THE AYA IN OUR ART

"Everything in the human experience is an Aya. The Quran doesn't say the montain is an Aya. The Quran says inside the mountain is an Aya. To get to the valuable, you have to dig inside. You have to open it up. You have to see what's behind it. Nowadays you have an app. The app is awesome but behind the app there's some amazing source code. Allah does not want you to just see the app. He wants you to see the source code. So look at this. When muslims made art, if you look at the Islamic art all over the world, there's one common thread. We make things symmetrical. Geometric patterns, perfect curves here, perfect curves there. Even our calligraphy is very symmetrical and mathematical like order. You know why that is? Art is suppose to be an expression of what human beings experience. For a believer they see a mountain, and a bird and tree.. they see order and perfection behind it. They see a system that Allah put in place. Everything has a purpose. So their art was always symmetrical, mathematical. Compare this to European art from a couple of centuries ago. They see a mountain, they paint a mountain. They see a bird and they paint a  bird. A barn , a horse, a lady sticking something. They see reality for what it is. We saw reality for what the source code behind it is. And it even manifests in our art. And by the way what happened to modern art? Europeans saw reality for what it is. And that reality to them has no source code. There's nothing behind it. And when there's nothing behind it , it starts looking uglier. Their art necessarily started getting uglier. And so they would paint pictures of people with eyes over here and the lips over here. They say "this us how I see reality" abstract art, expressionalism and then there after

 " I don't see any purpose." So then what happens, you'd go to a post modern art gallery and you'll see a canvas and there's nothing on it! And the guy's like "this is how I feel about the universe"... You're right there's nothingness." 

Nauman Ali Khan surah Al baqarah tafseer part 59

From how I see and studied art, I agree to a degree. I agree that they searched for meaning behind what they were seeing and to some they ended up with nothing. But I wouldn't necessarily say it got uglier unless the "uglier" that is being talked about is not the typical beauty. And also unless the ugly became the intent. But also the amazing part is that even arriving at nothing is an Aya. And even that Aya in it's inevitable nature leads people to truth because everything naturally leads to our inate nature towards truth. You can say that's the tricky part. Whether it began negative or positive this nothingness always acts as a sling shot. I would even say, even if illustrating nothingness was the start of it, behind that nothingness is still a source code. 

THE NEW REBEL G.K. Chesterton

     Surah baqarah 2:129

Our Lord, and send among them a messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them. Indeed, You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise

        But the new rebel is a skeptic, and will not entirely trust anything. He has no loyalty; therefore he can never be really a revolutionist. And the fact that he doubts everything really gets in his way when he wants to denounce anything. For all denunciation implies a moral doctrine of some kind; and the modern revolutionist doubts not only the institution he denounces, but the doctrine by which he denounces it. . . . As a politician, he will cry out that war is a waste of life, and then, as a philosopher, that all life is waste of time. A Russian pessimist will denounce a policeman for killing a peasant, and then prove by the highest philosophical principles that the peasant ought to have killed himself. . . . The man of this school goes first to a political meeting, where he complains that savages are treated as if they were beasts; then he takes his hat and umbrella and goes on to a scientific meeting, where he proves that they practically are beasts. In short, the modern revolutionist, being an infinite skeptic, is always engaged in undermining his own mines. In his book on politics he attacks men for trampling on morality; in his book on ethics he attacks morality for trampling on men. Therefore the modern man in revolt has become practically useless for all purposes of revolt. By rebelling against everything he has lost his right to rebel against anything.

G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

WHY I DO NOT DRAW HUMAN BEINGS, THE INTERVIEW IN MY HEAD

I’d like to start off with a passionate speech..Lights off, power point on, indent paragraph starts here…

 About a young girl who had a dream. Who had nothing but then something. But instead lets turn the lights on and clear the screen. I’d like to instead just say “I just don’t draw human beings because God told me not to.”

Because this speech might be authentic but along the way it could be caressing a lot of rare ends just for an understanding.

Real raw truth tends to blurr to a juice down version of itself every time one of these speeches happen.

Who we are is Muslim. And there is no need to hide or be ashamed. Muslim is not a bad thing. And it shouldn’t be a bad thing according to the person who only sees it on TV. It shouldn’t be a bad thing according to the person who grew up with it and is ashamed of it because they have no other way of explaining, “Why we should not draw human beings.” Or the like the many other whys they find difficult to explain.

In it is a strength, discipline and education that could nourish the world. And just like the gentle giant in your once told bedtime story it could be your lullaby to a good sleep.

And if asked in this interview in my head What I’d like to say? .. I’d say that I’d like to spread this education to those who do not know and be the opportunity to those who deserve to be proud of who they are. And we are a people who can also flourish and enjoy who we are without it being impossible. P.s especially for the women folk xoxxo.

