Mosques as Metaphors

Readings:" The Architecture of Mosques in the US and Great Britain" by Biondo & “Reading Mosques- Meaning and Architecture in Islam” by Erzen

A house mosque in Redlands, California, attacked and vandilized

Omar ibn al-Khattab Mosque, Expedition, Los Angeles

Many things influence the way a mosque in a certain area will look. The beliefs of the Muslims that attend are considered as well as how the mosque will need to appear to the outside community. The decoration and facade are largely determined by balancing these two different viewpoints. The way an outside community feels towards the Islamic faith is the main concern. Most Muslims just want a place to worship peacefully and freely, so many mosques are just store fronts with no obvious connections to the faith. The more hostile a community is toward the faith, the smaller and less noticeable the mosque. Very ornate mosques are the results of acceptance throughout the outside community, as well as a large amount of funding.  Mosques vary in sizes and styles of ornamentation in the way that many Christian churches vary. The question is how are mosques metaphors?
For Biondo, mosques are an outward reflection of what lies inside. The way a mosque looks on the outside directly relates to the ideas, beliefs, and fears of a particular Muslim community. The mosque embodies the souls of those who attend.
Erzen feels that mosques more reflect the faith directly with symbols found inside through the decor. The decoration of the interior reflect peace and harmony. A mosque is to be a paradise with the presence of water or images of forests. Erzen mentions the projection of the mosque as a "heavenly theater" or a "stage for prayer". The mosques offer guidance for the community.

Each mosque is unique, like each Muslim is unique.

Points to Ponder:

• There are very few who restrict how other faiths construct their places of worship. Is it fair that non-Muslims have so much say in how a mosque will look in their community?
• Many mosques have been attacked or have not been permitted to build since 9/11. Why is this fear of the Monster Muslim related to places of peaceful worship?