Islamic Awakening – Conversation with Tariq Ramadan: Islamic Art and Artistic Traditions

When heart is resolved with Love for Allah (S.B.T.), with completeness of being: The mind, the body, the heart and spirit actively in tune to Allah (S.B.T.), The Creator, there is the profound appreciation of impressions of the world around. Great spirituality may profoundly arise out of the love between true soul-mates, steadfastly turning towards The One, which also triggers off intense perceptions of reality, resulting in being highly creative. Also, in a setting of an International community, based on presence of being a true human being, with moral values that are founded, indirectly or directly, on the scriptural sources of the great world religions and appreciation of nature, there is an open and free mind to assess information and being “high” on knowledge. The outcome is that with sound reasoning, faith, and understanding, impressions may result in creating abstract, mysterious or even problem-solving puzzling art depicting, for example, feelings or realities, with signs or abstract symbols that cannot be expressed with language alone. The “Muslim days” full of in-depth life, in-depth character, learning and adventure, by Love of Allah (S.B.T.) results in that, being in this state, one becomes skillful, inventive and creative.

Excellent and revealing conversation. It is true that too many Muslims appear to allow a single hadith to prevent them from engaging with music. I hope we see lots of Muslim people in choirs, orchestras, chamber ensembles and in world music. Their place in such ensembles will reveal the true beauty of both Islam and Christianity.