Just because we play a little differently does not mean that we cannot play the game.

And let me just add, with all of this said there are examples to the “why I don’t draw human beings.”

To us Allah is the creator of everything and has no partner in creating. He is Allah, the one and only. The eternal, absolute. He begetteth not, nor is begotten. And there is none like unto him.

But lets note art. From the Egyptians trying to outlive life  to scenery painting, to the renaissance of humanism, to Picasso quoting “God is just another painter like me.”

Lets note billboards where a most of the time racist or stereo typing world puts a picture up of a so called perfect human being that demands people to exemplify. And lets also note all that results there after ego…

And in one example of many, in this Islamic story called hadith "thereafter ego" and misguidance can go like this…

 Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The idols of the people of Nooh were known among the Arabs later on. Wadd belonged to (the tribe of) Kalb in Dawmat al-Jandal. Suwaa’ belonged to Hudhayl. Yaghooth belonged to Muraad, then to Bani Ghutayf in al-Jawf, near Sabaa’. Ya’ooq belonged to Hamadaan. Nasar belonged to Humayr of Aal Dhi’l-Kalaa’. These were names of righteous men from the people of Nooh. When they died, the Shaytaan(Satan) inspired their people to set up idols in the places where they had used to sit, and to call those idols by their names. They did that but they did not worship them, but after those people died and knowledge had been forgotten, then they started to worship them. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4636).

So idols can not exist in the realm of Islam and the being of a soul is not to be replicated and cannot be replicated because unlike Picasso,

“God is way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way  way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way  way way way way way way way way

more than just another painter like me.”

THE BUTTERFLIES AND THEIR KIND

Surah Al Baqarah 2:214-

Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said,"When is the help of Allah ?" Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.

2:80

And they say, "Never will the Fire touch us, except for a few days." Say, "Have you taken a covenant with Allah ? For Allah will never break His covenant. Or do you say about Allah that which you do not know?"

Love is the sound of it “love.” The way your tongue   clings to the L at the tip right there. You can feel the raw flesh-to-flesh start of it.  Then the “VVvv”.. that vvibrates sending off a house warming event in your body that wraps up quickly with a sinking status reminder  that you don’t have love….anymore. Or never did have it. Or maybe you do, all wrapped up in it.

Like for me the snow that rolls to form a ball in my throat every time I begin to form words when asked, “what is your love?” Oh Allah! How can my words be enough? As if the wings of those butterflies could describe it in the way that they flicker. No this love does not flutter. Like the wind of those butterflies could describe it.  No that wind is not enough to propel a dry escape from these tears for you oh Allah.

But I’ve seen the crushing of their kind, butterflies so divine. Here they come the drool, the sweaty palms, the inevitable lust at first stare, heart beating rush, nothing else exists. Those teen magazines and cosmopolitans though, they exist. “This” butterfly tells us how we can exist for our infatuation. But how could you worship the stars when they mostly leave you with a bitter horoscope of the next day’s end sometimes without hope? Or is it because they give some sort of next day contact with this hopeless infatuation?

Some were once crushing and crashing barely scratching the surface of love but themselves they were scratching and bruising thinking “this is love”.  Indeed this kind is blind in a field chasing these butterflies and moments creating a delusion illusion of happiness in a forever fantasy hanging on a wall.

The word crush is most of the time a one sided thing like when Tracey Chapman described when  “ you guys were driving, driving in his car. The speed so fast felt like you were drunk. City lights lay out before you and his arm felt nice wrapped ‘round your shoulder

And you, and you had a feeling that you belonged.”

But remember when you told that same infatuation to take that fast car and drive fast away from you when you realized it was over?

Because love again created a house in you with a sinking reminder that you don’t have it or that you didn’t really have it. But unlike crush it came with a reminder that you could have it, for yourself. As it was always there watching you grow up. And it does not flutter.

Something other than love will distract you from everything else while love helps you to interact with everything and anything else. Have you noticed that those who love you the most can love you more than themselves and as love does it carries and isn’t carried. There is no getting without you mostly giving. And those who complain that this love is too much of a construct and conformity must understand that it’s a muscle strain.

So before I strain to spread these breadcrumbs on this beautiful clear day I’d like to give a chance to an attempted Rumi style poem. .

I’d like to sit and think as if the friend is the one spreading these crumbs to these birds who come chirping. Who are straining and sometime dropping and picking these crumbs right back up in a struggle to eat. And yet again I will throw these crumbs a bit further from them to witness their beauty knowing I could of threw it a bit closer. But they are so beautiful and each time they are more beautiful. And as they eat they can witness that there is a friend.  And that friend is not a crush, but love

Surah Al baqarah 2:165-167

And [yet], among the people are those who take other than Allah as equals [to Him]. They love them as they [should] love Allah . But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah . And if only they who have wronged would consider [that] when they see the punishment, [they will be certain] that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment.

