The Juma Masjid played an important role in the intellectual field of Ponnani, once referred to as the 'Little Mecca' of Malabar.

[5] After the construction of the mosque, Sheikh Zainuddin Makhdoom himself started teaching there; believed to be the beginning of the Pallidars system in Malabar.

[5] There was a tradition to sit around the oil lamp installed inside the mosque, study religion and get the Musliar status from Makhdoom.

[6] Logan's Malabar Manual records that in 1887, approximately 400 people came from the other lands and studied at the Ponnani Grand Masjid.

Among those who were close to the mosque were Kunjayan Muslyar, a native of North Malabar who lived 200 years ago, and author of 'Noolmuhammad' and 'Kappapat', Umer Khazi, the poet and brave man who fought against British rule.