"By the sun and
his glorious splendor; by the moon as she follows him; by the
day as it shows up the sun's glory; by the night as it conceals
it; by the firmament and its wonderful structure; by the earth
and its wide expanse; by the soul, and the proportion and order
given to it; and its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right;
truly he succeeds that purifies it, and he fails that corrupts
it." (91:1-10 the Holy Qur'an)
I write
prose from a poetic dimension yet it depicts
existential realities we all encounter at different stages of the journey.
In essence, these philosophical expressions aim at encouraging and honoring
the souls who, amidst the vanity of an ego-driven chaotic world, are still
concentrated upon the tender force of Truth, Love and Peace.
The subjects addressed are all interconnected but organized
here in alphabetical order. New essays will progressively be added ... inshAllah.
A heart that is surrendered
to Allah (swt) is a creative heart. Creativity is a manifestation
of Intelligence. Islam recommands its followers to nurture their intelligence
and to share its fruits within respect of the Divine Law. Art created in
this light is a form of invitation to Surrender. Such art can help dissipate all
the current, widespread misconceptions about Islam.
Muslim parents should encourage their children to express their artistic
talents. We do not realize how powerful art that celebrates the teachings
of the Qur'an and Prophet Muhammad (swt) is! Such art has a an extremely
powerful, timeless impact upon those who experience it.
The most celebrated, enlightened poets of this world were Muslim, it's interesting
to observe the impact their work has had upon those who denigrate Islam.
They may have a negative outlook on Islam and thrive to promote this negativity
with the help of the media yet it doesn't change the fact that they're in
complete awe of the Muslim genius which obviously is a testimony to an Islam
that is of beauty, purity, majesty, peace, egolessness, grace, universality
and tolerance.
I believe in encouraging creativity in the Ummah as it invites non-Muslims
to know the spectrum of Islam that is "omitted" by the media. With time,
I hope to discover more and more Muslim artists who proudly honor the divine
beauty of Islam through their work. Everything starts with children, let
us encourage our Muslim children to express their talents.
Allah (swt) is beautiful and He loves beauty.
-Prophet Muhammad (saw)
"La Voie de l'Art est une Voie majestueuse, avant
de l'emprunter, l'Artiste se doit de purifier son coeur."
~Roland Mata (1968-1992)
::: We assume different roles through existence and these roles too have different "skins"
that mutate knowingly or unknowingly to us. With time this phenomenon reveals dormant lights
or the opposite in us.
What matters on that way is to strive to keep one's heart full of Light despite the worldly
circumstances our activities dictate, be it recognition and the ego scheming that goes with it.
Only one with a graceful heart can truly preserve oneself from the greed and traps "success"
bring. Humility, harmlessness and innocence are the depeest qualities for any human to possess
in this worldly experience that distracts many promising talented beings from the prosperity
that goes along with pure intentions. Disinteredness has become a scarce trait! It's a strange
occurance to see the way those who are viewed as "greats" slyly scheme to profit from others',
it implies that somewhere inside there is a deficiency in the first place.
In observing all this, all I can say is al hamdulillah for the path of Islam
that keeps sincere ones mindful of their actions thanks to the daily humbling prayers
that always remind of the helplessness associated with becoming and thus of the uselessnes
and danger in purposely harming and exploiting any creature for such actions
always come back to the perpetuator magnified ...
If we wish to offer substance in our activities then it's best to take the time to work at
cultivating excellence at what we do first instead of conveting the light in others and
exploiting them, harming them for it with the illusion that their light will help the exploiter
"advance"!
When I think that whole systems and nations were founded upon and thrive of such evil
principles, it can only encourage their communities of men to apply the same evil practices,
and this occurs in all fields even in the Arts! If artists who claim to be "conscious" and
to work for noble causes are going to behave with shadiness and lack of integrity then maybe they
should consider prosaic fields instead of corrupting the arts and blocking the works of other artists
from wider diffusion. True talents come from The Divine, no human being has the monopoly over
this dimension in others. Purposely attempting to interfere with this process while exploiting
others to achieve one's own ends by all costs is below the soul. To behave in such lowly manner with
immediate results in mind is the surest way to self-destruction. :::
The quintessential spirit of Islam adorns the Universe like light itself, wherever
one turns it is right there, even in the deepest obscurity, it is there, present
of all its gentleness. The Cosmos reflects the Islamic spirit with perfection so
in truth there is no excuse for us to stray from the observance of authentic Islam:
a constant reality.
The first Light (saw) created remained in a state of prostration before his Creator
Allah (swt) as his very first activity; we all were created from this prostrating
light’s state so it is only natural to return to it.
As humans we omit to turn our sight upward where celestial bodies exude their emphatic
testimony of Surrender, of Islam to The Most Beautiful. Our immediate environment,
Nature reflects its Islam too so the Cosmic Muslim spectacle cannot be missed unless
our heart is sealed by the Divine Will itself.
The music of the spheres is also a sign of this Cosmic Islam we tend to be distracted
from, no one can be unmoved by this Sound of praise that pervades us all knowingly or
not, we are indeed instruments made to echo this sonar luminousness. This is the reason
why the Sound of the Qur’an has such a miraculous effect upon sensible beings, it’s a
Reminder of the sublime Station they innately belong to and this Remembrance deeply
resonates with them, it completes them… it is such a pristine, nurturing experience,
that the wise ones live to bask in those moments; all this for the sake of Allah (swt) only.
Love and grace pervade the quintessence of Islam, they can never be extracted from it
even after centuries of historical schemes or deliberate human misrepresentation,
Islam is a multidimensional reality that continually circulate from the Upper parts
of the Worlds seen and unseen, all the way to their lower parts so it’s present and
intact by the permission of Allah (swt).
The greatest threat to self-serving forces on Earth is the integrity of this
transcendent Islam because if sincerely observed, it can progressively lead
mankind to complete Freedom and therefore to independence from all false
systems that thrive through repression of the light of humanity. Islam pulls
mankind toward their full potential, it allows them to follow
the prophets’
(as) footprints which implies living in and with the Truth that sustains
the Universe.