[And they should consider that] when those who have been followed disassociate themselves from those who followed [them], and they [all] see the punishment, and cut off from them are the ties [of relationship],

Those who followed will say, "If only we had another turn [at worldly life] so we could disassociate ourselves from them as they have disassociated themselves from us." Thus will Allah show them their deeds as regrets upon them. And they are never to emerge from the Fire.

BARE WITNESS THAT THERE IS NO MISTAKE

When did you realize there was a mistake? Was it when you breathed enough breaths in this world? The breaths that harbored and fertilized your premature to mature lungs before you then labeled them a mistake?

Try counting the lines on each of your hand and see how they praise your creator while you do not. In it are his 99 names and you have failed to mention not even 1.  

Your eyes, could they have been put in a different place other than where they are now? For surely bare witness that there is no mistake.

Only someone who loves you could of designed you in perfect sustenance like this. Surely it was love that gave you these opportunities to experience what it means to be alive and to even have a choice to declare a mistake.

And you could argue that your experience had defeated you or made you choose a decision that declares a mistake. That makes you not want to be alive. But you then fail to tell me the expiration date. Your expiration date. When you can then say it’s over.

Because the truth is that it’s not over and you do not know what else you can receive. But not all receiving will come without thanks. And you’re declaring a mistake while life will continue in its regard with or without you. Just like its been continuing in its regard for a very long time without you.

What would happen if the mountains declare themselves a mistake? What will happen if the sun decides not to rise?

Willingly they came together before a big bang and imagine if they didn’t.. Or if the air that you have been breathing denies to enter your body anymore. Or if your body parts declare different actions than what your brain is telling them to do?

Surely they know they are no mistakes, so how could you then know that you are?

Please bare witness that there is no mistake.

COLOR CODED MESS

I’m so tired of this color-coded mess, distress, unrest is at its best when at a day’s end its always followed by a failed test. When at a day’s end here it goes again this color coded mess followed by a silent “hmph…. would you look at that again.” Then the pull of the left side comes again to the mouth returning with a bitter grin that always says  “ I told you so.”

And yet it’s still as if I got smacked right in the face and yet it’s still as surprising.

Could you believe it? It’s always delivered as a package at my front door and now it even fits well in a lyric of a song. And now it even fits well in a conversation on the next seat in he train!

It’s a wonder and it’s a pain. Yes, you could call it a painful wonderment how there are no loose ends to the effects of my cause. It really is color-coded and its scientific structure is as if it is a complicated knot that becomes untangled into a simple line. And it’s that easy huh? And sometimes I wonder if I were to do the same to the tubes of my brain if I would also then get a simple line..

But that’s like saying because of how simple this line looks I could of prevented it myself. I could have predicted these lessons myself. And in fact I did, in fact I do. It’s the burden of the spirit especially if it’s a very conscious and receptive one.

One could say this color code mess could of been prevented and turned into a color coded success. But never the less never fail to mention that we're only still human.

So it hurts to know this before you even said anything. And it hurts to preach minimalism but then the doorbell rings and it is yet another package. I’m running out of space and the lease is almost up. Sitting there, a load to bear because there is no existence for another lease and there is no existence of money for storage.

So it hurts, as the memories keep jogging this marathon and they keep following this twisted knot that is my brain with no simple line to exist. And it hurts when they turn into physical pain and it all doesn’t go away, GO ALL AWAY, please all, go away..

So the only release I get like an icepack on a wound. Like a nap in an air-conditioned room after a long hot run. Like a trip into the living room after a sweaty hot then cold chill sweat nightmare is to know that inside of all of this…inside this package I often  forget there is always a note to self. And as I take this note out to read I begin to feel the calm again.

It says “ Astaghfirullah” …”I seek forgiveness in Allah”

THE BEST PART ABOUT WAKING UP....

Let's sing .."The best part about waking up is Folger's in your cup"

And its ubsurd that the best part about wanting anything is not the getting it but the wanting. 

Like I wanted that car to drive far and fast together with him so we can fulfill our dreams but its funny how we end up staring at blank walls in search for answers without questions because the feeling of numbness can sometimes have no other end ..And we dont know what we want anymore...

So why is it that when we find our answers

We go back to wanting more or something else? 

So could "the best part of waking up .." Be the wanting to waking up not the actual foldgers in our cups? 

To be honest I'd take some Italian expresso in Italy in my cup any day over Folger's

To be honest after some time of this repetitive pile of no good I'd take the not wanting anything at all!

Yea I know, good luck with that right?

Well what I meant to say is , my want actually means nothing at all...

Maybe what I meant to say is that the "nothing at all" pertains to this world`s  superficial never ending unfulfillment