New Views of Islam - 65. Art (1)
Hamid AzizPOP_Server=pop.freeuk.net
New Views of Islam - 65. Art
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Part 1
All discussions in Islam must start with Allah because Islam is submission
to Allah and He is the origin of all things, the Supreme Creator and Ruler.
The Universe He has created has a purpose. Man is part of it and has a
function in its maintenance, construction and administration, at least of
this planet. Islam is more interested in the works of Allah, in Nature, than
in the works of man and requires that the works of man conform to the
purposes of Allah. He is a Vicegerent (2:30). As a vicegerent with the
spirit of Allah within him, he is a subordinate creator, though he can only
re-arrange what has already been created to various levels. In its broadest
sense the word "Art" may be used to refer to all man's products - his
activities, ideas, sciences, organizations, institutions, inventions,
technologies, customs, etiquette and way of life.
The purpose and function of Art, from the Islamic point of view, must,
therefore, be understood in relation to man's vicegerency, his function with
respect to the Creator and the Cosmos, particularly man and his environment.
It is not the case of dominating over nature or replacing nature. Nor is it
a case of being part of nature and merely working with nature. We are
required not to flout it, but to use it and to enhance it.
"Work not confusion (chaos, mischief or evil) in the earth after it has
been rightly ordered, and call upon Him with fear and hope (longing and
earnestness); for, verily, the mercy of Allah is nigh unto those who do
well." 7:56
"Blessed is He in Whose hand is the Sovereignty, and He has power to do all
things, Who created death and life that He may try you as to which of you
is best in conduct; and He is the Mighty, the Forgiving," 67:1-2
"And He has subjected to you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is
in the earth, all from Himself; most surely there are signs in this for a
people who reflect." 45:13
"Have they not pondered upon themselves? Allah created not the heavens and
the earth and that which is between them except with truth and for a
destined end." 30:8
"Assuredly the creation of the heavens and the earth is a greater thing than
the creation of mankind. But most of mankind know not." 40:57
"We did not create the heaven and the earth and what is between the two in
play. Unto Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, and those
who dwell in His Presence are not too proud to serve Him, nor do they
weary." 21:16-19
"Whoso judges not by what Allah has revealed, these are the wrong-doers (the
unjust)." 5:45
"O ye who believe! Fear (be dutiful to) Allah and crave the means to
approach Him, and strive in His way in order that ye may succeed (or
prosper)." 5:35
The purpose of Art is to facilitate human development and the world around
us. To increase knowledge, refine sensibilities, provide correct motives,
enhance abilities and control over ourselves and our affairs and provide
instruments and techniques to aid in all these respects. To make us aware,
stimulate and expand consciousness (about the cosmos, life and the things
and events in it), conscience (a sense of responsibilities, empathy,
sympathy, correct motives) and will (self-control, coordination, skills); to
create unity and harmony, a sense of well being and peace within man, in the
society and in the environment, between man and society and between man and
his physical surroundings; to facilitate learning; to explore potentialities
and possibilities both in man and in things; to stimulate and encourage the
establishment of truth, goodness and efficiency, of objective facts as well
as of ideals and values, and to actualize and create what is appropriate; to
enhance the usage and utility of things; to hymn the praises of the creator,
that is, to celebrate life and existence, and the joys of living; to remove
tensions and promote relaxation and recuperation.
Human activities, especially in Colleges, are usually divided into the Arts
and Sciences. But human beings have three faculties, those for thinking,
feeling an action. Broadly speaking the Arts deal in feeling, Science in
thought and what we might call Normatics in action. This last can also be
called Economics, provided the word is used to cover all human actions and
interactions. This includes organization, administration, law, politics,
industry, and the social, health and educational services. It consists of
techniques by which facts are used to achieve values, normally established
through Art. The word technology should be used for all this, but it is
normally understood in a much narrower sense, for the application of science
without reference to values. Of course, all three faculties are engaged to
different degrees in all fields.
Here the word "Art" will be used in the wider sense to cover all human
activities which are not instinctive but derive from his voluntary mind and
are, or are not, done deliberately and consciously. These will have an
affect on the psyche of the individual, on the society and on the
environment.
