A mosque is a one-story gallery built around an atrium with a mihrab (a niche pointing to Mecca)
and one, or in the case of Shiites two, minarets.
This 13-story multifunctional structure couldn't be any of the above.
The groups fighting for the project know this; this is why they sometimes call it an Islamic cultural center.
But there is no such thing as an Islamic culture.
The Prophet imposed his rule on parts of Arabia through a series of ghazvas, or razzias (the origin of the English word "raid").
The ghazva was designed to terrorize the infidels, convince them that their civilization was doomed and force them to submit
to Islamic rule. Those who participated in the ghazva were known as the ghazis, or raiders.
After each ghazva, the Prophet ordered the creation of a rabat -- or a point of contact at the heart of the infidel territory raided.
The rabat consisted of an area for prayer, a section for the raiders to eat and rest and facilities to train and prepare
for future razzias. Later Muslim rulers used the tactic of ghazva to conquer territory in the Persian and Byzantine empires.
After each raid, they built a rabat to prepare for the next razzia.
It is no coincidence that Islamists routinely use the term ghazva to describe the 9/11 attacks against New York and Washington.
The terrorists who carried out the attack are referred to as ghazis or shahids (martyrs).
Thus, building a rabat close to Ground Zero would be in accordance with a tradition started by the Prophet.
To all those who believe and hope that the 9/11 ghazva would lead to the destruction of the American "Great Satan,"
this would be of great symbolic value."
