I’m sure many of you have read and heard about the recent furore regarding the plans to erect the hijab gate in the heart of Brick lane, London. If you have not you can get the general picture of it here. I personally am not an enthusiastic advocate of spending millions of public money on ‘symbols and sculptures’. However, it seems that when public money is spent on celebrating cultures other than Islam and Muslims, it becomes acceptable but when there are talks of placing a symbol which identifies with the Muslims, it seems it is acceptable to reject it wholeheartedly!

I don’t want to go into that really but what I want to ask: Do you think that architecture; more precisely buildings and symbols of a religious nature help people improve their relationship with their faith? There are studies which mention the positive impact of nature on human well being. Placing plants in your house and work environments, going out to walks in the park, the reports conclude, help in lowering blood pressure, reduces stress and anxiety, raise productivity etc.  We are part of nature so it is not really surprising to read this.

On the other hand, does the bi’a (environment, surrounding) encourage people to practice their deen? Would having symbols such as the hijab gate, minarets and traditionally designed mosques, indirectly at least, influence people to practice their faith? If the answer is in the affirmative then I’m for it (with proportionate money spending off course), otherwise, it would be just a political interest. And I don’t mean by this that Muslims would want to take over London by erecting the Hijab Gate!