Quba Mosque

Madinah, Saudi Arabia · The first mosque founded on piety

The first mosque built in Islam. Whoever purifies himself at home, then comes and prays two rak'ahs in it, receives a reward like that of an Umrah.

Did you know?

The Prophet ﷺ founded it when he reached Quba during the Hijrah, before entering Madinah, making it the first mosque built in Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ used to visit it every Saturday, walking or riding, and pray two rak'ahs there.
It was rebuilt and expanded in the 1980s to a design by the Egyptian architect Abdel-Wahed El-Wakil.

History and architecture

In the suburb of Quba south of Madinah, the Prophet ﷺ stayed for some days during the Hijrah with the Banu Amr ibn Awf. He founded a mosque and took part in building it himself, carrying stones with his Companions. It was the first mosque built in Islam, and from it he ﷺ set out for Madinah to build his great mosque. The Prophet ﷺ remained devoted to this mosque, visiting it every Saturday, and his Companions followed that practice after him. It was renovated many times over the centuries, and in modern times it was rebuilt with white domes and graceful minarets that combine the spirit of traditional architecture with the space of modern mosques, so it remains a fixed stop on every visitor's journey to Madinah. Allah praised the people of Quba for their care for purity, revealing about them: In it are men who love to purify themselves.

Founded: 1 AH / 622 CE

Religious significance

Allah says: “A mosque founded on piety from the first day is more worthy for you to stand in” (At-Tawbah 9:108), and many exegetes held that this refers to the Quba Mosque.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever purifies himself in his house, then comes to the Quba Mosque and prays a prayer in it, will have a reward like that of an Umrah” (Ibn Majah and al-Nasa'i; authenticated by al-Albani).

Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: “The Prophet ﷺ used to come to the Quba Mosque every Saturday, walking and riding” (Bukhari and Muslim).

Visiting tips

Best time: Saturday morning, following the Sunnah, or after the Fajr prayer when the weather is gentler and the crowds are smaller.
Photography: From the front courtyard to capture the white domes and the four minarets; the view is loveliest in the sunset light.
Nearby: The Prophet's Mosque, Masjid al-Jumu'ah, Masjid al-Qiblatayn

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Quba Mosque?

Quba Mosque is in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

When was Quba Mosque founded?

1 AH / 622 CE