The Quba Mosque (Arabic: 賲賻爻賿噩賽丿 賯購亘賻丕亍鈥�, romanized: Masjid Qub膩示, Hejazi Arabic pronunciation: [mas.d蕭瑟d 伞蕣.ba]) is a mosque located in Medina, in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia, built in the lifetime of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the 7th century C.E. It is thought to be the first mosque in the world, built on the first day of Muhammad's emigration to Medina. Its first stone is said to have been laid by the prophet, and the structure completed by his companions. As per historical Islamic texts, Muhammad spent 14 days in this mosque praying qa峁 (Arabic: 賯賻氐賿乇, a short prayer) while waiting for Ali to arrive in Medina, after he stayed behind in Mecca to safeguard Muhammad's life and escape, by sleeping in Muhammad's bed in his place. Performing Wu岣嵟� ('Ablution') in one's home, then offering two Raka士膩t of Nafl (Optional) prayers in the Quba Mosque, is considered to be equal to performing one 士Umrah. Muhammad used to go there, riding or on foot, every Saturday and offer a two raka士膩t prayer. He advised others to do the same, saying, "Whoever makes ablutions at home and then goes and prays in the Mosque of Quba, he will have a reward like that of an 'Umrah."This 岣d墨th was reported by Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Al-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Hakim al-Nishaburi.[citation needed] Initially, the mosque was built 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) off Medina in the village of Quba, before Medina expanded to include this village.
