Sunaa’ al-Hayah

- Life Makers -

Episode 28: Culture, Art, Media and Making Life

Every week, in each episode, we choose to elaborate on one field for revival.  Up until now, we have discussed six fields.  We are still presenting them and seeing how things are evolving in each field.  We are also continuing to receive comments and suggestions from people concerning these fields.  We started with projects like ‘Promoting Computer and Internet Literacy.’  We would like to confirm here that these projects are the gates that will enable us to implement the grand projects related to the revival of our nation.  We have previously discussed the fields of agriculture, industry, scientific research, education, and women.  We will continue for the next coming episodes to discuss the opinions and suggestions of people concerning these fields and their importance.

As for today, we will deal with the most important and crucial field.  However, before discussing this field in detail, I would like to update you on the development of the ‘Overcoming Computer Illiteracy Project’ which started two weeks ago, and inform you on who has participated (people, youth, etc.) in implementing the project.

One of the most beautiful things that really made my day was that in the Arab countries, a large number of Internet Cafés, after hearing about this project, have offered to dedicate half a day per week for free to anyone interested in learning.  It is clear that goodness still exists in people’s hearts.  They have already sent us the addresses of these Internet Cafés.  One of the owners sent me a letter saying that in solidarity with the Life Makers program, he is honoured to be with us, and so he has reserved twenty-two computers, two hours daily for anyone interested in learning.  He also requested not to mention his name because he is doing it for the sake of Allah (SWT), and would like to be rewarded only by Him.  Then he mentioned the address of the Internet Café.

Another beautiful thing happened.  Three days ago, the owner of a management systems centre in Syria bought a place in the capital Damascus large enough for 500 persons and equipped it with computers.  Though the company headquarters is not in the capital, yet he bought this place there in order to give everyone the opportunity to learn how to use a computer for free.  He only wants to be rewarded from Allah.

Moreover, the Life Makers team of Syria exerted their best efforts in this field.  The Life Makers team of Jordan sent us their addresses so that anyone interested in learning can contact them.  The Life Makers team of Egypt have made 280 computers available, as well as 54 voluntary trainers.  In addition, they have made arrangements with 32 Internet Cafés to teach the youth across the country.

The mosques in many of our countries have started giving computer training courses, as well as those already given by the Life Makers teams in Giza and Damanhur.

After presenting the results of this project, let us go back to discuss the field of today.

Culture, Art and Media (together as one category)

In the previous fields, I always started by presenting the dreams and suggestions sent by people in each one of them.  Today, I cannot do the same thing.  The dreams and the suggestions that came concerning our subject today were very weak.  I think that there are three reasons behind this:

1. Many people do not think that this subject is important and believe that the fields of culture and arts have no value.
2. People do not have a clear vision about this subject and are not aware of its dangerous consequences to society.
3. People are only interested in the fields of agriculture, industry etc. 

In my opinion, this is the most dangerous field of the 23 fields that we will talk about.  Why is the field of culture, arts and media the most dangerous field?  Before explaining and answering this question, let us begin with a definition.

What is the definition of culture?

If we were talking about agriculture or industry, we would not need to define them; however culture needs to be defined.  The culture of a given nation is an amalgamation (combination or union) of its beliefs, knowledge, ideas, values, arts, habits, traditions, life styles and role models of prominent social personalities.  All these become deeply rooted in people's feeling.  This combination controls people's behaviour in each and every aspect of life.  It controls their behaviour in political, social, economic and familial aspects.

The definition is very broad, and it includes all aspects of our life.  Do you now realize the impact of culture upon everything else?  It probably seems like a difficult subject, so I will try to make it simpler.  Do you know the meaning of culture?  It is the distinguishing feature of a nation (probably this word is more difficult).  If you want to know who I am, take a look at my features.  You can find out who I am from my features, can’t you?  Would you like to recognize a certain nation and know its features?  Then look at its arts and culture (is it clearer now?); also look at its media.  I believe that the meaning is clear now.

What are the features of our nation today or doesn't it have any?

Do you know now what the word ‘culture’ means, and the word ‘arts?’ They mean characteristics and features.   Look in the mirror and you will recognize your features.  If our nation looked in the mirror, it would recognize its characteristics.  Our mirror is our culture.  This is a very dangerous word.  Its meaning is also very dangerous.  I will explain further.  If you were to look in the mirror and see your features one day, and then you were to wake up the following day to find that you cannot see your features, what would happen to you? You would probably lose your mind and wonder: where did my features disappear?  That is why I am calling out loud today and saying that culture represents your features, and arts represent the features of your nation.  Do you get the big picture? Do you realize what culture means? Can you comprehend how dangerous this field is?

