#66 QATAR

After visiting Qatar, I often joked with friends that the best part of the country is the airport. But, seriously, there isn't a lot going for this little country, apart from the fact that it has aggravated all its GCC neighbors in a major geopolitical crisis, is home to Al Jazeera, recently negotiated a peace treaty between the Taliban and the USA, and hosts the exquisite Museum of Islamic Art (designed by I.M. Pei). Actually, that's kind of a lot for a place that doesn't impress much at first sight...

Downtown Doha, 2015

The newly constructed "old city" of Doha, 2015

Despite all the lackluster sides of Doha, I must admit that the Museum of Islamic Art is quite impressive. Not just the building, breathtaking as it may be, but also the exhibits inside that come from across the Muslim world and multiple eras, from the ancient to the contemporary. It was here that I first learned that depictions of people in Islam, including the Prophet Muhammad, was never forbidden in popular arts or culture, contrary to what many people think today. In fact, a key message from the museum's exhibits is that the Muslim world has historically drawn a line between religious and secular contexts, and it is in these secular contexts where depictions of animals, people, and other living creatures could take place. So, in short, no idols or icons were allowed in mosques, but outside the arts were an open and free place of expression.

Of course, this reminded me of all the global hype over various cartoon depictions of the Prophet Muhammad and the politicization of Islam. These cartoons were drawn from a place of anger, intolerance, hatred, and xenophobia, I have no doubt about that. But clearly, there are historical precedences set for the depiction of people, animals, and even the Prophet. Still, part of me does think back to one particularly acerbic episode of South Park where various religious characters form a band of superheroes and engage in all sorts of depraved behavior, with the point being that either everything is on the table for critique or nothing is. Its a question I won't be able to answer here, but it is worth thinking about in today's age of hypersensitive "cancel culture" and so-called East-West dichotomy. In the meantime, here are some beautiful pictures of the museum and some of its exhibits I enjoyed during my brief but memorable stay in Doha.