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Ashara Mubaraka 1425H.
(Dubai) |
Tazeen : The Date Palm
The Masjid Al-Burhani Dubai has distinctive decorative features, centering around the theme of a date palm. Sparkling twin date palms form a tier on all of the main chandeliers of the masjid and are replicated as light fixtures, date palms bearing ripe fruit are colorfully painted in gold and green on the main backdrop and on all the banners that adorn the masjid. The motif of the date-palm is for one a symbol of Dubai; it also calls to mind the deserts of Mecca, Medina and Kerbala. The date palm is also a Fatemi metaphor bearing many shades of meaning which we will find as we explore the rest of the Masjid decorations.
The motif reminds us of Rasulullah's (SA) hadith: I am a tree, Fatema and Ali (AS), Hasan and Husain (AS) are various parts of that tree; and mumineen are the abundant leaves that cover this tree. And as long as these leaves are attached to the tree they shall remain fresh and green. This Hadith is depicted on the tree motif that appears on the backdrop of the takht. The names of the Panjatan are written on its different parts: bunches of dates bear the names Hasan and Husain (AS). The attributes of mumineen, as they appear in the Quran, are written on the leaves of the tree.
On one side of the masjid is the Ayat of the Quran that mentions the date palm as part of a heart-rendering metaphor: Who amongst you would like to own an orchard of date-palms, abundant water-springs, and luscious fruit…and then to have the landowner weakened by old age, his children left powerless, and the orchard burnt to the ground? This metaphor, as Huzurala (TUS) relates, describes the tragedy that befell Ahle Bayt after the death of Rasulullah (SA), especially in Kerbala. We recall that it was indeed a date palm that Imam Husain (AS) rested against in the last moments before his shahadat.
The Masjid is attired in green and red flags, that bear the names of Hasan and Husain (AS). Huzurala (TUS) remarked on this in a bayan mubarak: he explained that the adornment of the masjid reminded him of a zikr in which jannat would ask Allah to fulfill the promise of adorning it. Allah would reply: I have indeed adorned you with Hasan and Husain (AS).
The adornment of the masjid with the names of the Panjatan, and with the mourners of Imam Husain (AS) is indeed a heavenly sight. May we be part of this picture with our Maula (TUS) for years and years to come.
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