Eventually this state of beingness in Surrender/Islam cannot be avoided, at
some point it’s always acknowledged, be it through life or through the rude
awakening of death, it’s only a matter of time before we embrace our state of
Islam anew… Even our galaxy fully exists in that Islamic state of grace, look
at the most powerful star of our system: the Sun, do you perceive its unending
praising of Allah (swt) as it rises and sets in cycles? This is Islam!
“Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that ye can see; is
firmly established on the throne (of authority); He has subjected the sun and
the moon (to his Law)! Each one runs (its course) for a term appointed. He doth
regulate all affairs, explaining the signs in detail, that ye may believe with
certainty in the meeting with your Lord.” ~ Qur’an 13: 2
“He has made subject to you the Night and the Day; the sun and the moon; and
the stars are in subjection by His Command: verily in this are Signs for men
who are wise.”
~ Qur’an 16: 12
Artistic creation
is one of the most moving act human beings could ever experience. As our
deepest nature is to be egoless, creativity can be a medium through which
we can rediscover the humbling state of the soul's return to the Source.
Being moved to Inspiration brings unthinkable comfort to the soul, it heals
not only the artist but also those who contemplate his work. The truest
artist is he who first worked at purifyig his heart so that the impressions
received, which become the work we admire, uplift and move the souls of
his audience to higher consciousness as well. Art was meant for us to celebrate
the beauty, harmony, perfection and the Divine Order the soul truly aspires
to convey while journeying in a trying world.
True art is an expression of wisdom which stirs in us the memory of our
lost Helysium. Very often artists experience much suffering, a preliminary
step toward fusing with the grace behind the act of creation as pain is
the only way to lessen the ego and attune the heart to the immaculateness
the soul longs to manifest.
Thus those who strive to express their highest, innermost impressions in
any way, shape or form are most likely to reflect true love in an ego-driven
world that shamelessly prides itself in resisting the gifts, openness and
splendor of the soul. All divinely inspired artworks are drops-reflections
of the bliss our soul is immersed into.
I immensely enjoy developing my paintings because the creative process has
lessons, each time, a new one. It's impossible to force realities that
occur beyond our selves and which take shape through us; we can only
respect their language-flow and this practice eventually helps us
endure circumstances in life we have no control over and such is
the spirit of Surrender-Islam.
Because my visual art developed from the poems I compose, I'm not inclined
to paint realities the naked eye sees because they are obvious to us. I
aspire to put upon canvas that which is subtle and that purely mingles
with the soul and that walks it to its bliss.
As my Arts are islamically spiritual and spiritually islamic, I see
no division between these creative activities and the practical rituals
which come with being a Muslimah. When I soak my brushes in water,
it takes me back to ablutions yet this time instead of preparing my
self to step upon the prayer mat, it's my paint brushes that will
"step" upon canvas, they become instruments I do not view outside
of my body... At that moment, everything that lingered with the words
of a composed poem unravels upon canvas, each brushwork brings me
the utmost solace and invites me to reflection as well. The alternate
smoothness and wildness inherent to the act of painting is a mirror
of the Returning process I am subjected to throughout existence.
Creativity and Corporations
We demean creativity and genius
by adjusting to corporations standards of greed. With talent comes great
responsability for the holder of it. Artistic works of spiritual value should not
be appropriated by greedy people who erode their contexts and thus
fragment them so that such works may seem more "appealing" to those
who have the monopoly over the market.
Art's authentic quality and its impact can not be defined by materialistic
standards which obviously are alien to such sacred art's context.
I have observed how compromise in return for "validation" can alter
the consistency and intensity of one's artistic work which in time is degrading.
This phenomenon may arise from the adjustment one has to face in response
to the pressures and unreasonable expectations from the big corporations
that are driven by inordinate financial profit.
The best way to nurture and freely express one's talent is to first honor
its Source and to not allow any alien force to control one's work and to
thwart its purpose.
Very often when dealing with big corporations, it takes the death of a genius
to finally see his work (misinterpreted, fragmented thus altered) reach audiences, this
occurs simply because every business party involved in releasing the dead
genius' work will majorly benefit from it since the author himself no longer
is of this world to dictate terms under which he would like his work to
be vehicled to mankind. Sadly this is the most ideal situation for certain
corporations.
This is what is currently occuring with the works of many artistic geniuses
who died years, generations or centuries ago and who were unknown or ignored
in the West when alive. Their powerful work is now exploited by whatever intermediary
deemed "marketable" and "scholarly" enough to help capitalize from the deceased
genius' heart and work. They have even managed to subtract the traditional,
religious context which are the foundation of such outstanding works.
True artists work to uplift the masses, not to enrich
already wealthy corporations nor the elite controlling them and who is responsible
for the lamentable plight of the world's populations.
The idea of sharing one's work on a large scale is pleasant yet conventional
publication seems more as an offense to me as long as it entails the
disintegration of one's work and the level
of control many publishing houses often insist on having on the work of
living artists, it degrades the purpose of Art and the lives of those who
birth it.
A couple of writers have given me perplexing perspectives on "compromise"
that always seems to end up benefitting corporations. Exploitation is not
an option. What's been created in a spirit of Love and Freedom will follow
its own natural course designed by the Wisdom that willed to materialize
the work in the first place.
On Desire
As we experience the dual dimension,
we mainly are driven by two kinds of desire: those which are rooted in the
ego and those which are expressions of the soul.
The desires which stem from the ego usually are urgent, they suggest immediate
gratification and therefore cause us to act out of impatience and greed
whereas the desires which come from the soul are occasions for growth as
they manifest themselves with the utmost patience and they seek to give
only. They repose upon calm, refinement and gentle perseverance which slowly
awaken us to the authentic considerations of our soul.
Because all our actions and thoughts ultimately influence some degree of
life, it's important to develop the habit to question our desires as they
besiege us. Learning to discern the motives behind them helps us to live
a more compassionate, clear and peaceful life.
