Eid al-Fitr

I know, I haven't posted in six months. Sorry about that. Anyway, today is Eid al-Fitr, when Muslims around the world celebrate the end of the month of Ramadan. Kamal Muftie Yafi posted this Mosque a couple of days ago that I thought would be appropriate for today.

Hajj

This is a busy time for a blogger with an eye to world religions, between Jewish holidays, the Pope visiting the US, and it's also the time of the Hajj in Islam. The Hajj is an annual pilgrimage of faithful Muslims to Mecca, the birthplace of Muhammad and the location where he received the Quran, and this year it runs from September 22 to 27. This is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims are required to make this journey during their lives if they are able. Over 2,000,000 people are there this year (tragically, the press of so many people led to the death of 700 yesterday). A couple of years ago Ibraheem, a ten year old, built a LEGO diorama illustrating different locations and rituals associated with the Hajj. Some of these include:
The Tawaf, a ritual in which pilgrims walk seven times around the Kaaba, a cubic building covered in a black curtain. This structure is believed to have been built by Abraham and Ishmael and includes a black stone brought down from heaven by an angel. In the time of Muhammad this structure was full of idols, but when Muhammad conquered Mecca he removed the idols. Today the Kabaa is surrounded by the huge Al-Masjid al-Haram Mosque, built to accomodate the huge crowds of pilgrims at Hajj time.
Spending the afternoon in prayer, contemplation and repentance on the plain of Arafat. Here one can listen to sermons preached near the foot of the Mount of Mercy, where Muhammad is said to have given his last sermon.
Spending the night under the stars in the field of Muzdalifah.
Going back and forth between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah, where Hagar is said to have run when Abraham left her and Ishmael in the wilderness.
Throwing pebbles at three Jamarats (formerly pillars, now walls) in a ceremony called the Stoning of the Devil.
In addition to these, Ibraheem also built the tent city a Mina, where 100,000 tents house the visitors to Mecca.

Eid Mubarak

Today (or tomorrow, depending on where you are) is Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim festival marking the end of Ramadam. Ramadam is a month-long observance of the revelation of the Quran, a time that Muslims around the world mark with prayers, study of the Quran, fasting, and charity. The month ends with more prayers and a general celebration today. These LEGO renditions come from Mezba Mahtab's site Teaching Kids the Holy Quran that illustrates scenes from the Muslim scriptures.

Fuente de los Leones

BrickSur was an exhibition by LEGO builders in Granada, Spain, earlier this month. Attendees were able to purchase a commemorative kit of the Fuente de los Leones, or Fount of the Lions, a Granada landmark. This fountain can be found in the palace of Muhammed V, built during the Nasrid dynasty, when Arab Muslims ruled the southern portion of modern day Spain. The courtyard of the palace is symbolically patterned after a Muslim view of paradise, with the four portions of the world watered by four rivers, flowing from the fountain. The fountain itself is an earlier work, perhaps from the home of an important Jewish official, and the twelve lions represent the twelve tribes of Israel.

Eid al-Fitr

I missed posting that a couple of days ago was Eid al-Fitr, holiday marking the end of Ramadan. A traditional greeting on this day is "Eid Mubarak", which translates as "Blessed feast". Last year Zam and Nadia wished their families and friends "Eid Mubarak" (which translates as "Blessed Feast") with this greeting card.

Hagia Sophia

Pablo Ramirez brought this version of the Hagia Sophia to the recent BrickFair gathering.

Sultan Ahmed Mosque

Here's another creation from the Piece of Peace exhibit, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque from Istanbul, also called the Blue Mosque. The mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 and continues as an active mosque today.

Ramadan

Last night was the start of Ramadan, the month in which Muslims celebrate the revelation of the Quran to Muhammad. The main practices during this time are fasting during the daytime and an emphasis on prayer and reading the Quran. To note the day, here is Mecca by Mezba Mahtab. Let us hope that this month we see peace return to Egypt and Syria.

