" Though this picture was taken in Khorog, Tajikistan, this is a familiar scene to most of the Muslim world in some shape or another. Sitting just outside the mosque in the open square was this weather worn set of about one hundred cubby holes used for housing the shoes and sandals of the entering worshipers since shoes must be left behind before entering the house of worship. Such a descriptive portrayal of faith and humility, this image speaks to me of a devotion more sincere and tangible than almost any I have seen. I try to imagine all the shapes and sizes of the shoes behind those small doors and the places that they have been; and then I think of those feet at one point or another carrying their owners on pilgrimage to Mecca, Medina, or Mashhad. "
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tajikistan, shoes
" Though this picture was taken in Khorog, Tajikistan, this is a familiar scene to most of the Muslim world in some shape or another. Sitting just outside the mosque in the open square was this weather worn set of about one hundred cubby holes used for housing the shoes and sandals of the entering worshipers since shoes must be left behind before entering the house of worship. Such a descriptive portrayal of faith and humility, this image speaks to me of a devotion more sincere and tangible than almost any I have seen. I try to imagine all the shapes and sizes of the shoes behind those small doors and the places that they have been; and then I think of those feet at one point or another carrying their owners on pilgrimage to Mecca, Medina, or Mashhad. "
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neat story behind the cubbies! i've never seen closed ones like that here - none of the ones here have doors. great photo. great story.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo and I like what you have to say about it. Washing before entering the mosque make you stop and think about how spiritually clean you are two. At least I always got that sense. Keep em coming, you are good and so very insightful. I like the addition of your bucket list too!
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