The Forenoon

"Anis al-Hujjaj" and other first-hand accounts on Hajj until 1700

2014-06-01T11:54:00.000+03:00

The Islamic pilgrimage, called "Hajj", represents the fifth pillar of the five basic acts in Islam which are considered mandatory for every Muslim, the Five Pillars of Islam. These pillars are Shahada (Declaration of Faith), Salat (ritual prayer, performed five times a day), Zakat (giving 2,5% of one's savings to the poor and needy), Saum (fasting and self-control during the Islamic month of Ramadan) and Hajj (the pilgrimage to Makkah once in a lifetime if one is able to).

The Hajj contains many rituals, which are performed by the pilgrim. The main rituals include walking seven times around the Kaaba (the black cube inside the Mosque Al-Haram in Makkah, considered the holiest place of the Islamic world) termed Tawaf, touching the Black Stone termed Istilam, traveling seven times between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah termed Sa'yee, and symbolically stoning the Devil in Mina termed Ramee. Additionally to those rituals there exist many different obligatory deeds and recommended acts of worship such as the rituals connected to approaching or entering Makkah as well as completing the pilgrimage and returning home. As an example the way the clothing Ihram, consisting of two plain white sheets worn by male pilgrims, is folded.

The pilgrimage is considered a life-changing event in every Muslims life but its realization is not seen as self-evident. Globally speaking it is still the wealthy and fortunate who attend the journey,

although nowadays more affordable plane tickets have replaced exclusive traveling, such as ship- and caravan-transportation. Both the spiritual meaningfulness and the actualization of the unlikely are reasons for the popularity of certificates attesting a person’s pilgrimage and other documentation of the journey. As a third aspect comes the possible improvement of one's socio economic status after a completed pilgrimage, which creates a need for attestation.

“Please forgive me if I have done you wrong. I am going on Hajj.” (2012) Newsha Tavakolian

The rituals of the Hajj have not changed much since their introduction through the Quran and the Sunnah (teachings and practices of the Islamic prophet Muhammad). But very much alike today's Muslims, the Muslims of earlier generations needed advice and guidance in order to perform the complicated rituals of the Hajj in correct manner and order.

Reports and guides on the pilgrimage

Written and illustrated guides on Hajj existed throughout the Islamic world already around 1000, produced by pilgrims and outsiders who had travelled from distant countries and continents to perform or witness the pilgrimage. More remarkable guides and detailed accounts of experience are though dated back to 1200 from where we witness a steady grow of this kind of scriptures.

"The travels of Ibn Jubair", written by Ibn Jubair (d.1217), is a detailed first-hand account on the journey from Andalucía (Spain) to Makkah. Jubair began his journey on 3rd February 1183 and after travelling up the Nile and passing through the desert of 'Aidhab he arrived in Makkah on the 4th of August, having travelled for six months. Later his report was extensively read by other important travelers who performed the pilgrimage.

"As we marched that night, the full moon had thrown its rays upon the earth, the night had lifted its veil, voices struck the ears with cries of “Here I am O God, here I am” from all sides."

R.J.C. Broadhurst (transl.) “The travels of Ibn Jubayr” (London 1952, reprint 2004) p. 75

The Travels (Rihla) of Ibn Jubayr (875/1470, Mecca). Leiden University Library (OR.320, fols. 2-3)

Alongside with the spread of Islam from the Arabian Peninsula into Africa, Persia, Asia, Spain, the Balkans and the Indian subcontinent under the Seljuk and later the Ottomans, the European interest in Islam began to grow. Parallelly Islam was seen as a threat to Christian Europe, especially since the Ottoman Empire defended its frontiers against European powers successfully, it was basically exterminated from Europe in the 1490s through the Reconquista ("reconquest", a period of militant Christianizing on the Iberian Peninsula that lasted 800 years).

Considering these problematic times it comes as a surprise when an Italian traveler and aristocrat, Ludovico di Varthema (ca. 1470-1517) undertakes the difficulties of a distant journey and travels to Makkah in 1503. He travels to Cairo and from where he continues over Syria to the Arabian Peninsula, taking the Arabic name Yunas (Jonas) as a pseudonym, in order to hide his European origin. Pretending to be a Muslim was considered a serious crime both in Muslim Syria as well as in Italy, but Varthema realizes this to be the only way to enter the holy cities, Makkah and Medina. Everything he experiences there he captures in his writings and drawings, that he later on pulls together into a book, entitled Itinerario de Ludouico de Varthema ("Route of Ludovico di Varthema").

