IFSA - Science and Arts

Science and Art. The importance of (he)art

Science and Art. The former is the expression of the beauty of Allah's and the latter is creation the recognition of the beauty of his creation by individuals who implement the tools, which he has provided for mankind as a gift of his grace. These are the faculties of "hearing, seeing, heart and intellect" in combination with the elements of nature. All such tools must be utilised and communicated through all existing media to everyone on the planet. So much that everyone has the chance to understand Islam in the right way without force, harshness and aggression, but with patience, kindness, constancy and, above all, wisdom and justice.

Art (calligraphy, architecture, recitation (qirit), singing, music, poetry and handicraft) can be the expression of the beauty of Allah's creation. Science is based on reason and arts on emotion. So with the harmonious coexistence of both elements in the Muslim society we can convince more people to embrace Islam. Everyone is a Muslim but must recognise it and commit to it. That can only happen, if we present Islam as an attractive religion, which is the duty of a Muslim. I say science and arts can or could do all that because Allah guides not everyone with the gift of these talents:

26. And We had firmly established them in a (prosperity and) power which We have not given to you (ye Quraish!) and We had endowed them with (faculties of) hearing seeing heart and intellect: but of no profit to them were their (faculties of) hearing sight and heart and intellect when they went on rejecting the Signs of Allah; and they were (completely) encircled by that which they used to mock at!

A. Yusuf Ali Quran Translation
Surah Al-Ahqaf Surah 46 35 Ayahs

For the recognition of Allah as the almighty creator it is not even necessary to be literate. The simple farmer in a poor country can be closer to Allah than we are. At the end of the day the seal of the prophets, Mohammed (peace be upon him), was an illiterate. But we as citizens of a consumer society are victims of massive propaganda and consumerism. But we have been given the gift of education and the ability to achieve knowledge. So we need to read and understand the Quran even more in order to compensate for the bad stimuli and influences through the media.

Allah wants us to honour his creation and propagate his existence and oneness. That is why he always puts a warning wherever he describes the beauty of his work:

1 (Allah) Most Gracious!
2 It is He Who has taught the Qur'an.
3 He has created man:
4 He has taught him speech (and Intelligence)
5 The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed;
6 And the herbs and the trees-both (alike) bow in adoration.
7 And the Firmament has He raised high and He has set up the balance (of Justice)
8 In order that ye may not transgress (due) balance.
9 So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance.
10 It is He Who has spread out the earth for (His) creatures:
11 Therein is fruit and date-palms producing spathes (enclosing dates):
12 Also corn with (its) leaves and stalk for fodder and sweet-smelling plants.
13. Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?

A. Yusuf Ali Quran Translation
Surah Ar-Rahman Surah 55 78 Ayahs

1 Say: He is Allah the One and Only;
2 Allah the Eternal Absolute;
3 He begetteth not nor is He begotten;
4 And there is none like unto Him.

A. Yusuf Ali Quran Translation
Surah Al-Ikhlaas Surah 112 4 Ayahs

One way, how we can propagate the oneness of Allah and the common origin of his creation is by expressing the beauty of this universe through our intellect and the tools Allah has given us (, as we do when we build beautiful mosques or read the Quran).

I am expressing the importance of arts because there is easily a lack of application of artistic talents in a work-oriented society and in scientific studies. That causes a vacuum and a frustration. You will find that most scientific geniuses and inventors of the West were at the same time either musicians or painters, etc. Okay, we should not necessarily copy them in every aspect, but I want to describe a phenomena: Surprisingly you will find that most of these scholars of the West believed in a Creator, even though they may have been misunderstood and even though they may not have found Islam. (Einstein Newton, Darwin, da Vinci, Edison, Planck, Kopernicus, Joule, Kelvin, Siemens, Weizsaecker, Maxwell, etc., see "Gottbekenntnisse grosser Naturforscher", Ernst Frankenberger, Johannesverlag Leutesdorf, D-5458 Leutesdorf. 1989. ISBN 3-7794-0553-9).

Darwin, the very founder of the so-called "Evolution Theory" said: "I have never neglected the existence of God. I believe that the Evolution theory is completely harmonious with the belief in God. The fact that is impossible to prove or understand that the enormous and in above every measure beautiful universe as well as human have appeared by accident seems to me to be the main argument for the existence of God."

The theory of evolution and the modern findings do harmonise absolutely with the Quran. I will explain that during the course. If the Quran does not support such discoveries, then the discoveries must be wrong and revised. If you reject this fact as a Muslim, you are denying the whole Quran and in fact Islam, which is a perfectly scientific religion and more.
The example of Darwin as well as many others that could be quoted here shows that knowledge causes the longing for the acceptance of Allah.