On the Education System
The current educative system allows
no opportunity for children to reach their full potential as it is based
upon materialistic, inconsistant values which are irrelevant to the whole
purpose of experiencing this temporary world, all its diversity and the
understanding, wisdom we are to gain as individualized souls.
In a controlled environment, students are regimented, trained to conform
to illusory standards which distract and fragment their God-given intelligence
and to just absorb and later on regurgitate some state-validated and sometimes
falsified information which furthers the expansion of a flimsy system. Promoting
conformity to such deliberate miseducation under the excuse that it is a
vehicle for success, financial gain, social status and other similar values
immensely interferes with mankind's advancement.
At a young age, pupils are thus conditioned to cultivate a robotlike stance
which is one of the requirements for recruitment by a system that seems
to strictly need "automatons" for its efficient functioning. Is the aim
of such systematization to miseducate the youth, to stifle their individuality
and in the process to spiritually bankrupt them so that they would blindly
be subservient and prone to perpetuate the same alienating, unlawful system
as they grow into adulthood?
Unfortunately students who display difficulty in adjusting to such anti-soul
structures are spotted early and most likely to be "re-orientated" toward
institutions for the "less intelligent" whereas all these children are experiencing
is just the soul's way of protecting its intelligence from alienation and
of expressing its inborn impulse to be whole, to grow and to be harmonious.
The human soul is a well of precious resources with divine purpose which
needs to be explored, encouraged and cherished and not the opposite where
the most noble attributes are quickly suppressed and aborted by rhetoricians
who knowingly and unknowingly perpetuate narrow-mindedness in educative
institutions.
Futhermore, while diversity is a phenomenon that pervades the entire
Universe, materialists have managed to exclude it from the schools
programs! Exposure to the cultural diversity that characterizes mankind
is very much necessary for our collective balance as it nurtures our
capacity for relating and for creating tolerance where there is difference.
Depriving students of diversity and imposing but the Eurocentric perspective
upon their young minds academic year after year is an anti-evolution
practice as it severely affects their inner sense of identity and
therefore inferiorizes them. The world was endowed with many beautiful,
different cultures which have contributed to bringing civilization
and prosperity to both hemispheres of the planet yet curiously only
the Eurocentric cultural perspective continues to be dominantly taught
in schools; this may be rooted in its centuries-old
myth of superiority over the others.
On Emotions
Existence is an ever-gathering of
dancy emotions. All that we see, all that we are, is an externalization
of emotions which drive our movements, our gestures, our gaze, our face's
expressions, our works. Emotions are a powerful dynamic in our lives and
there is no confine to that dimension of our being: we can slowly open to
the vastness stored within, to the beyondness of our being.
As the unfolding of our lives mirrors our emotions, it is important to individually
work at clarifying, deepening our inner life and to celebrate our feeling
nature for, in doing such a precious work, we contribute to the establishment
of Heaven on Earth, as Above so below.
Why are human beings drawn to Art? It is because it moves them, it awakens
fine emotions in them that were still dormant and the experience of this
unknown, innermost region of their being brings them a sense of joy and
belonging. The quest for such experiences is always present in us as long
as there is breath in our bodies. When Art is sublime, it seduces the souls
of fine feeling as they blossom during any occasion to explore the vertiginous
depths of their sensitivity; those sacred moments re-introduce them to their
true nature.
Unfortunately society tends to suppress the expression of emotions, especially
in boys who grow up to become men who terribly dread the whole spectrum
of their own depth as human souls so how could they embrace and celebrate
the depth of their mates and seeds? In truth, emotions pertain to the breathing
of the soul and this transcends genders. Our growth is rendered difficult
when we are not in tune with our emotions which are but catalysts to the
higher life, they are invitations for the soul to exude her calm exuberance.
Enlightened Beings
In all nations, there exists rare
enlightened beings who serve The Highest Cause. Those people in spite of
variety of traditions, cultures, religions all have something in common:
they dedicate their lives to the advancement of mankind and face the tribulations
which can arise when the human soul walks such an unusual, luminous Path.
Such blessed beings transmigrate to the Earth at different times, regions
according to the Will of The Creator. The revelation of their work and activities
manifests to them with the utmost power, and when it does, it cannot be
fought. Any human soul who offers his/her contribution with such light as
the foundation of the mission must be prepared to endure some type of unjust
treatment from those who have contempt for evolution, divine order and The
All-Encompassing One who bestows specific rights to all created beings.
There is a form of loving comfort, of spiritual generosity that accompanies
the existence of such dedicated souls and what they bring forth, thus an
unquestionable sense of familiarity is created around the truth they expose
as we all come from The Truth, its vibrations are inherent to our being
so it cannot be denied; sooner or later it resonates within us.
The existence of such beings helps alleviate the chaotic, systemic practices
that curb (through education, self-appointed "authorties", the medias,
all instruments for promotion of corruption)
the natural human inclination toward Truth, Freedom, Peace and Light.
The masses who are so susceptible to be preyed upon and misled through illusory
standards, are the force that enlightened beings desire to nurture, encourage
and serve. That same majority, individually and collectively has great power
to establish our world's alignment with Harmony, Light and Love: throughout
the centuries, it's this essential message that the devoted servants of
The Most High all over the globe have strived to re-instill in us.
On the Extraction of Islam from the Muslim Genius’ Work
I have noticed that in mainstream “intellectual” circles, there is this deliberate
tendency to substract Islam from works of Muslim artists especially when their creative
endeavor reflects pure genius and grace. This is what has happened with the work of
Jalal-ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi better known as Rumi,
the world’s most read poet; in my eyes he represents the greatest exemple in this inclination
to extract the religion and tradition of Islam from Muslim geniuses’ work. The authentic
context of his profound poetry, which is Islam, has been extracted from most books on him
translated/published in the West. Or he is simply labeled as a “Sufi” poet, excluding the
whole Islamic culture and practice that shaped his life and work.
