Contemporary mosques can hold religious significance for believers while also serving as a symbol of resilience and a political message. One of the examples is the Muhammad al-Amin Mosque, which was built in Beirut in 2008 (Rizvi 2). The location of this sacred space reveals a link between the role of historical mosques and the current value of mosques for Muslims. Politically, the mosque signifies the resilience of the Muslim faith and its transnational nature, which is shown in the recognizable design (Rizvi 1). However, the building also preserves Lebanese history and creates great value for local communities. The political aspect is also apparent in the location of the mosque, as it is situated on the Martyrs’ Square in Beirut. For decades, the place was reserved for prayers, but the struggle to build a grand structure was long (Rizvi 3). The abundant nature of the mosque is, therefore, a political statement that supports the Sunni Muslim faith and comments on the presence of Islam in Beirut and the Middle East as a whole.
Work Cited
Rizvi, Kishwar. The Transnational Mosque: Architecture and Historical Memory in the Contemporary Middle East. UNC Press Books, 2015.