Photo: Kaliper1, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quba Mosque
The mosque at Quba, associated with the Prophet’s arrival in the Madinah region after the Hijrah.
Why this place matters
Quba is one of the best-known sites of the Hijrah. The Prophet ﷺ stayed in the Quba area before entering central Madinah and the mosque there occupies an exceptional place in Islamic memory.
The first mosque of the Hijrah
When the Prophet ﷺ reached the Madinah oasis on his Hijrah from Makkah, he stayed with the clan of Banu ‘Amr ibn ‘Awf at Quba for ten nights and established a mosque there before riding on into the city (Sahih al-Bukhari 3906). Quba is therefore the first mosque the Prophet ﷺ established after the Hijrah, and it is widely described as the first mosque built in Islam.
The same narration describes Quba as a mosque “founded on piety”, words that recall Qur’an 9:108. A hadith in Sahih Muslim (1398a) identifies the mosque founded on piety as the Prophet’s Mosque, and many scholars note that the description fits both mosques.
The Sunnah of visiting Quba
The Prophet ﷺ used to go to the Mosque of Quba every Saturday, sometimes walking and sometimes riding, and Ibn ‘Umar continued the practice after him (Sahih al-Bukhari 1193).
He ﷺ also said that whoever purifies himself at home, then comes to the Mosque of Quba and offers a prayer there, will have a reward like that of an ‘Umrah (Sunan Ibn Majah 1412, graded hasan; a similar narration is in Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 324). This is why so many visitors make the short journey to Quba during their stay in Madinah.
The mosque today
The present building was rebuilt between 1984 and 1986 to a design by the architect Abdel-Wahed El-Wakil, keeping Madinan character in its white ribbed domes and minarets. In April 2022 the largest expansion in the mosque’s history was announced, with the aim of increasing its area tenfold and developing the surrounding district.
Frequently asked questions
Is Quba the first mosque in Islam?
It is the first mosque the Prophet ﷺ established after the Hijrah, during his stay with Banu ‘Amr ibn ‘Awf (Sahih al-Bukhari 3906), and it is widely described as the first mosque built in Islam.
What is the reward for praying in Quba Mosque?
The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever purifies himself at home and then prays in the Mosque of Quba has a reward like that of an ‘Umrah (Sunan Ibn Majah 1412, graded hasan).
Which day did the Prophet ﷺ visit Quba?
He ﷺ used to visit the Mosque of Quba every Saturday, walking or riding (Sahih al-Bukhari 1193).
Visiting today
A major ziyarat destination south of the Prophet’s Mosque. Check current transport and access arrangements.
Sources
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3906: The Prophet ﷺ stayed with Banu ‘Amr ibn ‘Awf for ten nights and established the mosque founded on piety
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1193: The Prophet ﷺ used to go to the Mosque of Quba every Saturday, walking or riding
- Sunan Ibn Majah 1412: Prayer in the Mosque of Quba carries a reward like that of an ‘Umrah (graded hasan)
- Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 324: Prayer in Masjid Quba is like ‘Umrah (graded hasan)
- Sahih Muslim 1398a: The mosque founded on piety is identified as the Prophet’s Mosque
- Qur’an 9:108: The mosque founded on piety from the first day
- Vision 2030: Crown Prince launches the largest expansion project in Quba’s history: Official announcement, April 2022
- Quba Mosque: Wikipedia: architecture and the 1984–1986 rebuilding
- Innaha Taybah map of 50 historical and archaeological sites, Madinah Research and Studies Center: Reported by Arab News, 5 November 2024