Since there is great fear around Islam itself it may be that for marketing purposes, it is
convenient to “mask” Islamic artistry with other terms. Yet Sufism remains an expression of
Islam regardless of the widespread aversion toward Islam which is also subtly fed by many
scholars who are as narrow-minded as the system they serve. Because Sufism has great appeal
thanks to its excellent artistic expressions, academicians who want to profit from it, have
managed to “separate” it from Islam as if to perpetuate the isolation of Islam from its own
graceful reality which actually is animated since the beginning of the Creation and not since
the 7th century as Eurocentric historians would have us believe.
(please read the
Transcendence of Islam for more details)
This tendency to dissociate Islam from its truth is very dangerous because it deprives people
from the opportunity to discover the Light of thisuniversal Pathway, of its long prophetic chain from
the first prophet Adam
(as) all th eway to the last one prophet Muhammad (saw). It also diverts people from the Holy Qur’an
and the spiritual nobility of prophet Muhammad (saw), in truth there is no Sufism whatsoever
without Islam, its
very shell.
“And withhold yourself with those who call on their Lord morning and evening desiring His
goodwill, and let not your eyes pass from them, desiring the beauties of this world’s life;
and do not follow him whose heart We have made unmindful to Our remembrance, and he follows
his low desires and his case is one in which due bounds are exceeded.” (~18: 28 Holy Qur’an)
With the centuries-old attempt to demonize Islam and its followers, it is currently convenient
to subtract the
Islamic element from the works of Muslim geniuses whose divinely-infused arts have lit hearts
all around the
globe for hundreds of years. Even though the substance which has molded their creativity for
centuries is completely omitted from the way big corporations present their works, it is
important to remember that there is this dimension in us that pulsates with the Truth only
so when it exteriorizes itself it is indeed to remain and to expand in spite of all human scheming.
On Failing Remembrance
There is a dimension of our being that is generous in
beauty, knowledge, wisdom, compassion and such similar qualities. This innate
dimension unfolds with the events of our lives, we either acknowledge this
octave of being or we do not. When we don't, we miss out on knowing suppleness,
amplitude, even latitude of mind.
The more cultured, or intellectualized we are in the conventional sense,
the more room there is within us to be dusted and peeled of the pride that
often comes with mundane "accomplishments" such as academic knowledge, "respectable"
social status... Because of this numbing pride, we lose the innate subtle,
spiritual intelligence that would allow us to know our true Identity, all
its resourcefulness and our sense of relating to the common human experience.
Without any humility how could our prejudices dissolve? The unlawful wars
and conflicts that have plagued our world throughout history are caused
by prejudice and the complex of superiority prejudiced people have. This
prejudice urges the sentiment of imperialism in them which in time can only
justify and heighten their ego impulse to dominate, exploit or even destroy
that which is different from them.
Authentic power comes from the capacity to leap out of our narrow
self to know the Heart which brings true wealth, abundance to our
life. In due time, this Heart teaches us that there is an octave of
Understanding that no degree, status, nor academic training can ever
give. Tolerance, spiritual openness and generosity are signs of inner
flirting with the edge of this Understanding which is true intelligence.
We are, we learn, we accomplish and we move by the grace of Allah (swt)
only yet we fail such remembrance and the unfortunate events of our world
reflect it.
On Freedom
The world as an institution thrives
off of corrupt principles which interfere with the human soul's authentic
Freedom. That Freedom is a station of existence where the Divine Rights
of all men are respected and honored. The ultimate manifestation of this
Freedom would be reflected in the observance of the Divine Law on Earth.
This sacred Freedom is a decree which comes from the Source of Life and
Love, and despite its rejection in our dimension it can always be experienced
in the innermost being of men. No external source such as earthly institutions,
material accumulation nor formal education can ever bestow this spiritual
state of Freedom which in itself is an attribute of the soul.
Because we live in a world where the dominant system reposes more and more
upon fear, miseducation, exploitation and disempowerment of human souls,
the right to this Freedom gets severely violated and the masses who represent
the base of propulsion for the elitist corrupt reign, grow powerless and
helpless in such difficult circumstances. Those states of helplessness could
be viewed as a sign that the majority has yielded their power to usurping
forces yet this misfortune can always be reversed by harmonizing the consciousness
with The Truth that created it and that regulates the Universe in its entirety.
Freedom is an innate and inner reality that should be inwardly fought for
and once re-acquired, it should be preserved as its natural course operates
to establish The Most High's Sovereignty in all dimensions.
On Friendship
Friendship is the most sacred form
of all relationships as it is the foundation for quality exchanges between
human souls. As most of our experiences are drawn by the spiritual desire
for relating, friendship is the opportunity for giving and receiving inner
comfort. Through interaction with souls affined to ours, we get to express
our innate hidden qualities which otherwise wouldn't transpire amidst the
demands of our hectic daily life.
True friendship is a subtle invitation to growth, as interaction opens us
up to the joy-reality of oneness and connection. A true friend, by the peace
of her/his mere presence, brings the qualities of your soul to the surface
of your being: your conversations are a space of comfort where each one`s
virtues flirt in color.
On the Holiness of Breath
The way to knowing oneself is through
conscious breathing which eventually externalizes the true disposition and
activities of the soul until the intellect reflects its Essence and spirituality.
The currents that circulate through respiration are a manifestation of Ruh,
the Spirit of The Divine who, concerning man, said to the angels: "When
I have fashioned him and breathed of My Spirit unto him, fall ye prostrate
before him." (15:29 Qur'an). In this verse, The Creator reveals He breathed
of His Spirit unto us therefore if we want to experience our full potential
and know The Hidden Treasure it is essential to breathe properly.
The Spirit of God pervades us yet we are easily robbed of this reality which
can bring the utmost blessings when acknowledged. Ironically the unnatural
systematization usurping forces impose on us is founded on excessive materialism,
control and overactivity which all accelerate the natural rhythmic breathing
of men and his spiritual demise which in turn deprives him of his innate
right to knowing himself and his Creator. For this reason man must reclaim
freedom of his own being and life for he spends his lifetime serving forces
that didn't even create him and which suffocate his higher nature in order
to exploit better the precious life bestowed upon him by his Creator solely.
