Neo-liberal policies in Islam: A critical view on the grand mosque

Abstract

Architecture was and still keeps sometimes cultural and social immunity over ages; especially when building interrelates with sacred and orthodox dimensions. The spiritual and ideological powers embodying in an architectural form make it a banned area which cannot be compromised. The architectural sacredness was a salient fact embedded in ancient temples, cathedrals, and mosques. Although of sanctity of religious buildings and its urban contexts, the economic, ideological, and political conditions have changed the solemn architectural status. Neoliberalism is deemed one of the most important trends that impact on the world’s economy and policy during the last two decades. Some debaters see that neoliberalism has been justified due to the economic crisis sweeping the world among the regional alliances and capital movements in the globalization era. Governments have become disabled to control on markets and economic competitions. The poor and developing countries are seriously affected by neoliberal policies. It is strange that an oil-rich country fell into the neoliberal trap at the expense of saintliness of place. Saudi Arabia took the great number of pilgrims visiting the Grand Mosque every year as a pretext to develop the area around it without consideration to its spiritual values given to visitors. Tall buildings surrounding Kaaba have been establishing without attention to architectural and urban proportions of the major form (the Kaaba). The Kaaba has been dwarfed because of the towers surrounding it. Regrettably, the crane falling down at the Kaaba atrium revealed another type of aggression of neoliberalism against holy places. Undoubtedly, it was a shock for numerous architects, urbanists, and theorists especially those who are interested in the issue of post-professionalism. This chapter debates a new challenge of neoliberalism and post-professionalism against the status of sacred places. After brief review on the architecture of religious places in general, the Grand Holy Mosque is taken as a case study to show the impact of neoliberalism on it. A critical reading through this chapter may advocate to stop the tyranny against spiritual and valuable urban contexts.