Masjid al-Jumuah
The mosque widely recognized as Masjid al-Jumuah holds a distinguished place in Islamic history. This name is derived from the first Friday prayer led by the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) in the city of Madina.
Names
The mosque widely recognized as Masjid al-Jumuah holds a distinguished place in Islamic history. This name is derived from the first Friday prayer led by the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) in the city of Madina at this site, this was during his journey from the village of Quba to Madina. Other names for this mosque that have been mentioned in historical records as follows:
Masjid Bani Salim due its location in the Bani Salim quarter. Qalqashandi said: They are Banu Salim bin Awf bin Amr bin Awf from the Khazraj, amongst them being the notable companion Malik bin al-Ajlan. [Nihayah al-Arab p.218]
Masjid al-Wadi due to it being located in the valley of Ranuna, this being referenced to in early sources such as Ibn Ishaq. [Wafa al-Wafa 3/820]
Masjid Atikah as narrated by Ibn Shabbah that the first Jumuah the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) offered when coming from Quba to Madina was in the Masjid Bani Salim which is referred to as Masjid Atikah. [Tarikh al-Madina 1/68]
Location
It is located on the right hand side of a person travelling from Masjid Quba to the Masjid al-Nabawi.
Construction
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give peace) conducted the Jumuah prayer in the quarters of the Bani Salim clan, and thereafter the companions (Allah be pleased with them all) built a mosque in the location of his prayer.
Historical Context of the Jumuah Prayer in Madina
It is important to highlight aspects of the Jumuah (Friday) prayer’s evolution in Madina, which had a community of believers before the Prophet Muhammad’s (Allah bless him and give him peace) arrival.
It is reported that the companion Musab bin Umayr gathered the Muslim community together in Madina for the first Jumuah prayer in Islam in the home of Sa'd bin Khaythamah, and then in the location of the Masjid al-Nabawi, with the prayer service also being lead by the companion Asad bin Zararah, this was before the arrival of the Messenger of Allah. Ibn Sa'd narrated in his Tabaqat (3/118:
"Musab bin Umayr would teach them the Quran and other matters, he wrote to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) seeking permission to gather them together, which he was granted, and a written message was sent saying: Look for the day when the Jews announce their impending Sabbath, when the sun has passed its highest point offer two rakats of prayer to Allah and deliver a sermon. Thus Musab ibn Umayr gathered them together in the home of Sa'd bin Khaythama, there being 12 men at the time. A sheep was slaughtered and he was the first person to conduct the Jumuah prayer in Islam."
When the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) came to Madina he conducted the first Jumuah prayer with his companions in the quarters of the Bani Salim.