Therefore we must ask ourselves of what account is life if we do not fulfill
our purpose nor even consider the development of our highest potential?
When we go through life with our intelligence numbed by widespread yet poisonous
standards we fail to honor the Breath which has its own Truth to reveal
to us. Despite the narrowness of man-made systems enforced on us, we must
make an effort to expand ourselves and consciously breathe as the breath
is our way to knowing the divine system and The Most High.
When a financial system is based upon usury and speculation, it is bound to
collapse because it’s out of phase with the Divine Law. All prophets (as) of The
Creator prohibited such irreverent practices as they deplete natural resources,
exploit humans/workers and thus cause suffering, chaos, poverty and overall abuse
of Nature itself.
I think that with all the conflicts that are currently going on around the world plus the
difficulties surprisingly experienced by the illegal system itself, it’s more
important than ever for individuals to “create” value as in time the monopoly of
the planet’s wealth by an elite always ceases and thus transforms with the potential
to finally expand the way it was intended to by the Divine law… In order to welcome
this transformation it becomes necessary for all excluded populations to “create”
value, but real value not unfair, arbitrary, artificial value that elitists imposed
to the world for centuries. Real value relates to the higher scheme of things and
therefore is timeless in essence as it comes from the Truth; it naturally exposes
it instead of concealing it at the expanse of the collectivity. Authentic value
is inherent to all, it is accessible to all, it’s free flowing, uncontrolled and abundant.
For years, sages have said that mankind is being ushered into a new age where serious
systemic crisis will force us to be more independent from so-called leaders (and the
system they preserve), to turn inward and and thus to live with more humility,
compassion and love. For the first time I think that we are beginning to see signs
of this confrontation of the ego culture and its colossal failures.
“Those who live off the interest on loans will never stand up, except in the way
those whom Satan knocks down with a fit rise up again. That is because they say:
“Trading is just like taking interest.” Yet God has permitted trading and forbidden
taking interest… “ ~ 2:275 Qur’an
On the Inner Palace
Our inner palace
is the space which unfolds after we have conquered our ego and all its turbulence.
It is the hidden palace where only The Divine Presence reigns to guide us
toward the accomplishment of our appointed, individual tasks in this life.
Developing sensitivity to this inner reality introduces us to a journey
filled with challenges yet the beauty which progressively springs out from
this honorable endeavor leaves the mouth sealed in blissful silence.
Thus, if we aspire to know completeness it is necessary for us to dedicate
some time to awakening ourselves to The Divine Presence for, love and
surrender to It is the ultimate purpose of our existence. Our achievements,
successes, relationships and deeds as human souls are very much determined
by our willingness and ability to surrender to The Divine One.
Wise are those who humbly work at harmonizing themselves with The Majestic Being
for fulfillment on all levels can only sprout from this cultivation of egolessness
which is the secret key to all treasures of existence.
On Institutionalized Falsehood
The system that imposes itself globally
is but an usurping "authority" that is maintained for the sake of an elite:
its "values" repose upon corruption and ego-thriving which seek but to disempower
wherever there is a gleam of independence and power.
This system exploits instead of serving, it destroys instead of building.
Its destructive pattern is very well reflected through the current
economic plight of most African nations, it is not a coincidental
situation; the imperialistic forces that have looted the Motherland
for centuries and those who collaborate with them are to blame for
it. The same exploitative pattern actually operates against the entire
globe populations' prosperity and its multidimensional impact affects
the masses while it simultaneaously devours their resources. The global
financial system that orchestrates this impoverishment of humankind
has established itself through usury which all the prophets (as)
of The Divine have prohibited because of its devastating effect upon life.
Just like many diversity-inclined souls, I experienced formal education
(another spectrum to institionalized falsehood for the sake of an elite)
as an instrument of oppression, thus I have never had any faith whatsoever
in bureaucracies' representatives who perpetuate this subtle spiritual oppression
the youth is globally subjected too. I will feel this way as long as their
institutions repose upon anti-soul structures and the Western culture's supremacy over
all others, even the most spiritually awakened ones! Excessive materialism
is a sign of backwardness not of advancement, its imposition is also a great hindrance
to true prosperity for the collectivity.
I believe populations worldwide will realize more and more that they are
on their own, there is no such thing as systemic or governmental garantee
for protection for the oppressed, it's all falsehood therefore the notion
of being under any earthly "authority" is fictive and artificial. The masses
have always been on their own, the greater the "development" of the land,
the truer this is ...
The Universe through its waltz has been whispering something to us: "in
The Divine we have our System, Law and our being, let us leave all the ingrained
falsehood behind and return to Majesty ... "
On Intimacy and its Continuity
The state of being results from
Longing: we are because we longed and continue to long. Our very breath
is a sign of this Longing which softly pulls us to interaction with the
currents constituting our being. There's a perpetual intertwining, a sacred
intimacy that occurs amidst the state of being. Our thoughts, the actions
that result from them are also a sign of the intimacy that alivens us.
Speech too is an outward consequence of that intimacy which takes place
inside us. Sound, colors are all reflections of that intimacy as well. All
phenomena manifest out of this continuous intimacy that touches all living
beings and things, animate and inanimate.
There's a universal chemistry that permeates existence, a love ever unfolding
within and without us whether we are aware of it or not. When the soul strives
to be in tune with her Source and Its attributes, she becomes a clear mirror
of that cosmic intimacy which brings the utmost joy to its subject and to
all those s/he encounters.
The first step toward conscious participation to this sacred intimacy is
to learn to appreciate Subtlety. Quieting our inner world and listening
to our Breath is one way to realize this. With faith, dedication and patience,
we naturally become a devoted soul-lover that dances in and out and through
this mysterious intimacy that moved the ancient great souls
to Illumination.