Varthemas writings are followed by a large number of others, such as the beautifully illustrated ten volume work called the Seyahatname (the Book of Travels) by Evliya Çelebi (performed Hajj in 1672) and The Joy of Stopping-Places by Mehmed Edib, an Ottoman judge from Crete (Performed Hajj in 1790).

A True and Faithful Account of the Religion and Manners of the Mahometans by Joseph Pitts (1663 –1735), Royal Geographic Society, 330090

Joseph Pitts (1663 - 1735) A True and Faithful Account of the Religion and Manners of the Mahometans is exceptional in the way that the author was both European and Muslim and prescribes the Hajj that he performed in 1680, in the age of 17.

"The Beat-Allah (Bayt Allah, the House of God or the Kaaba) which stands in the middle of the Temple, is Four-square, about twenty four Paces each Square, and nearly four Foot in Height. 'Tis build with great Stone, all smooth and plain, without the least bit of carv’d Work on it. ‘Tis covered all over from top to bottom, with a sort of Silk....The top of the Beat is flat, beaten with Lime and Sand; and there is a long Gutter or Spout, so carry off the Water when it rains; at which time the people will run, throng, and struggle, to get under the said Gutter, that so the Water that comes off the Beat may fall upon them, accounting it as the Dew of Heaven, and looking on it as of great Happiness to have it drop upon them."

"It was a sight indeed, able to pierce one’s heart, to behold so many thousands of Muslims in their garments of humility and mortification, with their naked heads, and cheeks watered with tears." (About Mount Arafat)

P.Auchterlonie 2012. Encountering Islam. Joseph Pitts: an English Slave in 17th-century Algiers and Mecca. London 2012, pp. 190-191

Anis al-Hujjaj

One of the most stunning documents on the pilgrimage is the Anis al-Hujjaj, the Pilgrim's Companion, by Safi ibn Vali, an Indian scholar, whose pilgrimage (1676) was sponsored by Zib al-Nisa, the daughter of Aurangzeb, the sixth emperor of the Mughal Empire and ruler over most of the Indian subcontinent. Aurangzeb is known as a strong and effective ruler such as an notable expansionist. As a political and religious conservative he abandoned the secularist and liberal viewpoints of his predecessors and gave way to religious intolerance. The Establishment of Islamic Law, the Sharia, is concerned to be one of his most notable achievements.

Matt Biggs for the British Museum

Every year two of his royal ships traveled to the Red Sea carrying hundreds of pilgrims. It was not easy to pass the Portuguese, who had recently begun encroaching on the Indian Ocean and attacking Muslim shipping, so that the religious scholars of the Mogul court declared the Hajj as nonbinding under these circumstances.

Safi ibn Vali reached Makkah in 1676 and undertook a year-long pilgrimage, during which he wrote and illustrated the Anis al-Hujjaj. It gives advice to prospective pilgrims on every aspect of the journey, starting from which ships to choose and how to stay healthy. He had a wide knowledge of the teachings of Islam and was trusted as a scholar (he had been asked to write a commentary on the Quran for Zib al-Nisa) and this is seen in his illustrations which often give advice in affairs of worship and behavior during the pilgrimage.

From the “Anis al-Hujjaj”, Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, MSS 1025 fols 2b, 3b, 21a, 22b (© Nour Foundation. Courtesy of the Khalili Family Trust)

“The illustrations start on the left with the port of Surat north of Bombay which was the main point of embarkation for the pilgrims. It is orientated to the south and the ships are about to depart. Having crossed the Indian Ocean they enter the Arabian Sea, here called the Sea of Oman. They travel in convoy in ocean-going dhows. The smaller boats are perhaps there to guide them as they are entering dangerous coastal waters. After entering the Red Sea, the first port is that of Mocha in Yemen, famous for its association with the export of coffee. Finally they reach Jedda, the port of Mecca.” (British Museum)

The Camp of North African Pilgrims (detail) Anis al-hujjaj by Safi ibn Vali (Gujarat?), 1677–1680. Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art

Safi ibn Valis illustrations are incomparable with the mostly diagrammatic views in other reports (mostly depicting the Kaaba Distinct or the Mina Valley). They are vivid and colorful and maintain blended Hindu idiom and Indian aesthetics on one hand and Islamic cult and elements of Safavid Iran on the other. From a western point of view they may appear simple in their conception but in fact they are very sensible in design and brilliant in color composition. The co-existence of three dimensional-looking objects and the total absence of linear perspective within one painting is delicate and makes that seemingly ambiguous composition look self-confident and based on a completely conscious choice. The used materials are mainly watercolor, ink and gold on paper. Occasionally text and painting are combined on one page.