Hagia Sophia

Fraslund made this great model of the cathedral-turned-mosque-turned-museum, the Hagia Sophia.

Jabba Sophia no more, well, not much more, well, for two years more

Revisiting an earlier story, the Austrian Turkish Islamic community is claiming victory, because LEGO has said that the set Jabba's palace is going to be discontinued at the end of 2014. They had previously complained was racist (really!) because it looks too much like the Hagia Sophia, or was it the Jami al-Kabir Mosque, or was it any building with a domed roof. LEGO responded that, no, they weren't changing anything in response to these protests, that products don't sit on the shelf for more than two years anyway. Personally, I think that LEGO has caved in to complaints from the Hundred Acres Wood because they aren't producing the Winnie the Pooh sets anymore. Really, when you read LEGO's response you can literally hear them beating their heads against the wall.

Tiny little ecumenical town

Jennifer Heaton and Nathan Stohlmann recently put on a micropolis display at a local library. The reason to note it here is that they included several religious structures. My favorite is Jennifer's Hindu temple, with the riot of color reflective of many real temples, but we also see a mosque, a Buddhist temple, a traditional cathedral, and a synagogue. Thanks, Peter, for the tip, and for the correction.

Jabba Sophia

In a little daily dose of the absurd, the Turkish Islamic community in Austria seems to have raised a fuss when they decided that LEGO set 9516, Jabba's Palace looks too much like either the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul or the Jami al-Kabir Mosque in Beirut. Since this is the abode of gangsters and terrorists (and pseudo-Buddhist monks?!?!?), they cried foul. An organization known as the Turkish Cultural Community has officially complained to LEGO about their racist and culturally insensitive depiction, and have threatened legal action. LEGO has responded, saying, essentially, "Um, did you ever hear of Star Wars? It came out only a few decades ago. Maybe you should look into it." Okay, that's my paraphrase, but if this organization is concerned about "racial prejudices and hidden suggestions against Orientals and Asians," they really need to meet a guy named Nute Gunray. BTW, meesa thinks some rastafarians are going to start complaining about set 7121 next.



Thank you to blog reader Michael for pointing this out to me. This has also been covered on such LEGO sites as Brickset, FBTB and HothBricks.

Ortaköy Mosque

The Ortaköy Mosque (here in micro by the Artizan) was built in the mid-nineteenth century in Turkey.

Mosque

The blogger at Shocks and Shoes built this mosque with her son.

Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque

The Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque is the state mosque of Johor, Malaysia. This reproduction can be found in the new Legoland Malaysia.

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque

The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque in Brunei, is generally seen as one of the most beautiful mosques built in hte last century. This LEGO version is on display in the brand new Legoland Malaysia.

Faqir

The Faqirs were a group of wandering Sufis teaching Islam and living on alms. They were known for their ascetic lifestyle, including feats such as meditating on a bed of nails (though this is more of an act of physics than of mental focus). Today their descendants form a distinct caste in India. FilipS built this Faqir.

The Fig

It's been far too long since I've featured Mezba Mahtab's wonderful site Teaching Kids the Holy Quran. He let me know some time ago that he's working on a display for MuslimFest 2012 in Toronto this September, so keep your eyes open for that, and he also has a new son, so congratulations to him and his wife. His most recent illustrated sura is the fig.

Hagia Sophia

Legoadam made his own Hagia Sophia, the cathedral turned mosque turned museum from Istanbul.

Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām

The Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām (here in LEGO form by Jojojo) is the most holy site in all of Islam. This site in Mecca is the destination of the annual pilgrimage, or Hajj. Muslims believe that the Kaaba, the black-shrouded stone building in the center, was built by Abraham and Ishmael, and the stone set in its corner came from Paradise. At the time of Muhammad, this structure was a center for idol worship, but Muhammad cleared out these idols and rededicated the building to the worship of Allah. When Muslims pray each day, they turn to face this structure, and all Muslims seek to travel to this point at some time in their lives.