Mosque
The readings this week impressed upon me the concept of the mosque as a place where one prostrates oneself, prays, rather than as a building or particular site. This was a profound moment for a non-Muslim who has been conditioned to see religious structures as being sacred in and of themselves, regardless of what activity occurs within the walls or who is there. Recognizing the sanctity of all places because of their being the creation of Allah, just as humans are, creates a sense of unity and oneness. Without any intermediary a Muslim can connect directly with Allah wherever they are. What an immense comfort to know that God is present and accessible anytime and anywhere. To communicate this conceptually I used soil to cover the land masses on a picture of the Earth (ideally the image would include all continents) indicating that every place, every bit of land is a mosque if you prostrate yourself there. It is not the building that makes a place fit for prayer; it is the person who stands on the soil. Even if the soil has a prayer rug or concrete floor over it, the soil is underneath and forms the foundation for any structure above it. The ocean areas are filled with sequins mimicking the effect of glass mosaic, a common artistic form in mosques.