On Love
Love is the force which unites,
which harmonizes, molds and encourages growth; it is the most important
manifestation in our existence for love is what drives our soul to celebrate
the buoyancy of mercy and to bow before its Source. He whose soul evolves
in a state of prostration before God loves all and is a friend to all for
he understands the Essence of others as being his own. Such a soul is endowed
with compassion, kindness and profound gentleness.
Love is the energy which manifests itself as the light we see in the Sun,
it animates and sustains all of the unseen and seen, it is always at work
regardless of circumstances. We can visualize the mysteries of Love in the
Moon's glitter, in the colors of Nature, in a mother's eyes as she cares
for her infant, Love permeates all as it binds all atoms in harmony and
tranquility with a wisdom we cannot fathom.
There are infinite expressions of Love, and its quality varies according
to the clarity of the consciousness it traverses. Therefore our capacity
to perceive, receive and give Love depends on the pristineness of our hearts.
On the Mapanes' Nobleness
Mapane is
a Gabonese expression that could be translated as "the Ghetto": it is where
the excluded, oppressed population lives. Yes Mapanes are found everywhere
on this globe and as History has shown, the mapanes are an inexhaustible
reservoir of light the elite leeches off.
The Mapanes nestle brilliant beings who are emerging more and more
to tell their own story about how imperialists oppressed their royal ancestors
which culminated in the installation of usurpers in power.
The system formerly established by the righteous who were leading in past
times then got replaced by the corrupt one that plagues most of the First
World ("1/3 World" for the politically correct) nations to this day.
Throughout this humongous usurpation, the corrupt have been using all means
to push the righteous in the mapanes which consequently became the
dwelling place of the spiritually Noble.
Through the diverse fields they excell in, those wronged souls have much
to share with us about the true version of their History so in due time
inshAllah, I will introduce some of the Mapane geniuses as they reclaim
their throne.
On the Impact of Materialism
Materialism has caused
such confusion and chaos in society! It has handicapped the cultivation
of men's deepest potential and therefore it has anesthetized the soul. All
theories developed from that belief of materialism were advanced by those
who have rebelled against the Creator. We can find the ill-intended works
of those misguided beings in all fields including sciences, philosophy,
arts and academics ...
For them, the great manifestation of life and the perfect order of
the Universe all resulted from "pure coincidence". Once the existence
and design of The Divine Being who created and rules the entire Universe
is denied, it becomes okay for any usurping "influential" entity to
spread doctrines and ideologies that will establish illegal systems
that demean, stifle, desecrate and exploit life. It also then becomes
justifiable for mankind to not strive to be in touch with the divinely-breathed
Spirit in them since the theories of materialism suggest they are
of ape/monkey ancestry thus of a mere species of "animals that evolved
into the human species". This theory of evolution from one species
to another is a myth.
The damage caused by these false perpetuated theories is serious for when
men are distracted from their natural position
of representatives of The Divine on Earth, they are reduced to being mere
objects used to accommodate usurpers in their plans with all the evils that
it entails. All the atrocities that have occured in this age have been nurtured
at some point by the widespread belief of materialism upon which many instutitions
were founded and continue to "thrive" of.
The lack of encouragement toward cultivation of more spiritual values and
Intelligence is deliberate for such endeavors empower men and turn
them toward recognition of The Divine as sole Authority who from the Beginning
has bestowed great freedom, specific laws, abundance and power to men: the
very rights perpetrators of false systems dread to see applied by men whom
they consider as their subjects. Picture mankind forsaking surrender to
unlawful systems and thus reclaiming observance of the divine system prescribed
by The Creator ... What usurpers whose reign revolves around global domination
want that?
On the Glorification of Mediocrity
Nowadays human souls are consistently
bombarded with messages that encourage them to manifest mediocrity in all
fields they choose to pursue. The condition for "success" in mundane terms
depends upon the mind's willingness to be subjected to mediocrity, to accept
it and eventually to display traits and expressions that reflect our subtle
contentment with mediocrity. Once the mind sinks to this low degree of expression,
it is rewarded by entities who package mediocrity and redefine it as "excellence";
naturally those entities seem to oppose the higher nature in men and the
Law which obliges its powerful aspirations.
This widespread tendency to glorify the cultivation of mediocrity is manifest
in mainstream, "cultural" expressions which are publicized all over the
globe. Those expressions of vulgar, poor quality are carefully selected and channeled
through the media: dynamic persons are specifically trained to convince
the masses for consumption of those "arts" that efficiently impose and perpetuate
the cycle of ignorance and falsehood upon the minds of men.
The overall effect of this unfortunate phenomenon can be devastating as
our works have the potential to either uplift others and thus honor their
higher nature or to subdue their innermost, luminous being with energies
that feed their lower nature. Of course at this point, works of the latter
kind dominate our dimension.
The journey in this world is an opportunity for evolution toward love and
wisdom therefore if we are concerned about our individual and collective
well-being, we should be discerning about the quality of the vibrations
we expose our delicate, precious minds to.
Coincidently, there are so many talented beings whose rich, refined craft
is developed in environments that the global system excludes from all rights
to prosperity. In reality, the
originality of the geniuses which permeate such underpriveleged environments
nourishes the thriving elite on all levels, so why deprive our world of
the opportunity to experience the creative sparks the elite leeches of?
On Nature
The body of Nature is an expansion
of us, it surrounds our entire journey on Earth as it mirrors aspects of
our being we must discover as we experience life. Everywhere in Nature,
there are audible and visible signs meant to stir in us the remembrance
of our soul's position before her Creator, her innate
Islam.
Nature emanates a secret language that only the inner ear can decipher as
that language constantly reveals the perfect purpose behind manifestation.
Nature in itself compares to a Book of Revelations which is being written
right before our eyes while all elements it contains sing in their own unique
way the Praises of The Majestic Being.
All atoms of Nature have some purpose to contribute to the evolution of
men, for this reason materialists should learn to revere Nature and all
of Creation instead of abusing it and vainly attempting to tame it. The
effects of such abuse on Nature can only generate great plagues on us in
return.
