Oct 22
Construction of Masjid-e-Quba - the first Masjid in Islam
Friday 15 Rabi Al Awwal, 1443
Oct 22
Friday 15 Rabi Al Awwal, 1443
In Islam, a masjid is more than just a place to perform prayers; it is the heart and soul of the community. It is a place where people come together to seek guidance, share knowledge, and find comfort in unity. From the very beginning of Islam, mosques have been living centres of faith, shaping the character and lives of those who gather within them.
Among these sacred spaces, Masjid-e-Quba stands apart. Located just outside Madinah, it was the very first mosque ever established in Islam, built by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ soon after his journey from Makkah. But its significance goes beyond bricks and mortar; the mosque was constructed with devotion, humility, and a deep sense of purpose. These are the qualities that continue to inspire Muslims more than fourteen centuries later.
Masjid-e-Quba also represents a turning point in Islamic history. Its creation marked a fresh beginning for the early Muslim community, emerging from years of hardship in Makkah into a new life of hope and fellowship in Madinah. More than just a building, it became a symbol of what Islam truly teaches: living with faith, serving others, and building a community grounded in devotion to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى.
Life in Makkah was really hard for the Muslims before they migrated. There were years of persecution, hostility, boycotts, and even violence. Practicing faith openly was almost impossible. Then Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى allowed migration. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions had to leave everything, their homes, belongings, comfort, all of it, to be able to worship freely.
On the way, they stopped at Quba. It was a small village, just a few miles from Madinah. The people there welcomed them warmly, with whatever they could offer: food, shelter, and kindness. It was indeed comforting after leaving everything behind. It was here that a new Muslim community started to take shape, slowly but surely.
While staying in Quba, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ laid the foundation of Masjid-e-Quba, the first mosque. It was not just a building but a place to pray, to learn, to talk, to support each other. For the migrants, it was hope, stability, and a fresh start. Somehow, in this simple mosque, the foundations of Islam in Madinah began, which include faith, brotherhood, and unity, things that still inspire Muslims today.
When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ reached Quba during the migration, he did not just give instructions, but he actually laid the first stone of Masjid-e-Quba himself with his own hands. It depicted humility, devotion, showing that nothing is too small if it is for Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. The companions then took part in the construction wholeheartedly. Some carried stones, some mixed clay, while some lifted walls. They were not just building a mosque, but they were creating a place to pray, to meet, and to learn.
Everything was basic, mud bricks for walls, palm trunks for pillars, branches and leaves for the roof. By today’s standards, it looked tiny, fragile even. But that did not matter. None of that mattered. What mattered was the intention, the hearts behind it. Every stone, every branch, is placed for Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, for each other. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ worked alongside them, shoulder to shoulder. That is leadership, you do not just tell people what to do, but instead you do it with them. For the early Muslims, building Masjid-e-Quba wasn’t just about walls or roofs. It was a sign that faith could grow stronger even after so much hardship.
Even now, Masjid-e-Quba quietly teaches the same things. Sincerity matters more than appearances. Working together makes faith stronger.
The significance of Masjid-e-Quba is also mentioned in the Quran and Hadith, which demonstrates that it holds immense spiritual value for Muslims worldwide. Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى has mentioned this mosque as a place of righteousness and piety in the Quran in Surah At-Tawba, 9:108.
“Never set foot in that place. Only a mosque whose foundations have been laid from the very first on godliness is worthy of your visiting it. There you will find men who wish to be purified, and God loves those who are pure.”
This verse indicates that Masjid-e-Quba was built with purity, devotion, and sincerity, which sets it apart from any other mosque. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also mentioned the greatness of this mosque. Once he said that if a person purifies himself and then goes to Masjid e Quba to offer prayers, he may receive the reward of an accepted Umrah.
The journey from Makkah to Madinah was not simple at all. It was long, tiring, and dangerous. The Quraysh were after the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions, and every step came with risk. Finally, after what must have felt like endless travel, he arrived near Madinah and stopped at a small village called Quba, a quiet and peaceful place. The people there had been waiting for the arrival of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. They greeted him and every Muslim with real warmth.
He stayed there for about two weeks or less. Not just to rest, but to connect with the people, settle a little, and start something that would outlast them all. It was there, in Quba, that he laid the foundation of Masjid-e-Quba, the first mosque in Islam. Now, this wasn’t just about bricks or mud walls. It was about setting a tone, a message: faith first, worship, Allah first. It brought together the Muhajir, who had left everything behind, and the Ansar, who had opened their homes and hearts, with a single purpose.
Before even stepping into Madinah, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ chose to build a mosque. A reminder that a strong community starts with its connection to Allah, and the mosque is where that connection beats strongest.
Masjid-e-Quba was not just a place to pray. It was more like the first sign of what this new Muslim community would be about. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ knew a mosque could not just be walls and a roof. It had to be alive, a space where people can pray, learn, and sit together.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did not wait and started building it right when he got to Quba. Inside this place, no one looked at who had money or which tribe someone was from. None of that mattered. Masjid-e-Quba was built only for Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. No show, no status, no other reason. Perhaps that’s why it still holds so much meaning. It reminds us that a mosque is not really a building but a place where faith breathes and community finds its centre.
Back in the early days of the Muslim community in Madinah, Masjid-e-Quba was not just a spot for prayer. It turned into something bigger, a place where worship, learning, and daily life all came together. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ led prayers there, gave sermons, and taught the Quran to both the Muhajirun and the Ansar. It brought them closer, helped build unity between the two groups.
The mosque became a meeting point where people talked about what mattered for the community, where decisions were made, and where support was shared. Back then, there were no formal offices or institutions; thus, the mosque was the heart. For the migrants who had left Makkah, their homes, their belongings, everything, this place felt like a lifeline. A place that gave them a sense of home and belonging. Everyone stood equal before Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى.
Even later, when the main mosque in Madinah (Masjid an-Nabawi) became the centre, the Prophet ﷺ still went back to Masjid-e-Quba. He would visit often, walking or riding there, just to pray two rak'ahs. It says a lot about what this mosque meant to him. A place built on piety and brotherhood, and it stayed that way.
Masjid-e-Quba still carries huge spiritual value for Muslims everywhere. Its virtues are mentioned clearly in the Quran and Hadith, which makes visiting and praying here something truly special. It is not just another Sunnah but a place to look forward to. Every year, millions of Muslims who go for Hajj or Umrah make sure to stop at this mosque. There’s a certain calm there, a feeling of peace that almost takes you back to the early days when it was first built.
Today, the mosque is bigger, beautifully kept, and expanded to hold more people. But the essence has not changed. Inside the mosque, it is still about worship, reflection, and turning to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. The area around it has grown lively with visitors, but step into the mosque and it is the same feeling that is simplicity, sincerity, and humility.
Its story reminds the Ummah of one thing: a mosque is not about size or how fancy it looks. What matters is the intention behind it and the unity of hearts that pray within its walls.
Masjid-e-Quba is the first mosque built by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions in Islam. It was built in a tiny village outside Madinah. It was made with pure intentions and sincerity, thus making the mosque a significant place for Muslims. This mosque became the centre of immense devotion, brotherhood, and worship. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself laid the foundation of the mosque and participated in its building. Its importance has also been mentioned in the Quran, which truly shows its importance.
Strong communities grow from faith, and a mosque is a place where people gather and greet each other. Even today, millions of Muslims go there and feel the calmness of this mosque. It holds a special place in the heart of every Muslim.