Mosque of the Companions

The Mosque of the Companions (Masjid aṣ-Ṣaḥābah) is a mosque in the city of Massawa, Eritrea. Possibly dating to the early 7th century C.E., it is believed by some to be the first mosque built in Africa.

History
The mosque was reportedly built by companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad who travelled to Africa to flee persecution by people in the Hejazi city of Mecca, present-day Saudi Arabia. According to Richard J. Reid, it may have been constructed in the 620s or 630s by members of Muhammad's family. The mosque of Quba, which is the first mosque built by Muhammad, in what is now Medina, dates to around the same time. The current structure is of much later construction, as some features, like the mihrab (late 7th century) and the minaret (9th century), did not develop until later in Islamic architecture.