Sources:

Anis al-Hujjaj:

The British Museum http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/themes/hajj/the_rituals_of_the_hajj/muzdalifa.aspx "The Empire of the Great Mughals: History, Art and Culture" by Annemarie Schimmel

http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/collections/mideast/microformat/manuweba-h.html

The Khalili Collection

http://www.khalili.org/collections/category/40

Other reports:

The Mariner's Museum

http://ageofex.marinersmuseum.org/?type=travelwriter&id=11

The British Museum http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/themes/hajj/narratives/pilgrims_from_islamic_lands.aspx

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/themes/hajj/narratives/pilgrims_from_europe.aspx

Painting in Mughal Era:

http://indiapicks.com/Indianart/Main/MP_Mughal.htm

Historical facts:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spread_of_Islam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconquista

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurangzeb

Photographs:

My own and

http://www.telerama.fr/scenes/quand-la-mecque-inspire-les-artistes,111546.php

http://www.britishmuseum.org

I Am Happy! (Another post against grim-faced Islam)

2014-05-23T12:34:00.000+03:00

Can you remember back when you thought of Islam as a religion of joy and happiness?

The perception of Islam, that I call "grim-faced Islam", is something unluckily widely spread in the world. Islam is a Religion of terrorists, fanatics, suppressors and surpressed, of dumb, maniacs, and men. Yes, a religion of men. When you enter the keyword Islam into google image search, all those existing preopinions make sense. Put the keyword Buddhism into google image search and the picture is completely different. There is hardly any negative imagery. You will find dozens of pictures of Buddha and lotus flowers. Buddha is smiling. Well, we don't depicture Allah. But if we did - would He be smiling? Why am I saying this?

Only after extensive scrolling you will find a Time-cover with a buddhist monk and the headline "The face of Buddhist terror". (No "Buddhism will dominate the World" or "Buddhists can't be friends with Non-Buddhists", "Buddhism is a death-cult" or "Ban Buddhism") This is not because there are no negative stories to tell about Buddhism. Anyway, I'm pretty sure you can imagine what happens when you put the keyword Islam in the search-box.
Well, that is certainly not because the shown results are the truth about Islam, I think we all can agree on that, right? So why is it then? I think many Muslims would agree on the claim that that is because of the negative preopinions that others have on our peaceful faith. I can see truth in this claim and I definitely support the idea of clarification around this topic in the media. And I certainly don't say our faith isn't peaceful.
What I am saying is this: We should ask ourselves what the image is that we Muslims have of Islam? What are the values that we point out when we are in dialogue with others? How are we living our faith? Not to forget these: Do we smile? Are we kind to others? Do we respect one another? So let's just again focus on our own behaviour, on our own perception and values, our own thoughts. Are they in harmony with what we Muslims believe is the Peaceful Religion of Islam?

My pledge is: Let us be happy and let's not give grim-faces ("Is this video halal or haram?" You must be kidding me) a chance to spoil our joy!

Btw. The British Muslims are Happy - video shows many familiar faces, amongst them Kübra Gümüşay from ein-fremdwoerterbuch.com and Myriam Francois-Cerrah from myriamfrancoiscerrah.wordpress.com

I want you!

2014-05-21T19:26:00.002+03:00

Every person has the right to love.
Every person has the right to love whoever he or she wants, whoever he or she decides to.
Every person has the right to want whoever he or she loves.
Islam gives instructions on how to live and love in order not to hurt, not to create destruction.
Muslims are prohibited from certain patterns that lead to destruction.
Muslims are encouraged to follow the patterns that lead to love and that preserve love.
Muslims are guided towards experiencing love, love that gives shelter in times of trouble.
Muslims are instructed to remain faithful to their partners.
God has put Love and Mercy between partners.