Let us assume that you have understood this meaning.  Who is the target audience for this episode? It is addressed to the intellectuals in the Arab world, to people who guide the culture in the Arab world, to artists in the Arab world, and especially to the young artists who represent the future generation.  We asked you before to visualize your country after 20 years; these young artists will become artists after 20 years.  We have to talk to them and ask them to take the responsibility of drawing the features of our nation.  We also have to talk to the talented young men who are afraid to work in the fields of arts and culture because they think they are haram (forbidden in Islam).  I plead with them to enter these fields because they are the ones who will draw the features of our nation.  We ask them to draw our real features without any ornaments; don't try to beautify them because this way you will transform our original features into features that do not belong to us.

Therefore, I am addressing the young artists; they are the target audience for this episode.  I hope they are watching.  I am also asking our viewers to convey my message to artists and young artists; to the talented youth in the Arab world.  They will be the ones responsible for drawing the features of our nation.  I plead with you to draw our features and not anyone else's features; do not erase our features.  I will elaborate on this subject and tell you the resources of the Arab World’s culture - I will go through them quickly.  After that, you will know for sure the source of our culture.

Culture means books, theatre, cinema, poetry, literature, novels, museums, monuments, old manuscripts, paintings, sculpture, plastic arts, acting, and songs.  Culture is an alliance of all these.  Consequently, art is one part of culture, and media (radio, TV, cinema or theatre) is the means by which that culture is spread.  Media, culture and art go together hand in hand.  Our characteristics must consist of all of these.

After defining culture, let us try to answer this question: what are the roots of our culture? Our culture is acquired through our land, which is the land of divine religion.  Allah (SWT) distinguished this land by choosing all of the Prophets mentioned in the Holy Qur’an from it; our culture is derived from the culture of our religion.

The Prophets Hud (AS), Saleh (AS), Ibrahim (AS) (Abraham), Musa (AS) (Moses) and Isa (AS) (Jesus) were from this land.  Our Prophet Muhammad (SAWS[1]) was from this land.  It is the land of religion, and the one religion of Allah (SWT).  He said to all His Prophets (peace upon them all), “Submit to Me alone.”  The fact that our culture is derived from our religion does not cause shame or embarrassment, for our nation is a very great nation.  Did you know that, since the start of human civilization, our land has been the cradle of all civilizations; it is the origin of all civilizations: the Ancient Egyptian, Assyrian and Phoenician civilizations.  Then Islam came and assimilated all these civilizations, incorporated the useful aspects and compiled everything in its crucible.

When the companion Amr Ibnul-A’as entered Egypt, he did not demolish the Pyramids or the Sphinx.  Allah (SWT) told us in the Holy Qur’an how to benefit from these monuments, and how to learn from previous nations.  Islam accumulated all these cultures.  The revival could not be achieved without culture and arts.  In fact, all revival fields must be preceded by culture and arts.

In the field of education, for example, students work to obtain an academic degree and high grades.  The student is only interested in getting that degree regardless of the means, which could be by cheating in exams or taking useless private lessons.  The important thing for the student is to obtain that degree and hang it on the wall.  This is one sort of tradition that could devastate a whole society.  Another example of the bad influence of culture on society: there was once a play/drama that taught students how to humiliate their teachers.  Do you realize now how education is affected by culture and how important it is for culture to precede education?

Let me give you one more example. There are thousands of university graduates, but where do these graduates go? They stay at home. Why? Because their culture is based on obtaining a degree in order to be respected in society and to be able to get married.  The first question a father asks a prospective bridegroom is often, “Do you have an academic degree?”  It is a shame to be an artist, even if you are a professional.  This is the culture of our society.  Consequently, the starting point for educational reform in our countries must be a change in our society’s culture.

As for the field of health, we find that many young men and women eat in Western restaurants.  As a result, they get ill, they also become infertile, but they still eat in these restaurants and are happy with that culture.  This is one sort of culture.  They represent the empty-headed youth who have no value in life.  Is this the culture of a nation?  On the other hand, you will find serious youth, but this is the culture of another nation.  Culture guides the society and affects all its fields, health, unemployment, etc and impacts even their religious attitude.  To think that being religious means only to pray and fast, and to have nothing to do with life making and success is another sort of culture.

