The Majestic White Waterlily Mosque
The Majestic White Waterlily Mosque project is a ‘thought’/‘vision’ of building a dedicated mosque in Tewkesbury, UK. The visionary name is due to the geographic location of Tewkesbury as it stands at the confluence of the River Severn and the River Avon, and also minor tributaries the Swilgate and Carrant Brook.
Water is an essential part of Islam, The Quran states “every living thing is made of water,” (Al-Anbya 21:30) and the prominence of this thought is visible in Islam’s use of water. The role played by water in Islamic architecture is as symbolic as it is practical. Water is not only used in a purely utilitarian manner but also symbolises life, purification, sustainability and guidance.
The White Waterlily, majestically always floats on top of the water. Though many people admire these lilies, the struggle they go through is only known when one would put a thought/ponder into its life.
These aquatic plants start to grow in the beds of river, and then reach out towards the river surface. Their goal is to reach the top to gain sunlight and oxygen, which is vital for their existence. When they reach the top surface, they stop growing and develop thorny round buds, which develop into large leaves. These large leaves cover the river surface, making use of sunlight (daylight) helping them perform photosynthesis. The stretched out stems, developing from the roots, move up towards the water surface where leaves float. The stems act like oxygen carriers for the roots. The unbelievable life struggle of water lilies continues well after they reach light and oxygen on the water surface, where they curl the brims of their large leaves upward to prevent them from sinking.
In order to pollinate, beetles (insects) are attracted to the fragrant liquid developed in the center of the flower, covering the stigma. They crawl into the center of the flower in search of the sweet fluid. Pollen from other water lily flowers is washed off of the insect's body into the pool of liquid, where it dissolves and enters the stigma, fertilizing the flower and beginning the seed production cycle.
The reference of the beauty of the Waterlily is also mentioned in the Bible where Jesus in his Sermon (Sermon of the mount) says “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.” (Matthew 6:28-29)
The Mosque, we envision building in Tewkesbury, is the Majestic White Waterlily producing fragrance that attracts Muslims towards it and while they are in the Mosque they are filled with the pollen of faith which they spread around the world when they leave the Mosque.
Let us build a Mosque and start pollinating the true and blessed faith of Islam in the hearts of the people.