Saudi pride and American values

Those Conservative Muslims who support Saudi brand of puritan Islam accuse the West for its liberal values; these conservative Muslims take pride in their own value system which they claim are sourced from their deep respect for their culture and religious ethics. How much they talk about conservative values, their unchanged value system, taking conscience back to their literal masters and their era. Their Mufti, the jurists talks about puritan values which no doubt include sense of respect as well. Every now and then these jurist are seen issuing ordinances and seen frustrated and angered by alternative conscience which is not in coherence to their system. 

Let’s be judgmental! America the sole target of these puritans is not just a nation but a civilization of values. America, which takes prestige in New York’s skyline, knows this skyline is more a development than a prestige. Centre of American values are rather in Washington DC, the Capitol and other buildings. I am sure the Qibla (like Ka’ba for Muslims in Makka) of American values is the Capitol building.

On the other side of globe the Saudi seem to consider New York’s skyline to be solely prestige issue for Americans rather than centre of respect. Their conscience raises this question in their mind that if Americans can why can’t we also have a Skyline on par with New York’s, that too when we have so much oil and money to be spent on, no matter even if Muslims in Somalia and other countries are starving. Mufti, the jurists are not taken into consideration because this is not a matter of puritan religion but modernism, irony!

Coming back to the point, Qibla of American values the Capitol is among highest buildings in Washington DC, the Liberty’s statue on the dome of Capitol is set at top. Obviously, Capitol is not a skyscraper. What is the reason for a country which can have a skyline in New York, doesn’t have an equivalent in Washington DC? It is probably the American value system, the same value system which is criticized by conservative Muslims who love Saudi puritan spirit. America is a large country they can have many skylines in other places, Washington DC is not the only option. Moreover, since Capitol is Qibla for American culture, it should deserve respect, which other think don’t have in Americans. Thus as it seems, Washington DC is not a high rise city. For sure American policy makers feel sanctity in Washington DC and find themselves in coherence with conscience of their founding fathers; it is from that, that they derive political solace, which is sense of Liberty.

Saudi is not the official representative of Islam, nor does it represent all Muslims. Makka, is the sanctum for Muslims whether they associate themselves with Saudi or not. Makka, where Masjid Haram is located, houses Holy Ka’ba. Holy Ka’ba is Qibla for Muslim and has unparallel respect for it.

Holy Ka’ba deserves more respect by Muslims than the respect which Capitol deserves from Americans, because Islam is more than a nation. This is exactly what Saudi has destroyed. Saudi could have had skylines at other places, it was not a constrain to have it in Makka. Makka is a sanctum and not an arena to exhibit architectural marvels, that too which is set up on borrowed technology. Hajj convenience is gimmick to fool; Makkan suburb was well suited for such an issue..

Abraj Tower which was contructed on historical monument by demolishing the monument is insulting to the sanctity of Ka’ba. Abraj tower makes Holy Ka’ba to appear as worthless ruin in front of architectural marvel. As usual, hypocrite Muslims are more touched by the height of Abraj tower than the simplicity of Holy Ka’ba. These Hypocrite Muslims visit Makka more to gaze the new wonder of world as they call it than to perform pilgrimage. They are more interested in watching Ka’ba as tiny cube from windows of tower than to feel the power of Qibla (epicenter) of Muslims. The symbols of Allah as declared in Holy Qur’an, the Safa and the Marwa appear as tiny dots. What an achievement! Exclaim the tourist band of hypocrite Muslims. For them Hajj/ Umra are annual holidays, Makka is shopping destination better than Dubai, Singapore or Hong Kong, a place where they can shop and side by side have tag of pilgrimage as well. Why to please them?

Saudi wants to achieve technological advancement. It want to compete with Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan; its stupidity to compete with them because they have small areas whereas Saudi has a vast area. Saudi doesn't need high rise since they can spread horizontally also. Clock on tower would challenge Big Ben of London, might be this is what Saudi wanted to convey, then, no, definitely could never! Big Ben is symbol of Parliament (public participation) whereas Saudi is an autocratic kingdom. 

Saudi should recall the story of Abraha the person who made his own building and wanted that building to overshadow the value that Ka’ba enjoys. By making long tower in front of Ka’ba exactly within the vicinity of Ka’ba, what is Saudi trying to convey? Saudi should also recall the story of Namrud (Nimrod) who wanted to have his own high rising tower. Nothing is wrong in making high rise but to make it within vicinity of Ka’ba is something fishy. Now Mufti, the jurists don’t feel sin in these issues, they take stand against adopting western attitude in petty stuffs, but don’t feel need to overlook if imitating Abraha and Nimrod is correct or not. If locations are out of sanctums’ vicinity no one has any issue!

Saudi who demolished shrines of Baqi and Mu’alla cemetery can’t site reasons: now it built, so it could remain under so and so hadith and under interpretation of this and that mufti. The hypocrite Muslims who call themselves puritans and demonize the West while idolizing Saudi should learn the lessons of respect and values from Americans; compare Washington’s values in American minds with Makka’s value in Muslim minds than proceed for next level of architectural world.

Makka has value because of Holy Ka’ba, if Saudi keeps on the so called modernization in Makka, a day for sure will come when Saudi will make Holy Ka’ba deeply hidden under cover of forest of towers.

Makka is not an arena to exhibit architectural marvels, shopping malls, seven star hotels, it is a place where even a king has to give up fine robes and adorn two un-stitched, un-sewn white sheets for pilgrimage and present one’s self to God Almighty. Make architectural marvels, shopping and holiday destination elsewhere, Saudi is a big country, leave Makka as pilgrimage site. Just one message: Labbaek Allahumma Labbaek/ Oh God! I present myself to Thee.