Do we appreciate the unseen painter behind beautiful paintings? What do people who appreciate paintings do for the painter asks Yousuf Mahbubul Islam, PhD
Do we appreciate the unseen painter behind beautiful paintings? What do people who appreciate paintings do for the painter asks Yousuf Mahbubul Islam, PhD
Do we appreciate the unseen painter behind beautiful paintings? What do people who appreciate paintings do for the painter asks Yousuf Mahbubul Islam, PhD
Article appeared Friday, July 4th, 2014 in The News Today, Bangladesh
The Revelation !!4" yousu# $ah%u%ul &sla$, 'h(
)hen we see a %eauti#ul painting, what co$es to our $inds* (o we thin+ $ore a%out the contents o# the painting or do we thin+ $ore a%out the unseen artist %ehind the wor+,o#,art* &s it the s+ill o# the artist that %uyers pay #or or is it #or the contents o# the painting* 'eople interested in paintings have %een +nown to use the phrase, -&t.s a 'icasso/0 1 $eaning that it is a painting %y the 2panish painter, sculptor, poet and playwright 'a%lo 'icasso 1331 1 145!" {1}6 2uch people are also $ost interested in the painter.s personal li#e, e.g. why he drew what he drew, what $otivated hi$, how he developed his style, etc. 'icasso.s style is uni7ue, and when so$eone says, -&t.s a 'icasso/0 it is indeed a recognition with high praise #or the painter6 For the artist, people do various things, such as write %oo+s on his wor+, design courses to help students appreciate his wor+ and hold discussion sessions6 Just as a painting cannot co$e into %eing without a painter, can a hu$an %eing co$e into e8istence without the 9reator* 2o, i# we say we %elieve, should we %e si$ilarly interested in the 9reator* For e8a$ple, why did :e 9reate intelligent and uni7ue hu$an %eings* )hat was;is :is <otivation* )hat are :is =ualities* Also, should we write %oo+s, design courses to help students appreciate :is )or+ and hold discussion sessions* Just as paintings are a%out the painter, should li#e on earth %e a%out the 9reator* )hen we e8a$ine any li#e #or$, should we praise the 9reator #or :is 2+ill at $a+ing the particular li#e #or$* )hat should we do when we loo+ at ourselves or thin+ a%out our own a%ilities* )e #ind an answer to so$e o# these 7uestions in the =ur.an, &t is :e )ho %rought you #orth #ro$ the wo$%s o# your $others when you +new nothing> and :e gave you hearing, sight, intelligence and a##ections? so that you may be grateful (to your Creator). @1A653B To %e a%le to %e grate#ul, i.e., to %e a%le to give than+s, hu$an %eings need an analytical a%ility to evaluate the things that the 9reator has %estowed, Cust as we are a%le to assign value to the wor+ o# a painter and %eco$e #ull o# praise6 &n addition to the analytical a%ility, what else has the 9reator done #or hu$an %eings* As illustrated in the =ur.an, &t is Allah who $ade your ha%itations ho$es o# rest and 7uiet #or you> and $ade #or you out o# the s+ins o# ani$als tents #or" dwellings which you #ind so light and handy" when you travel and when you stop in your travels"> and out o# their wool and their so#t #i%ers %etween wool and hair" and their hair rich stu## and articles o# convenience to serve you" #or a ti$e6 @1A630B &t is Allah who $ade out o# the things :e created so$e things to give you shade> o# the hills :e $ade so$e #or your shelter> :e $ade you gar$ents to protect you #ro$ the heat and coats o# $ail to protect you #ro$ your $utual" violence6 Thus does :e co$plete his #avors on you that you $ay %ow to :is )ill6 @1A631B :ow can one %ow to the )ill o# the 9reator* &t is si$ply #ul#illing the purpose o# recogniDing :is =ualities using our intelligence, giving value, apportioning appropriate praise and %eing grate#ul/ Eet, Allah, our 9reator, says in the su%se7uent Ferse, They recogniDe the #avors o# Allah> then they deny the$> and most of them are ungrateful. @1A63!B 2o, what should %e the attitude o# a hu$an %eing towards the 9reator who has done so $uch to ena%le an individual e8istence* Also, i# thus, so #ar, we have ignored the 9reator and :is 9ontri%ution to our e8istence and lives, what recourse do we have* But verily, your Gord, to those who do wrong in ignorance, %ut therea#ter repent and $a+e a$ends, your Gord, a#ter all this, is H#t,Forgiving, <ost <erci#ul6 @1A6114B 9.112 Those that turn (to Allah) in repentance: that serve Him and praise Him that !ander in devotion to the "ause o# Allah that $o! do!n and prostrate themselves in pra%er that en&oin 'ood and #or$id evil and o$serve the limits set $% Allah (such ma% re&oice). So proclaim the glad tidings to the Believers. Ferse 46112 outlines the 7ualities o# %elievers who would #ul#ill the purpose #or which they have %een created6 )hat a%out those who re#use to ac+nowledge the %lessings o# the 9reator* Eour Gord 9reator" is Hne Allah? as to those who %elieve not in the :erea#ter their hearts re#use to +now as they are arrogant6 @1A622B A%out such people, the 9reator says, Hr do you thin+ that $ost o# the$ listen or understand* They are only li+e cattle> nay they are worse astray in 'ath6 @2I644B Those who do not use their intelligence appropriately are co$pared with cattle %y the 9reator and hence, 9.11( )t is not #ittin' #or the prophet and those !ho $elieve that the% should pra% #or #or'iveness #or pa'ans even thou'h the% $e o# *in a#ter it is clear to them that the% are companions o# the +ire. 2o %elievers are not even allowed to pray #or those who are arrogant/ Allah $entions an e8ception6 9.11, And A$raham pra%ed #or his #ather-s #or'iveness onl% $ecause o# a promise that he had made. .ut !hen it $ecame clear to him that he !as an enem% to Allah he dissociated himsel# #rom him: #or A$raham !as most tender/hearted and #or$earin'. Jverything we have and enCoy is #ro$ the 9reator6 &t is :e who sustains us every $o$ent6 There#ore, as reco$$ended, Khold #ast altogether %y the rope which Allah stretches out #or you" and %e not divided a$ong yourselves> and re$e$%er with gratitude AllahLs #avor on you>K @!610!B )e should share our understanding o# the in#inite #avors o# our 9reator and #ind ways to %e grate#ul %oth individually and collectively6 9.110 And Allah !ill not mislead a people a#ter He has 1uided them in order that He ma% ma*e clear to them !hat to #ear (and avoid) #or Allah has *no!led'e o# all thin's. Hther than the 9reator, there is no power, as everything else is a part o# the created real$6 All power is vested in the 9reator and :e is the Hwner o# everything and every soul6 2hould we not use our intelligence to understand this #act* 9.112 To Allah $elon' the dominion o# the heavens and the earth. He 'ives li#e and He ta*es it. 34cept #or Him %ou have no protector or helper. ,,,,,,, {5otes}? {1} http?;;en6wi+ipedia6org;wi+i;'a%loM'icasso