Many religious people perform the Hajj (pilgrimage) every year.  If you suggest that they should instead use that money in scientific research, they will disagree with you even if you told them that scientific research would be of greater benefit for Muslims.  This is also the culture of certain people.

Therefore, there is a huge difference between culture and education.  It is possible that the best educated person, a university professor for example, is not a cultured person.  His knowledge is limited to his books, he knows nothing about the facets of life, he is not capable of using his knowledge in life, or fulfilling the needs of his country and Muslims.  In other words, he is not cultured.  Also, a person could be pious but not intellectual.  If you try to speak with that person about things other than theological subjects, you will discover that he does not know anything about life or about Muslims' conditions.  He has no plans for the revival of his country, and apart from religion, he knows nothing.

The antonym of the word ‘educated’ is ‘illiterate’ or ‘ignorant.’  The antonym of the word ‘intellectual’ is also ‘illiterate,’ but it is a different kind of illiteracy that the Holy Qur’an talks about where Allah says what can be translated as, "And there are among them (Jews) unlettered people, who know not the Book, but they trust upon false desires" (TMQ, 2:78)[2].  They do know how to read but the Qur’an describes them as illiterate because they do not benefit from their readings by applying their knowledge in the aspects of life.  This is the culture that I am talking about.  If this is the case, then how does Islam look at arts and culture? Are these fields prohibited, inappropriate and forbidden?  We will answer all these questions and show you the beautiful point of view taken by Islam towards these fields.

First, I would like to start by stating that Islam considered appreciating the beauty of things as the basis of art.  Hence, Islam raised the appreciation of the beauty of all things inside us.  The Holy Qur’an raised the beauty of enjoying the perfection of the universe inside us.  It gave us a wonderful divine painting which allowed us to understand it and to feel its splendour; this is the origin of culture and arts.

Listen to this ayah in which Allah speaks about cattle and which can be translated as, “And the cattle, He has created them for you; in them there is warmth (warm clothing), and numerous benefits, and of them you eat” (TMQ, 16:5) (a material benefit), and "And wherein is beauty for you, when you bring them home in the evening, and as you lead them forth to pasture in the morning" (TMQ, 16:6).  The ayah could have mentioned only their material benefits, but Allah (SWT) wanted to show us their aesthetic side in order to increase the Muslims' appreciation of beauty.

In the following ayah, Allah (SWT) also speaks about beauty, it can be translated as "And (He has created) horses, mules and donkeys, for you to ride and as an adornment" (TMQ, 16:8).  Moreover, listen to that ayah where Allah (SWT) speaks about the sea and which can be translated as, "And He it is Who has subjected the sea (to you), that you eat thereof fresh tender meat (i.e. fish), and that you bring forth out of it ornaments to wear" (TMQ, 16:14), and fruits "Eat of their fruit when they ripen" (TMQ, 6:141), and in another ayah which can be translated as "Look at their fruits when they begin to bear" (TMQ, 6:99).  When Allah (SWT) mentions the word ‘eat,’ it means the material benefit, when He says ‘look,’ it drew our attention to the aesthetic side.  Do you notice how the Qur’an shows us the aesthetic form?

Listen how Allah (SWT) describes the sky in what can be translated as, "Have they not looked at the heaven above them, how We have made it and adorned it, and there are no rifts in it?" (TMQ, 50:6) (i.e. do you see how beautiful the sky is?).  Listen to that ayah in which Allah (SWT) talks about gardens and which can be translated as, "and sends down for you water (rain) from the sky, whereby We cause to grow wonderful gardens full of beauty and delight?" (TMQ, 27:60).  Hence, the Qur’an is increasing the appreciation of beauty in our hearts.  The Qur’an is thus the origin of art.  The following ayahs draw our attention to human beauty.  Allah says what can be translated as, "O man! What has made you careless about your Lord, the Most Generous? Who created you, fashioned you perfectly, and gave you due proportion" (TMQ, 82:6-7).  Do we now see the aesthetic side of creation?

Listen also to these ayahs talking about the universe.  Allah says what can be translated as, "The Work of Allah, Who perfected all things" (TMQ, 27:88), "Who made everything He has created good." (TMQ, 32:7), "The Originator of the heavens and the earth." (TMQ, 2:117).  Do you see how Allah (SWT) beautified this universe? Was it not possible for Allah (SWT) to create the sky in black and white? Instead, He decorated it with colours, and artists sensed that beauty and learned how to appreciate it.