“And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may

dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put Love and mercy between your (hearts), verily in that

are signs for those who reflect.” (Qur'an 30:21)

7 Weeks to Ramadan - Being less of a jerk

2014-05-16T20:17:00.001+03:00

It is only in about 7 weeks that we will face Ramadan Inshallah so it is once again time to think about how we want to welcome the blessed month, what we want to achieve, what to experience and what to take with us when the month is over and we pick up with our daily lives again!

Everyone of us has different issues to tackle in life. They might be related to our health and well-being, worship or religious education, our relationships to family, spouses or friends, our place in the society and the nature of our work, the chances we took or that we didn't take in life. We might suffer of our past, the present or fear the future. Or we might be perfectly happy and balanced and still long for something extraordinary!

I'm sure that most of us want to change something.

Normally we can't change our surrounding or the society we were born into, our occupation or our demographical and geographical location. But when there is a chance, we have to know why we want to change something: Is it because we see something going wrong in society, f.e. a lack of humanitarianism or respect amongst people; the occuring of some grave social issues? Or is it in fact because we're not feeling comfortable ourselves, not happy or accepted by the surrounding, not optimistic about our chance for a good life?
The line between a personal issue and a social one is thin and may be subjective, but when the personal issue is significant enough or a larger amount of individuals are affected by it, it is automatically a social one. And the other way around. That means that in which ever way we are being harmed, most likely society is being harmed. It means, in which ever way we're been treated well, most likely it has a positive impact for the rest of society. I guess everybody agrees with me when I assume that even the smallest action can cause big consequences.

We should start by changing something about ourselves.

We should pay attention to our own behaviour, even to the smallest details. To the way we interact with people, the way we work and study, the way we treat other living creatures, the environment and objects of daily life. But most importantly: the way we treat those who are close to us.

For me it implies asking myself the following questions:

How many times have I approached my family by my own account, unsolicited? Called them, written to them, seen them?
Have I thought of them when I have felt happy, satisfied, blessed? When I have achieved/purchased/received something?
Am I treating others fair? Have I forgiven them their mistakes? Or have I unconsciously condemned somebody for his/hers previous actions?
Do I treat my partner/spouse with respect and love?
Am compassionate towards my partner/spouse?
Am I paying enough attention to what a person is saying to me?
Am I being gentle towards people? Or am I being harsh and unfriendly?
Do I help others when I'm being asked/not asked for a favor?
Am I providing help selflessly/open-handedly, or am I expecting something in return?
Do I believe to better than another person?
Am I honest and loyal towards my friends/partner?
...

If perfection was my goal, I would be as far from it as from being a millionaire (that's extremely far!). I can openly say that most of the faults listed above apply to me in a way. Some more frequently, some less. Yes, I know, it's sad!! That's why I really want to concentrate on tackling a couple of them, inshallah.

This is my Master Plan:

I want to be more compassionate and gentle towards others
I want to forgive people their mistakes fully and completely and treat others fair
I want to remember my family and friends with handwritten letters!

So please make du'a for me that I manage to stick to my new principles starting from NOW, so that I become less of a jerk! I will make du'as for all the "pig won'ts" out there, I promise :)

Thank You Copenhagen Airport!

2014-05-13T19:49:00.002+03:00

I just recently came home from a family visit in Germany. It was hard to leave there but in a way I'm happy to be home again for a while! The day of my return I woke up, having undoubtedly not slept enough, and made it somehow to the Airport on time in order to take my plane back to Finland. Almost immediately after seating I slept only to wake up when I was served tea and to fall asleep again. I didn't quite realize what was wrong when I left the plane, but I must have forgotten my transit in Copenhagen because I remember wondering why I didn't see finnish signs anywhere! Well, my transit-time in Copenhagen lasted for 4 painful hours that I mostly spend hunting for a cup of tea that cost less than 5 Euros - I didn't find one - and seeing which bench could suit me for a little nap (of 2 hours, as it turned out to last).
But my real discovery was a small Silent Room (for meditation, relaxation, prayer - as it said on the sign) with a comfy tuffed carpet and a prayer mat! In the middle of the room was a strangely shaped, sofa (color: silver), in front of it a vase with flowers and in the left corner, covered by a glass/plastic partition, a prayer rug and a tasbih. Tired as I was I was really happy of being alone in this peaceful room, so I went to the toilet that was nearby, made my wudhu and came back to pray Dhur.

