Salah: A Journey of Spiritual Elevation

Rana Abd El Moti Mohamed

Description of Installation:

Many of us spend our lifetime in search of a path that will lead us to inner peace, a quest that is highly emphasized in the teachings of Islam. The struggle to attain ultimate peace lies in the complex nature of man, created of both physical and non physical qualities, as described in Islam one can only achieve true inner peace once they are able to fulfill both their forms. Allow me to invite you to experience, first hand an installation that inter-operates the experience of Prayer Salah (meaning to connect in Arabic) as described and symbolized in the Sunnah and Hadith of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Through the filming of nature, the core symbolic imagery described in the Hadith, the visuals have then been altered to reflect an alternate reality, to bring alive another layer of stunning predominant Islamic art form, which is the use of abstract and geometric art. I have chosen to alter the imagery to reflect this unique and intricate form of art that is recognised by Islamic artists to free the mind of the forms of the physical world, allowing one to contemplate on the metaphysical realities that are described in Islam, ultimately elevating one’s spiritual conscious. Please step on the mat, to embark on a journey of great peace and beauty. This is the spiritual journey of Salah.

Why prayer in Islam?
Prayer is a journey all on its own, from the moment the Adan prayer call is made, which under it all Muslim people are unified regardless of their age, gender, social class, or nationality. All are requested to answer to their Lord. To begin the prayer one must go through the process of both physical and spiritual cleansing, as they preform Prayer is a journey all on its own, from the moment the Adan prayer call is made. After one is cleaned the worshipers gather side by side, shoulder to shoulder, united, all facing the same direction, with the words Allah Akbar (God is Great), recited once more to begin the prayer, just as it started the Call dropping the titles of every man, and pulling them out of the physical world, to stand in between the Divine hands of their creator.

Peace in Prayer?
Nevertheless, peace in prayer does not only lie in the physical or observable qualities that can be comprehended by the human mind instead, it lies in what the mind cannot comprehend or witness, and that is secret journey that one embarks on, as they preform this act of worship. A secret journey that can only be revealed through the Sunnah and Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH). In the Hadith imagery and symbolism are used to describe this experience, using elements of nature which are of great purity and beauty, furthermore, these elements that according to the teachings of Islam await mankind in Paradise in its most extravagant forms. Depicting the act of prayer as a journey that one makes several times a day to Paradise, in their fully conscious state. As the description of prayer is strongly connected with that of nature, one should being to feel a greater sense of unity and harmony with the universe as a whole.

How does this Art Form represent the concept?
I had first intended to put together a short a film with the actual visual imagery that I had captured that was derived from the Hadith (using river, trees and mountains), but as I began putting the film together, I lacked any sense of elevation or spiritual awakening with in me, thinking to myself here I am representing a journey that is hard for the human mind to comprehend yet, I am using visuals that are fairly common to see and understand. I wanted to capture the eyes of the people, and elevate their spirits, freeing their mind of the physical world, and allowing them to create their own interpretations of the metaphysical reality that is still guarded by the core representations of Hadith. Struggling, I turned to our class material for answers, only to be reminded of the image of Kabaa and the pilgrims engaged in prayer. Only to grasp that through prayer amazingly patterns, shapes and symmetry are created, so why not incorporate this element into the film! Using the foundation of Geometric and Arabesque art that we have been introduced to in class, I have altered the imagery to represent the shapes that symbolize Islamic concepts, like the Octagon=Paradise, Circle=God, Square= connection between earth and heaven. To elaborate on the harmony and the infinite patterns the shapes create, representing the nature of Divine God. Despite how beautiful the descriptions of Prayer may be to the Muslim, the experience of standing in front of the the all Mighty is not intended to be easy and therefore, I wanted to translate the essence of fear, as we wander together in an alternate reality.

