Medinah Sharif, Saudi Arabia
Coordinates: 24.455450, 39.593483
The Quba Mosque is a mosque located on the outskirts of Medinah Sharif, Saudi Arabia.
It is where the Prophet ﷺ, accompanied by Hz. Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, first stayed in Medinah sharif after emigrating from Mecca Sharif.
They arrived on Monday 12th Rab’i al-Awwal, fourteen years after Prophethood and this date marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar (Hijra), (16th July 622 CE). A mosque was established here by the Prophet ﷺ, the first to be built in Islam.
Initially, the mosque was built 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) off Medinah in the village of Quba, before Medinah expanded to include this village.
Depending on whether the Mosque of the Companions in the Eritrean city of Massawa is older or not, it may be the first mosque in the world that dates to the lifetime of the Hz. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the 7th century CE.
According to records, its first stones were positioned by Hz. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as soon as he arrived on his emigration from the city of Mecca sharif to Medinah sharif, and the mosque was completed by his companions.
Hz. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ spent 14 days in this mosque praying qasr (a short prayer) while waiting for Hz. Ali عليه اسلام to arrive in Medinah sharif, after the latter stayed behind in Mecca to carry out a couple of tasks entrusted to him by the Prophet ﷺ
Also going along with traditional saying, this mosque is said to be where the first Friday prayer was held, led by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
In the Qur’an
It is believed to be the mosque which the Qur’an mentions as being founded on piety and devoutness (Masjid al-Taqwa)
Allah narrated in Quran:
Never stand (to pray) there (referring to a place of worship in which the hypocrites had used for harm and disbelief, as mentioned in the previous ayah). A place of worship which was founded upon duty (to Allah) from the first day is more worthy that thou should stand (to pray) therein, wherein are men who love to purify themselves. Allah loveth the purifiers.
Qur’an 9:108
Mosque in Hadith narrations
According to Islamic tradition, performing Wudu (Ablution) in one’s home then offering two Rakaat of Nafl (Optional) prayers in the Quba Mosque is equal to performing one Umrah.
Hz. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to go there, riding or on foot, every Saturday and offer a two rakaat-prayer.
He advised others to do the same, saying, “Whoever makes ablutions at home and then goes and prays in the Mosque of Quba, he will have a reward like that of an ‘Umrah.”
This Hadith was reported by Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Al-Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Hakim al-Nishaburi.
Also going along with traditional saying, this mosque is said to be where the first Friday prayer was held, led by the Hz. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Narrated Hz. Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه: The Prophet ﷺ used to go to the Mosque of Quba (sometimes) walking and sometimes riding. Added Nafi (in another narration), “He then would offer two Rakat (in the Mosque of Quba).”