I think that apart from the fact that Muslims are recommended to pray whilst travels (it is not obligatory after a certain distance of destination/lenght of journey) it is a nice and helpful thing for anyone to do. Just to take a break and go to pray or meditate into one of the airports prayer rooms will help to handle the stress of travelling and offer an alternative to the booming commercialism and urge for consumerism in regular transit areas.

A list of European Airports that have Prayer-rooms:

Frankfurt International Airport: Separate prayer rooms for Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, Muslim and other faiths.

London Heathrow: Anglican Chapel, Free Church, Catholic Church, multi-faith prayer rooms and Faith Chaplains (Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist, Christian, Roman Catholic, Free Church and Anglican).

Munich Franz Josef Strauss Aiport: Muslim Prayer room, multi-faith prayer room.

Paris-Charles De Gaulle Airport: Multi-faith Prayerarea, Chaplains of various faiths such as Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: Multi-faith prayer room known as "Meditation Centre".

Istanbul Ataturk International Airport: 6 (muslim) prayer rooms.

Madrid-Bajaras International Airport: Multi-faith prayer room.

Dusseldorf International Airport: One non-demonational prayer room.

Stockholm Arlanda Airport: (Multifaith) Chapel for worship.

Brussels Airport: Prayer facilities for Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Orthodox, Protestant and Humanist meditation room (!)

London Gatwick Airport: Multi-faith prayer room such as Christian services regularly (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Free Church) and Buddhist services every Monday and on significant dates.

L'Institut du Monde Arabe - Hajj

2014-05-06T14:47:00.000+03:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters and Dear You: It's about time for you to travel to Paris!
Whoever hasn't yet been there, should do it in the first place; and those who've been there - you already know why to return.
Not that I think the twinkling Eiffel-tower looks so magical by night (although it actually does) that you should immediately book the next flight to Paris to experience it. There is something even more remarkable to experience in this City of Love this time. Btw. I'm not promising you will find love there, but surely it will not harm if you try :)

The reason why I especially recommend travelling to Paris is a large exhibition about the Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah) in the Institut du Monde Arabe (The Arab World Institute). Immediately at my departure in Paris I noticed that the exhibition was widely advertised on the Paris Metro billboards. Approximately every third metrostation was decorated with gigantic posters.

The Institute du Monde Arabe is located in the South-East of Paris but can be easily approached by Paris Metro. The line 10 and 7 bring you to the closest metrostation "Jussieu". When you see an original Orient Express-train standing on a huge square, you know that you have arrived at the Place Mohammed V which is surrounded by the Institute.

The Institute has a permanent exhibition, a library, a bookstore and museumshop such as an observation deck, located on the roof of the Institute (provides you with the best free view over Paris!). Additionally it has steadily changing temporary exhibitions. The entrance for the Hajj-exhibition is in the corner of the building located at the Rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard.

When I entered the exhibition space I was already moved by the beautiful adhan that accompanied three large screens on which photographs of the Masjid al-Haram were projected. From the entrance I had a clear view on an original piece of the kiswa, the protecting cloth of the Ka'aba, with its detailed embroidery with excerpts of the Qur'an out of gold and silver strings. Moving further into the space I could find all kinds of different examples of filigrantly decorated Qur'an, from Yemen, Arabia, Sudan, Turkey, Spain, Marocco, India and Persia.

The walls were exhibiting colorful wallcloths from the Philippines and highly interesting contemporary artpieces like photography from Newsha Tavakolian (Tehran, Iran), Kazuyoshi Nomachi (Japan) or Arwa Abouon (Libya/Montreal).
The second floor was showing installations and sculptures such as life videostreaming from the Haram (the exact same channel actually as in my post Tawaf of Mind, check it out!), a miniature model of the Masjid al-Haram, large and epic photographies of oceans of pilgrims during Hajj, a documentary as an introduction into Islam (in french of course) and audio-stations where a bunch of returning pilgrims are telling their stories about Hajj and how it changed their life.

