Muslims are demanding respect from the Western world. However, they also need to be more proactive and demand respect from their own fellows. This time, it is not for the publication of the so-called blasphemous cartoons or xenophobic opinions, rather, for the obliteration of the Islamic history and heritage for totally unholy reasons.
It is not a hidden fact that the most valued Islamic historical sites in Mecca and Medina are being systematically bulldozed by the Saudi government (Ahmed from Saudi Jeans has mentioned this issue in his latest post). In its place, parking lots and high rises are built. The Saudi religious institution claims that the reason for the destruction is to rescue Islam by forbidding people from idolizing those sites and therefore, committing the unspeakable act of shirk. Here are the real reasons, though:
1- To re-write the Islamic history. When you destroy the school where the Prophet taught, the house where he lived, the artifacts of his companions, the mosques where they all gathered and the entirety of the structures and settings where they practiced their lives, you simply erase the details about that specific historical period and you have the ability to invent your own version of an Islamic past.
2- To expand the riches of the rich. Why just depend on oil when you have one of the most lucrative real estate deals available? In today’s Mecca and Medina, the holy sites are surrounded by shopping malls, luxurious hotels and fancy towers owned by the Saudi royal family and a flock of the chosen ones. It is known that if you own a real estate or a businesse in those areas, you are guaranteed instant millions (real estate in Mecca is sometimes worth hundreds of millions of dollars). And, surely, we cannot let a bunch of old buildings stop us from fulfilling such a dream.
A new American Islamic magazine, Islamica, has a good report about the history of destruction of the Islamic architectural heritage. The sad reality is that there is not much left to hold to. Sami Angawi, an expert on the region's Islamic architecture, estimated that “over the past 50 years at least 300 historical buildings had been leveled in Mecca and Medina.” His words ring truth: “We are destroying physical links to our past and turning our religion and history into a legend.”
Very well written, Aya. After reading your post it seems that money is a bigger God in every country after all..... How corrupt, shameless, and despicable must one be to hide behind blasphemy while destroying the very treasures of your land?....
Posted by: Turkish King Socrates | February 23, 2006 at 02:08 AM
In an overtly capitalist world, EVERYTHING is subservient to short-term profits. Nothing is sacred but the almighty dollar. It doesn't matter if one is Christian, Jewish, Hindu or Muslim. In this singular instance, such differences don't matter; we are all one under the oppressive power of wealth!
Posted by: The Rambling Taoist | February 24, 2006 at 11:06 AM
In this case, religion is used to fool the masses while the real goals have nothing to do with devotion or holiness!
Posted by: Aya | February 24, 2006 at 06:38 PM