::: Poetry is motions from the unfolding soul. The more surrendered the
soul, the deeper her expression makes one dance within. In mystical poetry,
words are the soul of the poet, assuming a different prostration to Allah (swt)
with each letter. For this reason, the energy of poetry is what truly matters
as it dictates the stations the reader goes through while experiencing poetry.
I do not believe in an academic approach to Art which is sacred in my eyes. I am
convinced that we all are students to some Cosmic "School" whose standards are perfectly
suited to invite the soul to manifest her genius: our earthly education system does the
exact opposite, it stifles genius. Abiding thus by the soul's authentic inclination for
transcendence allows one to not only leave the excessive materialism of conventional
education behind (if necessary) but it also allows one to leave one's self too...
and how gifted and graceful becomes the one who has gotten rid of the ego! His third
ear opens to all the subtleties that whisper through the Universe and as well as
through the human body.
The outcome of this phenomenon is Creativity and eventually inshAllah Creations that
in turn stir the soul of humankind to Love and Grace. How to know when we come across
such Creations? Well there are simple external signs we all have in common when we
encounter artistic Generosity: we become subjects to gestures of fulfillment and
quiet joy. Upon experiencing certain Arts (whether it is Poetry, Fine Arts, Music
...etc...) that deeply move me I feel Home anew and the feeling is it! :::
On Praying
Prayer is the garden where the soul
blossoms. He who desires to uncover the bliss of existence should contemplate
and pray consistently with deep faith and trust that the Omnipresence envelops
his being. Prayer humbles the boisterous ego and draws us closer to the
Truth and purpose of our existence.
In prayer, the heart is nourished, the eyes are cleansed and most of all
the veil of artifices is lifted. The benefits of prayer are immense for
they allow us to inwardly behold through the Creation the generosity of
The Most Sublime.
On Purpose
The Universe, all
life it contains were created to fulfill a purpose. He who is on a quest
for his soul's purpose should work at completely surrendering his love and
his being to The Creator for once surrendered to The Cause behind all, our
reason of being is progressively revealed to us inshAllah. The revelation
of our purpose is an ever-unfolding process which seems to occur with a
perfection that leaves the human intellect puzzled.
Our purpose is what fuels the soul's natural inclination toward certain
activities which bring us a sense of deep fulfillment, satisfaction and
peace. Our purpose is stored in our soul, it's triggered by hardships, directed
by Love and is rooted in a desire to selflessly contribute to some form
of evolution.
Because the purpose is a covenant between the soul and her Creator, it's
wiser to work at fulfilling it regardless of worldly standards. Human beings
are encouraged to lose themselves in calculations and futile gain whereas
their soul has a particular, urgent work to do before she returns to her
Majesty.
Now would be the time to consider the disappointment we might face once
the veil of illusion is lifted and we realize our failure to discern the
order of our priorities.
Offense of Commercialism in Sacred Arts
The richness of a civilization is determined by
its arts and culture. When arts and culture are decadent, society
progressively impoverishes itself and its inhabitants because only
the spark of enlightened creativity represents enduring prosperity.
Indeed luminous creations found in certain regions of the globe have
always been signs of great advancement of the old civilizations that
bred excellence. Even though we live in an era of excessive
materialism and thus mediocrity, evolved creations still manifest.
At particular times on Earth, there always appear phenomena reflecting the resurrection of a
tradition from glorious past times which had been corrupt and appropriated by mischievous
forces in history. With the mercy and permission
of Allah (swt) such richness often is recovered, it may take centuries in order for it
to manifest anew in the world yet when it does reappear, it is recognizable because such grace
always remains in the memory and historical records of these people whose ancestors witnessed
its grandeur afore time.
Thus cultural figures whose works reflect different phases of the illuminated tradition
which is as old as the Creation should know within themselves that no amount of money could
ever equal the value of their contributions to mankind. The value of such rare timeless works
can not be established on material terms, no financial offer can ever reward any surrendered
soul for the sacred works it crystallizes by the grace of Allah Most High (swt).
Contemporary institutions that claim their mission is to preserve such rare, timeless arts no
matter when or where they appear on Earth, should be the first ones to implement the
preservation of such arts’ integrity yet they seem to do just the opposite out of ignorance,
greed, elitism, prejudice, or pure intellectual dishonesty. Thus under such appropriation,
sacred art can end up being presented as mere commercialized products devoid of all the
cultural depth it initially was conceived to convey.
I’m often offended by this notion of vulgar commercialism that is suggested toward sacred
arts and culture nowadays and this doesn’t exclude the ego promotion that goes with it.
This is such a contradiction because meaningful arts should aid to defeat the ego… In
essence true artists are childlike, humble in their hearts which are consumed by the
wonders of The Divine, this is why they create, they don’t create for financial profit
nor recognition; these are mere accessories so the fact that these enlightened artists
are expected to enthusiastically respond to the commercialization of their arts is
strange to me. Pomp and vanity are not the purpose of sacred Art, they are the downfall of it.
Personally, I’m more so concerned about the pulsating heart of Art, how its energy speaks
to the human soul and if it does, how does this Conversation soothe and make their existence
more pleasant and in tune with the Source of all… This is what I care about: the preservation
of the tradition that reveals itself anew after centuries, the legacy for the generations to
come and the timelessness of the Conversation such Art can generate for all of humankind.
copyrights 2007 Aida Toure
On the Oneness of Religions
Perception of multiplicity
characterizes our experience on Earth yet in the varied manifestations of
the Creation, there's a great opportunity for us to hone discernment, wisdom
and ultimately this awakens us to the subtle Unity that pervades differentiations
on all levels of our lives.
In terms of religions, different factors dictate our penchant for
the Path we follow which in itself is but another chance to experience
multiplicity. Therefore we shouldn't impose our individual choice
of religion or spiritual Way upon others as the Qur'an stresses ("Let
there be no compulsion in religion" ~2: 256 Qur'an).
We can naturally invite others to the beauty of our Path by our righteous
behavior, our patience, our compassion, our kind speech and actions which
are all mirrors of inner balance, harmony and complete surrender to The
Unique.