I am actually astonished byt the fact that I haven't been in an exhibition like this before. And it is not so much my lack of interest, but the lack of this kind of exhibitions. There are hundrets and hundrets of exhibitions around Europe which depicture the most exotic tribal traditions from all around the globe, starting from the paintings of the indogenius North-Americans to the tribal music of the South-West Pacific. I think it is typical for us so called Westeners that we are very well informed about Tibetian Buddhism and the Hieroglyphs of the ancient Egyptians but we are almost indifferent, or worse, reluctant to be informed about our own history and values and sadly of those other peoples that we share our countries, towns, buildings, working surroundings and daily lifes with. As it is for Paris, London, Berlin, Moscow, Madrid, Rome and other european major Capitals, it is also true for smaller ones like Helsinki: we are living with other people and we will be living with other people (thank God for that). So why not find out who those other people are, instead of judging them on their outer appearance or the existing preopinions that we unfortunately have formed?

I think in that sense this exhibition is very helpful. You don't have to actually step into a beduin-tent or the neighbouring mosque if it makes you feel awkward. And you can still be informed about what your fellow citizen is in fact believing, what is moving him, and why your working colleague chooses to spend her 2 weeks of vacation in the boiling heat of Saudi Arabia, when she could only wear her bikini and relax on the beaches of Tenerife.

So, mashallah, well done! For more information about the Institut du Monde Arabe go to imarabe.org (in french bien sûr)!

8 Weeks to Ramadan - Checklist!

2014-05-05T23:14:00.002+03:00

I'm back on the block and here's shortly what I've done since the last post:

I went to Germany to visit my family and came back to Finland, there it's summer - here it's... well, let's talk about less frustrating topics!

I went to Paris with my fellow first-year-students and since it was an Artstudents Arthistorytrip (with big A's), we visited a lot of Museums. Actually we did not visit them in the traditional sense, but actually spend all opening hours there scrutinizing everything starting with ancient Egyptian vases in the Louvre and finishing with "The Lost Human Genetic Archive" by Hiroshi Sugimoto in the Museum for Contemporary Art, the Palais de Tokyo.

I got sick (the constant rain may've had some impact on that) and after I returned home I was unable to do anything else than staying in bed. This didn't prevent me from watching a highly interesting documentary about Jerusalem, called 24h Jerusalem - because its' actual duration is 24 hours for God's sake! Now don't get me wrong: I didn't watch it continuously for 24 hours, no, even I thought that it wouldn't be so wise; but I watched it. Split into 12 clips, each 2 hours long. I don't think I can recommend it, but whoever is interested, please, go for it!

But now to the more interesting topic :)

My 8 Weeks to Ramadan- Checklist

Performing Salat (prayer) Yes, I am praying, subhanallah and inshallah will.

Making Du'a (personal act of worship, prayer, call upon God) Doing so while and after every prayer. But I could improve and be doing so more often and more spontaneously.

Making Dhikr Yes, I bought a new tasbih in Paris and using it very frequently!

Trying to be kind and nice to people (try smiling once in a while!) Kinda failed. I'm definitely not smiling enough and definitely not being friendly enough to people. Big improvement needed!

Making 1 charitable act a day (trying to figure out more creative ways to help than to donate money - especially if you do not have any!) Trying, but as an very self-centered person I should definitely target this more seriously.

Reading Qur'an Not so much. At least during the last 2 weeks. But will start tonight with my new favourite Surah "Ar-Room"!

Studying/working Studying but not working, I should really make some more effort!

Making personal Jihad Yes, working hard on a couple of bad habits (such as cursing!) and personal issues!

Attending Mosque Not in Helsinki, I should start going to the Mosque again, inshallah. But went to the Grand Mosquee de Paris!

Ok, as you can see my list is still very dominated by red and orange. I'm very happy now that I initiated the 10 Weeks to Ramadan Challenge, otherwise I would notice this, as usual, a week before Ramadan. Now I've still got 8 weeks to improve until I can concentrate fully on the holy month of Ramadan, in which it will be easier for us, inshallah.

I hope you guys are doing better than this!! All the best and many Salams :)

10 Weeks to Ramadan - Salat/Prayer

2014-04-18T23:21:00.000+03:00

I want to feel good and happy.
When I am feeling good and happy I can make other people feel the same way, and that is the basis of all teaching on the good deeds in the Holy Qur'an.
In order to feel happy and balanced we have to be in balance in our faith and be connected to Allah. Allah (swt) is the main source of love and mercy: "Say: O My slaves (humankind) who have been prodigal to their own hurt! Despair not of the mercy of Allah Who forgives all sins. Lo! He is the Forgiving, the Merciful" (Az-Zumar 39:53)

salat/prayer

I am sure 99% of Muslims have faced the same problem at least once in their life time. Most of those 99% have probably faced it twice or more times in their life. The majority of those, who are facing it more often in their life are keeping it for themselves: the problemacy of NOT performing Salat accordingly/on time/at all.

