BY MAHA BOULFELFEL
There
is a common misconception among the non-Muslims that Islam is complicated.
They look at Muslims with doubt and complication. Like simple things such as “Muslims are not allowed to eat pork” or “Muslims are not allowed to drink”. When we look at
the Dos and Don’ts of Islam, you will only realize
that the Don’ts are there for our own safety. Yes,
it is not allowed to drink, but only because it will harm us or do things that
may harm others. What many may not
understand that Islam is not all about: This is Haram (Forbidden), and that is
Haram. As my Islamic teacher once told me, do not ever excessively use the
term Haram, as Allah himself has not. Islam is about living a life as a good
person with the right intentions. Prayer is there not only so you can take a moment
out of your day to remember and thank
Allah, but it is there so it will keep you on track. It is there to help you
ask god to what you want in your life to make it more peaceful. There is
something about that moment when your head touches the ground while bowing down
that will make you feel better. Barely will you see a man who prays five times
a day with the right intention at heart cause harm. Prayer truly sets you to
have a connection with God.
This
all goes back to what the world of Islam is experiencing for the last couple of
years since 9/11. It is truly painful to see what some so-called Muslims do as
wrong, scars the entire reputation of Islam.
President
Obama once said:
“No
religion is responsible for violence terrorism. People are responsible for
violence and terrorism.”
This
statement was said right after the terrible incident in Paris. Which basically
helps serve the thought that do not hate the 1.57 billion Muslims in the world
for what one group of people decided to do.
For
my art piece I decided to go with a small video taking the literal meaning of
the fact that the earth is your prayer mat. I mixed different random scenes
from different areas, in which I used a symbolic movement of doing the first
Raka’at (A half way bow, that relies on you
putting your hands on your knees) in all scenes. Wearing the traditional female
prayer uniform. As I intended this heavenly attitude, I started the video at a
Mosque because is it the average area to pray, which then slowly fades into
random areas and with another average area Muslims typically pray. And ended
the video with a clip at home, to go back to the norm. The music (Soldiers of
Allah - Nasheed ) is by Muhammad & Ahmed Muqit, in which I admire the
choice of words. I also intended to play a recording of my father reciting the
Hadith, so it would give the audience a hint of where I may have gotten
inspired. I believe my audience is mainly directed to those who are confused to
the true meaning of Islam. To the people feel Islam is “complex” . To those discriminating against
Islam because they think Muslims are about harming others.
A
prayer is a Muslim way to communicate with God. It is the area of peace, in
which we drop everything and anything. No proper Muslim would ever have the
nerve to go in front of God and ask for something destructive. A true Muslim
concerns are much more than worrying of ways to make the world a disruptive
place, rather to find all the possible ways to make the world a better place.
Whether it is removing a rock off a path that may harm someone, or helping a
man financially.
We
pray everywhere, So peace is everywhere.
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