One day, the Prophet (SAWS) was passing by and heard Abu-Mussa al-Ash'ari, who had a very beautiful voice, reciting ayahs of the holy Qur’an.  He stopped and listened to him.  The next day, he met him and told him, ‘O Abu-Mussa, if only you knew how I enjoyed listening to you last night! You have Dawud's (AS) (David) Psalms.’ Abu-Mussa replied, “O Messenger of Allah! If only I knew that you were listening, I would have tried my hardest to enhance my recitation!”  The Prophet (SAWS) then laughed.

Let me now tell you how the Prophet (SAWS) treated artists.  Does this word sound strange? As you know, poets are now considered artists.

If the Prophet (SAWS) knew that a poet (artist) was among a coming convoy, he would give him a very special welcome and greeting.  The Prophet (SAWS) was well aware of the importance of culture and arts in each society.  The companion Abu-Bakr (RA) understood what the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) wanted, for example, he told him once that Zuhair, the poet, was arriving with a convoy.  The Prophet (SAWS) went to that convoy and greeted them one after the other, and Abu-Bakr (RA) was presenting each one of them to the Prophet (SAWS), until he got to Zuhair.  Abu-Bakr (RA) presented him to the Prophet (SAWS) who said in an admiring tone, “The poet!” Zuhair commented on that incident by saying that he was happier than he ever was, when the Prophet (SAWS) said, “The poet.”  Do you realize now how the Prophet (SAWS) treated Zuhair and attracted him?

The poetry we are talking about here is the one that outlines features of the nation and conveys its message, and not the poetry that disfigures the nation's features.  When the Islamic poet, Hassan, was defending the nation's features, the Prophet (SAWS) told him, “Go on, and may Jibril (AS) (Gabriel) be with you.”  The Prophet (SAWS) never said that to any other companion, even during battle.  Instead, he said it to a companion conveying the message of culture and arts.  How could we say, after all this evidence, that Islam does not encourage culture and arts?

I will tell you another example to clarify this matter.  The Prophet (SAWS), wanted to convey a very important idea to all Muslims.  It was the most important idea in Islam; what is the definition of Islam and what is the definition of Iman (Faith)? This Hadith is very famous and we all know it.  What is Islam? Islam requires that you say, “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger,” to perform the prescribed prayer, to pay Zakat (the obligatory alms), to observe fasting in Ramadan and to perform Hajj.  What is Iman? It is to affirm your faith in Allah (SWT), His angels, His Books, His Messengers and the Day of Judgment.

I will tell you an important Hadith in which you will see a very unusual scene.  It was narrated, “One day while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah there appeared before us a man whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black; no signs of journeying were to be seen on him and none of us knew him (everybody was looking, the picture is very important.  At present, media is the equivalent of picture).  He walked up and sat down by the Prophet, he didn't greet any of the companions.  Resting his knees against his and placing the palms of his hands on his thighs (on the Prophet's thighs! What a strange posture), he said, ‘O Muhammad (he did not say Messenger of Allah), tell me about Islam.’  The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah (until the end of the phrase).’  He said, ‘You have spoken rightly,’ and we were amazed at him asking him and saying that he had spoken rightly.  He said, ‘Then tell me about Iman.’  He said, ‘It is to believe in Allah ….’  He said, ‘You have spoken rightly.’  He said, ‘Then tell me about Ihsan.’  The Prophet replied.  Then He said, ‘You have spoken rightly.’  Then he took himself off and did not greet us.”  What would you do if you were with them? You would have been surprised by what you had just witnessed.  The Prophet (SAWS) could have ascended the minbar (an elevated platform used for preaching) and simply told the companions what Islam and faith signify.  The man left and all the companions were astonished.  The Prophet (SAWS) asked the companions, “Do you know who the questioner was?”  They said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.”  He said, “He was Jibril, who came to you to teach you your religion.”  Jibril (AS) came in human form.  Why do you think all this happened?  It was to engrave the meaning in their hearts.  Did you see how Islam believed that a picture is more effective than speech? This is one of the most fundamental Hadiths in our religion.  Is there any stronger evidence than that?