The human intellect is endowed with a limited understanding of what
The Creator is, therefore we should remember that there's a difference
between the authentic purpose of religions and the interpretations
and falsifications made by men. We shouldn't blame the wrong actions
of certain individuals who hanker for power upon the religions they
claim to follow nor upon their Prophets (alayhumsalam). Throughout
history, usurping systems, institutions and individuals have used
their distorted interpretations of religions just to exploit, manipulate,
to commit atrocities upon the masses yet the ill intentions of these
misguided beings shouldn't be blamed upon authentic religions themselves.
Their lowly acts actually have nothing to do with any religion, they merely
are a reflection of the sickness in their hearts.
In essence all monotheistic religions revolve around surrender
to The Creator. All prophets (alayhumsalam) revealed the
same spiritual message which invites the human soul to her original disposition,
grace, purpose and cultivation of love for her Creator during her experience
of multiplicity on Earth.
Religions and their Holy Scriptures as revealed to us by the Prophets (alayhumsalam)
descended on earth to help us prosper in all the dimensions our souls touch,
they were meant to show us how to attain the Hidden Treasure, now and in
the Hereafter. The purpose of religions with the coming of their prophets
(alayhumsalam) remain the utmost blessings for all of mankind.
Women are the physical reflection
of the soul: the pure state of men is crystallized in the existence of women.
For this reason, woman is a mercy upon man.
In civilized societies, women are revered and educated to fulfill their
natural and sacred role of care takers, healers and nurturers of the family
of mankind. Women are reservoirs of light that bear luminous seeds who eventually
become beautiful forms of lives created to enrich the Earth with The Eternal's
gifts.
There are different degrees on the scale of light manifested in the Creation
but the highest octaves of light that came through women on this Earth are
the Prophets (alayhumsalam).
On Silence
Silence is one of the primary conditions
for our well-being and growth yet we have been so desensitized by the restlessness
of alienating systems that we no longer appreciate the wisdom and depth
behind silence.
He who yearns for inner clarity should observe periods of quietude and learn
to listen to the subtle motions inside his body: the Breath.
It is only in silence that the Voice of the soul, the Word can be perceived,
so once we make an habit of being quiet and of yielding to the natural rhythm
of our breath, we actually begin to hear the true Sound, the perfection
of Life and all its celestial music. That heavenly sound is the Sound which
animates the entire Creation and which fills it with peace, mercy and tender
energy.
Spiritual Destitution
The heart is the
seat of our being, our actions and words are reflections of our heart's
condition. The plight of men's communities and nations mirrors our hidden
collective heart.
We contribute to disharmony when we fail to cultivate a good feeling heart
that shelters kindness and true caring... At some point, blaming all ills on nations' "leaders"
or self-appointed "authorities" seems too simplistic because their notion
of power is all illusion for they truly don't have any control over
the most coveted Resources: the ones within us, unless we allow them to...
it's the same challenge we face externally as well with the Earth's
natural Resources' plundering by an elite; pure extensions of our inner challenges...
We should look at ourselves first and how we live as individuals, as families,
nuclei of community. We should work at taming our ego so that the heart
doesn't get intoxicated by its vanity: all the problems in our world stem
from this toxicity, we carry it around and make decisions from such a negative
state that eventually affects others' lives. It's useless to seek betterment
of our lives' conditions by external means until we individually strive
to cleanse ourselves of the ego's toxicity, of its arrogance which only leads to
decline.
"... Surely never will Allah change the condition of a people until they
change what is in themselves ... " (Qur'an 13: 11)
The continuation
of the Creation results from the feminine and masculine principles relentless
interactions. From the intertwining of these two principles, the soul is
moved to reveal its potential and to thus bring its gifts to the world.
The union of women and men mirrors the same sacred purpose: we are pulled
toward one another to discover the wholeness of our respective souls and
Love is a catalyst to that discovery as it softens yet fortify us while
it encourages our innermost, spiritual disposition.
As we are engrossed in matter and its demands, we develop the tendency to
be disconnected from our Essence. That disconnection creates a great malaise
in us, a dis-ease which affects the quality of our exchanges with other
beings: we end up pursuing Love with the energy of fear, with dense layers
of coverings around our hearts which renders our existence even more difficult
and draining.
The union between women and men was meant to open us up to our dormant nature,
our higher being and thus introduce us to greater peace for true Love is
calm, it doesn't seek gain nor self-gratification but rather humbly desires
to give and honor another's growth.
Unfortunately as we adapt to the misleading standards of this age, we develop
an erroneous conception of Love to the point where we actually shun its
true attributes: truth, patience, egolessness, purity, compassion, and all
its ascending beauty. Once we embrace this degrading perspective of Love,
we actually dishonor, hurt and deceive one another, tearing apart one another's
sacred inner worlds.
We need to readjust our conception of Love if we truly desire to know the
potential glory that can spring from women and men's union.
On Unlawful Systematization
Man-made systematizations
which are based upon unlawfulness are the greatest misfortunes of our world
for their functioning has aimed at safeguarding the interests of an elite
at the expense of the masses for centuries.
These illegal systematizations which repose upon greed, fear and control
invite the worst instincts in human nature and therefore they abase our
innate, higher potential and consequently apathize humanity. These systematizations
are at the root of countless atrocities which have affected the entire planet
over the centuries.
The way to resolve all the plagues created by these harmful systematizations
would be to individually attune our lives to the Divine Perfect Order which
governs the vast Universe. We should work at raising our consciousness and
abide by the Divine Law for in truth, no man was born to be exploited nor
to be subservient to any self-appointed earthly authority which openly disregards
the equality and wellfare of humanity.
If we must enrich and better our existence as a people and blossom in the
true position of representatives of God on Earth, it's imperative that we
understand our divine rights as revealed to us by the Prophets (alayhumsalam)
and that we consequently learn to transcend the usurping authorities which
interfere with our collective evolution and leech off of the human spirit
and his God-given energy.