Hadith
Nature Element:
1. Flowing Water
In the hadith narrated of the authority of Abd Huraira the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) is reported to have said. while in the hadith narrated by Bakr (the words are like this) : He heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying: just see, can anything of his filthiness remain (on the body of) any one of you if there were a river at his door in which he washed himself five times daily? They, said: Nothing of his filthiness will remain (on his body). He said: That is like the five prayers by which Allah obliterates sins. or Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: The similitude of five prayers is like an overflowing river passing by the gate of one of you in which he washes five times daily Hasan said: No filthiness can remain on him.
2. The Tree
Also used as a reference to prayer. I visited the Prophet during his ailments and he was suffering from a high fever. I said, "You have a high fever. Is it because you will have a double reward for it?" He said, "Yes, for no Muslim is afflicted with any harm but that Allah will remove his sins as the leaves of a tree fall down.”
3. The Mountains
Described symbolically with the form of a mountain in other versions of the Hadith “When the worshiper stands up in prayer, all his sins are brought and placed upon his head and shoulders, so whenever he bows and prostrates, they fall from him." [Bahyaqi, Tabaraani, authenticated by Al-AlBaanee]
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References
• Dr Pamela class material (Blackboard)
• http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=the-search-forunity-
8211-geometric-patterns-in-islam-2010-07-16
• http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095263513000216
• http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/teachers-resource-maths-and-islamic-art-anddesign/
• http://www.alartemag.be/en/en-art/the-crucial-role-of-geometry-in-islamic-art/
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/art/art_1.shtml

Muslims are not terrorists

By Maria Charbel

My short video is entitled “Muslims are not terrorists” I have decided to call it that because that’s the truth; Islam is a religion that preaches peace not terrorism. My video is 1 minute 45 seconds long; it starts with a phrase we are all hearing it lately which is “Muslim are terrorists” then I added some pictures of mosques and the picture of Al Kaaba to symbolize Islam. To illustrate what I was talking about, I took some parts of videos I found on Youtube were Westerns call Muslims terrorists but after that I decided to prove them wrong and show them the opposite, show them what Islam is all about. So, I shot 2 small scenes were a Muslim girl comes to visit a Christian girl on Easter; and this scene shows how tolerant, accepting and caring they are. Then, I decided to ask some Muslims girls to complete this sentence “I’m Muslim but I’m not...” after that I ended my video with a small message that came from me, wishing people would stop this racism and stop being judgemental.

This video allowed me to show to everybody that Islam isn’t a religion of terrorism, as many people attack it; Islam is a religion that worships peace. Many people claim that Islam teaches people to be aggressive, selfish and does not accept other religions. However, the main approaches of Islam are generosity and forgiveness that are considered the main principles of peace. The message that I want to deliver through this video was a shout out to the entire world, and especially a shout out from Muslims. We are all tired of Muslims being judged by actions they didn’t even have to do with it. People are becoming so ignorant nowadays; they are becoming so fanatic and intolerant. So, this video was a shout out for all the people to stop judging other religions and stop the racism, it was also an opportunity for Muslims to express their feelings towards their religion. Muslims got the chance to explain and to tell people that they aren’t aggressive nor angry and most importantly they are not Terrorists.  In addition, Islam is a religion that preaches peace, it’s a religion that teaches people how to love and respect others. We all have to stop this and try to think about the future, we have to stop judging other religions and learn how to be united because whether you were Muslim, Christian or even Buddhist at the end we are all human beings.

I personally got the idea of doing this video after the incident of Ahmed Mohamed, the Muslim American kid that built a Clock and brought it to school and then the teacher thought it was a bomb. Since that time, I decided that I had to do something to show the opposite of what most of the people are thinking, I was so shocked by this movement that I kept thinking about it until I got the chance to realise it in this course. In addition, a lot of other videos that we see on the news of how people and especially western accuse Muslims of being terrorists. As a non-Muslim girl, all these videos got me so angry when I watched them, that’s why I decided to react and this final project was a chance for me to express my opinion towards this big issue.

My name is Maria Charbel, I am 19 years old and I come from Lebanon. I have studied in a French school called “Lycee Louis Massignon” and now I am currently studying at the American university in Dubai majoring in Journalism and minoring in DPST. I love to play Basketball and dance and after taking this course I became interested in studying more about calligraphy especially after watching El Seed’s art.

Finally, Muslims are definitely not Terrorists; people should start differentiating between real terrorists and Islam. Islam is a religion that worships peace; it’s about generosity, tolerance and caring. This should come to an end; we can all stop this racism only if we stand all together, united.

References:

Videos: https://youtu.be/wVhZcPl9qNA

             https://youtu.be/PRpiwa3so8U

             https://youtu.be/wZVqUU_R9Vc

Peace in Islam. The Earth is Your Prayer Mat

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.