How did Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) enter Madinah? Was he not welcomed with the known song ‘Here rises the full-moon’ instead of the Qur'an?   In the Battle of Khaibar, the situation was very difficult and complex and Prophet Muhammad's followers began to feel disappointed, so the Prophet (SAWS) said, “Sing us a song Ibn-Rawaha.” Can you imagine this! The Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) wanted to encourage his followers through art.  Do you see all these models in Islam? Ibn-Rawaha began to sing a poem:

Allah, it is you who guided us,

We pray and spend money for the sake of Allah,

So, please bless us with serenity,

And give us strength in war,

Tyrants oppressed us,

We will never surrender to them.

Omar Ibnul-Khattab (RA) said, (talking to himself), “What is this; this is not a suitable time for poetry now (we are going to war).  Omar (RA) relates, “I suddenly heard Prophet Muhammad repeating after Rawaha, ‘never, never, never,’ I was amazed, then I began to sing with them.”

In this way, art and culture are a central part of the rise of any nation.  Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) started with this point from the very beginning, and after this, the Islamic culture followed Prophet Muhammad's interest in art and culture.  I want to shed a light on an important point, which is the importance of the stand of the khatib (the preacher of the Friday sermon) that is considered a perfect sign of Muslims' interest in art and culture. This stand is a type of mass media, through which the khatib addresses people who can see and listen to him.

Vision is important in Islam; it is important to see the information you are receiving.  Even comedy is an important factor in Islam.  As Ibn-Hajar mentioned in his book Al-Isaba (Accuracy), the Prophet’s companions included a group who tended to laugh and specialized in comedy.  They devoted their attention to make the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) and his other followers laugh when Madinah was going through hard times.  They wanted to refresh them to get ready for the wars and invasions in the future.  Even comedy was employed for the sake of Islam.

A companion of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), called Noayman, was deeply interested in ways to make the Prophet (SAWS) happy.  Once, he saw a nomad, who had never seen Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) before, selling honey.  Noayman took him to the door of Prophet Muhammad's house, and then bought a jar of honey.  Noayman went to Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) and said, “I wanted to give you a present.  I know that you love honey so I bought you a jar.”  Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) was so happy and thanked him.  When Noayman got out, he said to the nomad, “Take your money from the man inside,” and he left.  The nomad knocked on the door and the Prophet (SAWS) opened the door.  He asked him for the price of honey, but the Prophet (SAWS) was astonished and said, “What honey, this is a present.”  The nomad said, “Oh, you are dwellers!” Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) said, “Naughty Noayman,” and gave the nomad the price of the honey. Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) then went to Noyaman and asked him why he did that. Noayman replied, “I knew that you love honey, but I did not have the money for it, so I thought if I gave you the honey, Allah would give you the money for it.”  This was Noayman's story, but he did it with good intentions.

I just wanted to highlight that the Islamic culture after Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) was interested in art too.  However, I not only want to present the extent to which Islam cares for that topic, but also I want to talk to you about the following point:  I want gifted young artists to participate with us in the project of Sunaa' al-Hayah, and in the project of progress. There will be no rise of our nation or progress without you and your contribution; your role, help and support is very important for the implementation of this progress.  We need you. Why should groups of Sunaa’ al-Hayah in all Arabic countries be limited to youth from the faculties of Engineering, Medicine, Commerce and Pharmacy? Where is the role of art institutions? Where are the gifted youth of Sunaa’ al-Hayah in all fields of arts and culture? Why are there no artists taking the responsibility for the message of art and caring to participate with us?

After we discussed the Islamic view of art, now we need to know about the status of art and culture in our countries nowadays.  They are a cheap imitation of the Western model.  The video clip consists of a picture and voice; the picture is Western yet the voice is ours.  The problem with video clips is not only the dissolute words and movements, but the biggest problem is, in fact, the importation of something that has nothing to do with our own culture.  The picture is Western and the voice is ours, what would the clip look like? It is useless and aimless.  In that way, it is not art that will exalt the soul; it is directed to desire and lust; this is the result of blind imitation.

The second problem is importation of culture.  It is a real catastrophe, because we import culture and arts that do not suit us.  This problem is even greater than our agricultural problem.  When we import wheat, we eat from others, but when we import culture and arts as well, then we are erasing our features and replacing them with an artificial mask that is not ours.  This is in fact more dangerous than importing our food because we are becoming like imitating parrots, and this is dangerous.