But we cannot blame people who are staying away from Islam because they find the Muslims unattractive as a community. Okay, they could have taken the Quran and understood it. Many may have done so in secret but Satan held them back from entering the Ummah.
Additionally Satan makes us find false ideals and preach wrong and forbid what is good:

Ayah 1
Yusuf Ali O Prophet! why holdest thou to be forbidden that which Allah has made lawful to thee? Thou seekest to please thy consorts. But Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

Quran Comparison (English)
Surah At-Tahrim Surah 66 12 Ayahs

78 And there are among them illiterates who know not the Book but (see therein their own) desires and they do nothing but conjecture.
79 Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say: "This is from Allah" to traffic with it for a miserable price! Woe to them for what their hands do write and for the gain they make thereby

A. Yusuf Ali Quran Translation
Surah Al-Baqara Surah 2 286 Ayahs

This warning in the Sura-tul-Baqara is very clear. For example, it is an illness among uneducated Muslims that they declare thing like music as forbidden (haram) without understanding the lyrics at all. There is clearly haram music, like bellydance that is practised mainly in the Middle Eastern world or the glittering of Indian film dance and music. One can imagine that much of the modern Pop-music is haram, if it praises drugs, sex and purely physical leisure. But some "scholars" categorically deny all music and instruments. They refer to some week Hadith, which are supposed to describe the Prophet as putting his fingers into his ears when he heard someone playing a flute. This someone might have played very badly and even someone loving music could have done the same in that situation as the Prophet (peace be upon him) did! He didn't forbid others to listen. Apart from that I did not find that Hadith anywhere. We all know that the people of Medina sung a song of welcome to the Prophet (peace be upon him). Then you get those people who say that drums and singing is allowed but strings, brass and wooden instruments are forbidden. Every sound praises Allah, if the lyrics are accordingly. Music without lyrics is neutral, like a piece of white paper, you can write an Ayah on it or a satanic poem. If the lyrics praise Allah, how can the music be haram? It is stupid to think so. In fact you will find people who say music is Haram watching Indian movies at home. Hypocrites.

Some say that music is the first trick of Satan. On the other hand some of them take Sufi music as a basis of their Iman. A lot of wrong is being preached therein as well as in many leaflets and pamphlets that are abundant nowadays. Music can be very haram, if the lyrics are not praising Allah, and it can be allowed (halal), if it praises Allah and quotes the teachings of the Quran. And it can describe the beauty of Allah's creation that can be read at the end of the Surah-tul-Shuarah (the poets) referring to poets:

227. Except those who believe work righteousness engage much in the remembrance of Allah and defend themselves only after they are unjustly attacked. And soon will the unjust assailants know what vicissitudes their affairs will take!

A. Yusuf Ali Quran Translation
Surah Ash-Shu'araa Surah 26 227 Ayahs

Another reason why art is of importance because men uses the tools provided by Allah's creation in order to express their value and in order to praise Allah, for example handicraft:

16. He sends down water from the skies and the channels flow each according to its measure: but the torrent bears away the foam that mounts up to the surface. Even so from that (ore) which they heat in the fire to make ornaments or utensils therewith there is a scum likewise. Thus doth Allah (by parables) show forth Truth and Vanity: for the scum disappears like froth cast out; while that which is for the good of mankind remains on the earth. Thus doth Allah set forth parables.

A. Yusuf Ali Quran Translation
Surah Ar-Ra'd Surah 13 43 Ayahs

Ayah 24
Yusuf Ali The likeness of the life of the present is as the rain which We send down from the skies: by its mingling arises the produce of the earth which provides food for men and animals: (it grows) till the earth is clad with its golden ornaments and is decked out (in beauty): the people to whom it belongs think they have all powers of disposal over it: there reaches it Our command by night or by day and We make it like a harvest clean-mown as if it had not flourished only the day before! Thus do We explain the Signs in detail for those who reflect.

Quran Comparison (English)
Surah Yunus Surah 10 109 Ayahs

Ayah 13
Yusuf Ali And the things on this earth which He has multiplied in varying colours (and qualities): verily in this is a Sign for men who celebrate the praises of Allah (in gratitude).
Ayah 14
Yusuf Ali It is He Who has made the sea subject that ye may eat thereof flesh that is fresh and tender and that ye may extract therefrom ornaments to wear; and thou seest the ships therein that plough the waves that ye may seek (thus) of the bounty of Allah and that ye may be grateful.

Quran Comparison (English)
Surah An-Nahl Surah 16 128 Ayahs

Ayah 12
Yusuf Ali Nor are the two bodies of flowing water alike the one palatable sweet and pleasant to drink and the other salty and bitter. Yet from each (kind of water) do ye eat flesh fresh and tender and ye extract ornaments to wear; and thou seest the ships therein that plough the waves that ye may seek (thus) of the Bounty of Allah that ye may be grateful.

Quran Comparison (English)
Surah Fatir Surah 35 45 Ayahs

In fact Allah himself is the greatest artist and he has enabled us to create by his grace and also to imitate his art. Ideally he would like to be proud of us:

Ayah 9
Yusuf Ali But He fashioned him in due proportion and breathed into him something of His spirit. And He gave you (the faculties of) hearing and sight and feeling (and understanding): little thanks do ye give!

Quran Comparison (English)
Surah As-Sajda Surah 32 30 Ayahs

So the Islamic Forum on Science and Art wants to encourage the use of all media and artforms in a permitted (halal) way. We want to understand and carry the message of Islam with knowledge and beautiful preaching, inshallah, to make Allah proud of his creation:

125. Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best who have strayed from His Path and who receive guidance

A. Yusuf Ali Quran Translation
Surah An-Nahl Surah 16 128 Ayahs

Introduction for Muslims

Science and Arts

Science and Art. The importance of (he)art