Religion should be regarded as a synthesis of all three when they are
objective, that is, when they are consciously and deliberately carried out
and conform to reality. It will be regarded as having three aspects:-
Ethics, Science and Economics. Here Ethics provides values, Science facts,
and Economics provides the method of getting from facts to values, thus
creating new facts. We get our idea of beauty from nature, and Beauty can be
defined as the harmony in nature. Man is part of nature and should fit
harmoniously into it for his own welfare. He has a built-in need for it.
Harmony is a state of Being. The study of the overall harmony between human
pursuits that deal with facts, meanings and values, and of these with
nature, is the proper field of Aesthetics. The practice of this is Art.
It is assumed, particularly in the West, that Art has "value in itself".
Indeed, in a secular society where there is no belief in God or a universal
purpose, Art is regarded as the highest achievement of man and something
that gives life meaning and value. The implication is that Art must be held
sacrosanct and above criticism. Since it is the expression of the creativity
of an artist (regarded as a divine quality though God is denied) only
subjective judgments are possible and everyone's judgment is as good as
anyone else's. The artist is, therefore, thought to be some kind of superior
being who cannot be criticized or held responsible for his actions. As a
result of idolization or his creativity he tends to become arrogant and
socially irresponsible. And all his depravities are excused though they are
widely imitated. There is sentimentality and superstition attached to the
notion of Art.
The Islamic attitude is different. The fact is that artists are part of the
world and of the community, formed by them and affecting them. Apart from
food and air, impressions are also necessities of life with much more
profound effects, and can be nutritious, catalytic or poisonous. Human
health and development requires nutrition and the avoidance of poisons. A
good piece of Art is something firmly rooted in the objective truth about
the World but which reaches out towards the objective sublime Cosmic goal.
"Dost thou not see how Allah strikes out a parable? A goodly Saying is like
a goodly tree whose root is set firm, and whose branches reach into the
heavens; It gives its fruit at every season by the permission of its Lord -
Allah strikes out parables for men that haply they may reflect (or be
mindful). And the similitude of a bad saying is as a bad tree, which is
felled from above the earth, possessing no stability." 14:24-26
Objective judgments are certainly possible and necessary. It is also
perfectly possible, and requires an even greater skill, to produce objective
art. This is art based on knowledge about how things, shapes, sounds,
colours, patterns etc. affect people and which effects are beneficial and
how these can be produced. Purposeless art must be regarded as something
primitive, a form of hypnosis by things which glitter or a kind of idolatry.
Intelligence itself demands that objective art should replace subjective art
and that the artist as everyone should be held accountable for what he does.
This does not, however, imply that Art must necessarily be an intellectual
activity. Feelings and action also provide information and guide further
action. The difference between artists lies in their sensitivity, their
awareness, conscience and subtleness of control and skill.
A great amount of art is meant to draw attention, excite or shock and arouse
the baser passions, to produce emotionalism, to dull sensitivity or to
create attachment or addictions to something, or to create fantasies and
mislead. This is done in order to make profit or to manipulate people. Much
of it is really quite frivolous. This includes such things as certain kinds
of fashions, cosmetics, jewelry, paintings, sculpture etc. Some of it is
sheer exhibitionism, simply meant to impress people with the artist's
prowess or to draw attention to them. Much traps people into a vicious
circle of illusions:- A piece of Art, say a painting is bought as an
investment and locked up. It is sold for profit when its value increases.
But the value increases only because there is demand for it. And the demand
is based on its value as an investment. Other similar paintings by a less
famous artist might be just as good or better, but are ignored. Things made
out of precious metals such as gold or precious stones, which have no use
themselves are valued because people want them, and people want them because
the want itself has given them value. A lot of art is simply boasting and
self-advertisement. Whereas these things may be tolerated as not harmful,
they are a waste of time, effort, energy, materials, attention, and mental
space which could have been better used.
Part 2 follows
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H. S. Aziz
www.altway.freeuk.com
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