PM Modi gifts Saudi King gold-plated replica of Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kerala

Pic courtesy: @PMOIndia

Riyadh: Seeking to inject new momentum in bilateral ties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held wide-ranging talks with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz on ways to expand strategic cooperation in a range of areas including trade, investment and counter-terrorism.

He also gifted the King a gold-plated replica of the Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kerala.

In Thrissur district, Cheraman Juma Masjid is believed to be the first mosque built in India by Arab traders around 629 AD and is symbolic of active trade relations between India and Saudi Arabia since ancient times.

As per PMO India, according to oral tradition, Cheraman Perumal was the Chera King and a contemporary of the Holy Prophet. Cheraman Perumal went to Arabia and embraced Islam after meeting the Holy Prophet at Mecca.

"The mosque has an ancient oil lamp that is always kept burning and believed to be over a thousand years old. People from all religions bring oil for the lamp as an offering," PMO India tweeted.

PM @narendramodi gifted His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud a gold-plated replica of the Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kerala.— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 3, 2016

In Thrissur district, Cheraman Juma Masjid is believed to be the first mosque built in India by Arab traders around 629 AD.— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 3, 2016

Cheraman Juma Masjid is symbolic of active trade relations between India and Saudi Arabia since ancient times. pic.twitter.com/SoypfTUVlS— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 3, 2016

According to oral tradition, Cheraman Perumal was the Chera King & a contemporary of the Holy Prophet.— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 3, 2016

Cheraman Perumal went to Arabia and embraced Islam after meeting the Holy Prophet at Mecca.— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 3, 2016

The mosque has an ancient oil lamp that is always kept burning and believed to be over a thousand years old.— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 3, 2016

People from all religions bring oil for the lamp as an offering.— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 3, 2016