The Centre of the World
Size: 9" x 9" // Medium: Watercolours on Arches Watercolour Paper + Geometric Circles
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Maulana al-Imam Ahmad al-Mastur SA draws an analogy between the centrality of the location of the Kaβba al-Musharrafa π on Earth and the position of Earth π within the heavens. Just as the Kaβba lies at the heart of the Haram, the Earth lies at the heart of the Solar System.
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βThe Bayt Allah is at the centre of Masjid Haraam, the Masjid Haraam is at the centre of the Sacred Precincts of the Haram in Makka al-Mukarrama, the Haram is at the centre of Hijaaz, which is at the centre of the Islamic world β all akin to the Earth being at the centre of itβs atmosphere, surrounded by the moonβs π orbit, which, in turn, is at the centre of the planetary orbits.β£β£β£β£
The planets in their orbits and the rays they emanate towards Earth are similar to Muslims offering salaat π€²πΌ facing the Kaβba from all corners of the globe. Muslim pilgrims circumambulating the Kaβba resemble the planetary rotation in relation to the Earth. Just as Hajj pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaβba at their own pace, and hence vary in the time they take to complete their tawaaf, planets in their orbits differ in the time taken for their rotations.ββ£β£