.com/history.php