We strive for picture-perfect moments. We pose at a wedding. We post on social media as if we’ve reached the heavens. Whether you apply makeup, choose filters, or adjust camera angles, it is clear that everyone has ideals to reach. While the Qur'an is the criterion by which we judge our affairs, photography is an evolving language and our contribution to the world of photography places us on a spectrum (more aptly the plural spectra) from conservative to liberal, wealth to poverty, etc. What inspires us as Muslims? What is our message? As Muslims extend a global invitation to enter Islam, the world would achieve peace if through our lens, we focused on the remembrance of Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala. Keep your tongue moist with dhikr (remembrance). Keep your heart and soul firmly entrenched upon the deen (religion). Stay centered on Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala as if you see Him and know that He sees you. In college, I studied black-and-white photography. I worked in a darkroom and processed film. I wish today’s iPhone generation would take advantage of the opportunity to study the history of photography. There are so many creative people in the world limiting themselves in terms of expression, but the art of photography allows us to identify with an image. It can build empathy. As Lauryn Hill once sang, it is important to “know who you are in the struggle.” Whether the issue is the Palestinian-Israeli peace process or the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, photography helps us see more clearly. It brings us closer to people who live at a distance. In a Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is recorded as saying it is incumbent upon us to seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave. In this Sisyphean task, we reach the heights by piling books on our backs. We carry a heavy load. This is evidenced by the plight of a student on the subway of DC in the photo below. She is carrying her work with her. She is a young traveler—conspicuous and clever. In a way, she is outdated. So much of our knowledge transmission occurs online or through electronic means these days, but reading physical books is still a worthwhile, valuable endeavor. We finish reading a book and begin a new book; we climb a mountain—rise to the summit of knowledge and return to the valley below ready to begin another journey, prepared to ascend the heights. As I watched this stranger board the train, I was reminded of the Hadith and how I am accountable before Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala for my actions on earth. Where do I gaze? Would my hands and eyes testify for or against me on the Day of Judgment? How delicate life is… As the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, we ought to be in the world as travelers. As a fan of street photography, I enjoy composing shots of my natural surroundings whether near home or far from the familiar. On the bus, I saw a woman with an elephant tattoo on her foot sitting adjacent to a US soldier with his army boots. I was reminded of Surah Al-Fil (The Elephant). I remembered it mentioned the military invasion led by the Governor of Yemen, who marched toward Mecca with his companions riding elephants. He was defeated in a miraculous event. Birds pelted the invaders with stones of clay thwarting the enemy. The head elephant did not even enter the city of Mecca, but instead halted outside the city. The Kaaba was protected. It was the year the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was born. The photo I took on the bus hinted at the protracted wars in the Middle East where invading armies have sought to make a profit, as the Governor of Yemen (otherwise known as the Abyssinian leader Abraha) did fourteen hundred years ago. Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala is in control and we must fully submit to Him alone. He provides a way when there seems to be no way. Thus, we can remember Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala in subtle moments when we have our cameras with us however modest our intentions. We can be ambitious and frame our work, but photography is not all business and profit. It is expression. It is meaning making. As humans, we can enjoy the language of photography and study the art of making images. We can find our voice, so to speak. And we can recognize the speech of Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala. So, whether you’re reminded of a chapter from the Qur’an or the Day of Judgment, may our picture-taking efforts provide us with insight, peace, and hope. Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala is the Light of the heavens and the earth (Qur’an 24:35). And that light is very often guidance.
Yerusalem Work
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