The third problem in our countries is the lack of creativity and innovation.  In fact, innovation is the keystone in arts.  Innovation is the invention of something that has not been done before.  About 70% of our commercials are adapted from Spanish and Italian television, the music we hear in our countries is adapted too, not all of it but about 90% of the music is adapted from Turkish and Western music.  We do not innovate and our music is valueless.  The reason behind this is a lack of innovators; they are careless or have no ambitions to think of beautiful things.  In this way, song lyrics are nonsense and for this reason, we have no award winning movies, and all the songs revolve around the same topic: I love you, my beloved, I cannot live without you, I will die without you, I cannot leave you, why has she left me, how will I find my beloved, someone bring my love back to me, even the words indicate negativity.

In our last episode, a young man suggested an idea to demonstrate how we lack innovation in art; he suggested that each of us write the lyrics of a song we like and then read them, you will laugh at the naivety of the words.  You will either find useless, unlinked words, or vague words as the singer sang the song according to the composer's tips.  A pretty lady would dance beside the singer to cover his bad voice.  Where is the innovation? Where is the beauty of the lyrics?  Is this not the state of our art now?  

Where are the museums and exhibitions of fine arts and paintings? If you went to London and walked by Hyde Park on Sunday, you will find marvellous paintings hung over a 1 km stretch on its fence.  Unfortunately, we lack innovation.

Oh artists, you will be asked on Judgment Day.  Allah (SWT) will ask you why you obliterated the features of the nation.  What for; for earning your living? All who hear me now; you should gently tell those responsible for the arts that they must cease doing what they do and give them good advice as Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) taught us.  Your children will be subjected to these arts, and this decadent culture will be instilled into them and you will witness, with your own eyes how they will be brainwashed; would you accept that? Why don't you act positively to prevent this? Who is responsible for this, and is this a coincidence?  If the loss of identity is a coincidence, then it is a catastrophe, and if it is planned, then it is a crime.

I would like to establish an important point here.  Every nation passes though several phases: a pre-revival phase, a revival phase, the onset-of-revival phase, then the peak-of-revival phase.  From there on the nation starts collapsing.  The correct mission of the arts is to be in harmony or in accord with each phase and to prepare the nation for the next phase, so at the onset of revival, art must push the nation forward.  At the revival phase, it must calm people's emotions.

It is a fact that there are nations that have never been revived, that don’t even seek revival and that are satisfied with being at the bottom.  We cannot be among such nations!  Life Makers came with the message, “If we lack the things needed for revival, then at least we have the desire for revival.”  However, are culture and the arts in our countries helping this to happen?  This can never happen except with the existence of certain very crucial elements.  Right now we are experiencing the start of our revival and we hope that our artists would see to it that our arts and culture are propelling us forward in this phase.

It is extremely dangerous when a nation is at the onset of revival.  The present day arts contain nothing but illicitness and total indulgence (dancing and eccentricities etc.), placing all these as hurdles in the way of the progress of the nation.  It is like getting the culture and arts of a nation that has been revived and is about to collapse and giving it to a nation still struggling to stand up.  This would lead to the downfall of this nation, even more intensely than the nations that have started falling.  Do you now realize the importance of culture and arts in helping the revival and how far they influence a nation’s revival or downfall? Look at our countries in the post-colonization phase, during the fifties.  How were our arts and culture then?  They all propelled our revival, did they not?

All arts at that time revolved around the same notion.  Listen to the songs at that time, ‘O brother, learn that the tyrants have gone so far, so it’s time for Jihad and sacrifice.”  Another song, “Stay on guard keep your gun ready, if the whole world has gone to sleep then let it wake up by the thunder of my gun.”  How were our songs before the 6^th of October war?  How did our arts and culture boost the soldiers' morale in the battlefield?  They made their blood boil with rage.  All of the songs were meant for the Egyptian army and those who wrote these songs knew very well what they were going though.  They also knew our culture and how enraged we would be at hearing such words as, “The girl said, ‘My dress is spread on the other coast of the canal.’” which means that she was asking them to restore her lost dignity and cover her.  These words drove the men on the battlefield to react without hesitance.

Which phase are we in now?  I am calling on all of you who think that we should not be satisfied with being at the bottom.  Let artists do whatever they want and they have all the right to do it, but if you are serious and want to start a revival, please extend my words to the artists.  Please, we are still at the beginning of our revival and we need to stick together.  Let us think rationally to push this revival forward.  It is a pity if we keep building and others keep demolishing what we build.

At the end of this episode, a question poses itself, or rather two or three quick questions; is art haram or halal?  Is singing haram or halal? Acting, cinema, theatre?  Should women be actresses or not?  Should we listen to songs or not?  Are singers doing something halal or haram?

