The Body as Mosque: A Sacred Reframing of Erotic Perception

This paper explores a novel theological and symbolic framework for addressing lust: perceiving the human body as a sacred architectural form, akin to a mosque. Drawing on Islamic mysticism (Sufism), feminist philosophy, and embodied theology, the study interprets the dome and minaret as gendered metaphors, representing the breast and phallus, respectively, to reframe the naked body not as an object of desire, but as a symbolic site of divine presence. By sacralizing the gaze, this reinterpretation transforms carnal perception into contemplative vision, redirecting erotic impulse toward spiritual reverence. The paper engages Islamic ethics, including concerns around aniconism and modesty, while drawing from Sufi traditions that embrace symbolic eroticism as a path to divine union. It further explores how sacral aesthetics can shape perception and moral discipline, offering practical insights for spiritual seekers in a hyper-sexualized visual culture. Ultimately, this interdisciplinary approach invites a renewed ethic of vision, wherein the body becomes not a source of temptation, but a sacred geometry that mirrors divine order. Future research is encouraged to explore cross-religious analogies, gender symbolism in sacred architecture, and the mystical aesthetics of modesty.

Lust, Sacred Architecture, Sufism, Mosque Symbolism, Embodied Theology, Gender, Erotic Mysticism, Islamic Ethics, Spiritual Gaze, Sacred Aesthetics

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