The issue is far more intense than all that.  Such questions usually embarrass Muslims.  They prefer to leave the reply for those who have the right to say fatwa (Islamic counselling), but how can we say halal or haram to something that is not ours?  These are all intrusions; do you realize what I mean?  All of this is coming from abroad, and then we ask Muslims to state their opinions on whether they are halal or haram!  These things are not suited to our customs or our environment.  They were meant for others, people with different thoughts, living through other phases and possessing different habits and concepts, so how can we ask if this is halal or haram?

We may name culture and the arts ‘a tool.’  Culture is indeed a tool.  Like a knife that you use to slaughter a chicken or slay a human being.  If, while we are the onset of our revival, this culture originates from our beliefs and morals and is geared to our benefit then it would not only be halal, but also a tool to enhance our revival.  Just remember what I told you about the 6^th of October war.

I have two messages for the artists:

1)      Please keep your art consistent with the phase we’re passing through: the start of our revival.  Elevate the spirits of the people to enable us to fulfil this.  Don’t cause us to be cast aside or to lose our way.

2)      We don’t want to import art.  We want it to be produced in our nation.  We have past contributions.  You all know about Maw’al, Mu’ashah, Zagal and Musharaty (types of singing).  All these are our own contributions.  Have you forgotten our art?  Why are you using art and thoughts that are not ours?

Two more points remain and let me talk about them quickly.  Should art be censored or not? I want to tell you something frankly.  Censorship is a new concept that was developed for security and political reasons.  It never existed before.  I believe that everyone should be left to express his culture and arts the way he sees it.  He should be left to express his opinion without being quelled or suppressed in any way.

In the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) told us the opinion of Satan and refuted it.  Our religion says that the strongest argument will prevail.  We have the strongest argument ever and we will prevail.  At the end remember, Allah says what can be translated as, “Let him who will, believe, and let him who will, reject (it)” (TMQ, 18:29).

I would like to convey the last point to all the ‘repenting’ and ‘retired’ artists.  I am against the term ‘repenting and retired.’  I am against calling them ‘repenting’ because this is between them and Allah (SWT).  I am against calling them ‘retired’ because why should they retire?  We seek to have artists who would grasp the meaning of art, only to have them retire one after the other.  I know the pressures they are placed under and I know how they fight this patiently and how much thawab they will get for it.  We seek to have those who would believe in this cause and come forward with unusual art that coincides with our phase.  We seek to have our own art, not imported art.

Many young artists meet me and ask me a great deal of questions and my reply is always the same, you must always have a cause, don’t live for the sake of making money because one day you’ll stand facing Allah (SWT) and you will be asked, “Have I not bestowed my bounties upon you? Have I not given you a gift? Have I not assisted you? What have you done with your gift?”  What will you say in reply? Are you going to say, “I was just trying to make a living and everything was so difficult.”  You will be asked, “Have you not heard my words.”  Allah says what can be translated as, “And in heaven is your Sustenance, as (also) that which ye are promised.  Then, by the Lord of heaven and earth, this is the very Truth, as much as the fact that ye can speak intelligently to each other.” (TMQ, 51: 22-23)

I have this to say to the young artists, you will face Allah (SWT) one day and Allah (SWT) will make you bear full responsibility for this.  Allah (SWT) will tell you, “You’ve led your nation astray; you’ve swept its identity.  It was striving to revive and you let it lose its way because you wanted to make money.”  What will you say then?  You will bite your fingertips with regret because of the art you presented.  You’ll regret the day you took part in this art.  Imagine your delight when Allah (SWT) says to you, “Your art will lead you to paradise.  You helped revive the nation.  Go my slave, I’m happy with you.”  Imagine your delight then.

I wish this message could reach the young artists.  I ask all who hear me now to convey it to all the art institutes, to all the colleges of art, applied arts and fine arts; to all the architects, sculptors, lyric writers, music composers, singers, painters, directors, novelists and dramatists; to all those who work in the arts, culture and media; to all those who work in television; to the announcers and program presenters.  Please, I beseech you, the nation wants to revive so please take its hand and help push it forward.

At last I would like to ask you to re-write the visions in the domains of arts and culture on the website.  I would like you to reach the artists and I would like them to send us their opinions so we could add them to what we already have.  One last thing, the project ‘Overcoming Computer Illiteracy’ needs to be implemented with full force and with all the effort we can give.

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