I don't think that the fact that I don't allways keep up with my prayers and sometimes loose them completely in my life makes me a bad Muslim. I don't think that anyone but Allah can or should judge me.

The majority of what is found on the internet and most of the islamic literature on the topic of not performing salat is a neverending catalog of threat and intimidation. Illogically it is assumed to have a good and enlightening effect on the person, opening up the dibelievers eyes. Looking at the citations utilized to emphasize the terrible consequences and punishments following the disobedience of not praying, it is clear that almost all of them are hadiths and reports from islamic scolars, whereas no authentic excerpts of the Qur'an are listed.

Although I respect and honour the hadiths, I know that sometimes there is no use of threatening a troubled Muslim in this highly intimate matter. It will cause more damage and irritation than salvation.

What a non-praying Muslim needs is nothing but the reassurance that the Salat will bring happiness and joy in their life. That waking up in the early morning will bring ease and success. And Allah reminds us of that every morning in the Adhan: "Hayya 'ala-s-Salah! (Hurry to the prayer!) Hayya 'ala-l-Falah! (Hurry to salvation!) Allahu Akbar! (God is great!) La Ilaha Illallah! (There is no god except the One God!) As-salatu Khayrun Minan-nawm (Prayer is better than sleep).

I found a lot of help through great websites and you may enter them through the topics listed below!

How to Pray five times a day: read here!

Fight the madness of life with the calmness of Salat (Animation): watch here!

6 Steps to achieve a quality Salat: read here!

How to stop making excuses for missing Salat: read here!

How do we get closer to Allah/ Relashionship with the Divine: read more!

Salams and keep up with your prayers and please make du'a that I will keep up with mine too!
Jazakallah khair :)

10 Weeks to Ramadan

2014-04-16T12:00:00.000+03:00

In my previous post Eleven Weeks #thepastyear I looked back at the past 8 months and discovered that many things had changed in my life during that period of time. In 10 Weeks from now we will welcome Ramadan (inshallah) and we will feel closer to Allah and strive to be better Muslims. It is reported by Sahih Bukhari that the Prophet said that “When the month of Ramadan begins, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of hellfire are closed, and the devils are chained.”. Therefore it comes as no surprise that most of the websites such as ramadanprep, ramadanchallenge etc. have not been active since the last Ramadan. It seems that the uplifting spirit of the last weeks of Ramadan and the final celebration of Eid carries us over a long distance in time, but when life has settled back to "normal" again, we forget about the lessons learned in this blessed month.

By observing my own behaviour I can see certain patterns repeating themselves. My iman seems to strenghthen in good times, whereas it weakens mostly when I feel discouraged or lonely. But every time I remember Allah and do dhikr it makes me feel good, fresh and calm again. The importance of Ramadan lies in the amount of fruits that we collect throughout the month. But because a month is a very short time to actually develop new good habits and to get rid of old bad ones it is good to start the fight a little bit earlier :)
This time I want to be better prepared for the month of Ramadan. I don't like the feeling that you get 2 weeks before: You have maybe not read Qur'an, not fasted the days you missed last time, not made enough dhikr, or worse, not thought of the blessings of the holy month and prayed to experience them another time. Maybe it has not even crossed your mind that you might never experience another Ramadan. Yes, unfortunally we tend to take everything for granted.
In the next 10 weeks I want to update my deeds and I wish others get inspired by that aswell!
I will write about basic deeds such as salat, dhikr, reading Qur'an, personal dawa and jihad and will write about how I am dealing with my 10 weeks to Ramadan-Challenge. If something will change (inshallah), what will change?
Additionally I will post some helpful information about the islamic world today and answer FAQ about the Islam from my own viewpoint (whoever will be interested :D)!

"Ramadan is the month during which the Qur'an was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. God wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify God for guiding you, and to express your appreciation." (2:185)

So adios amigos, keep up with the good, jazakallah khair Brothers and Sisters!!

“Without doubt, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.” - See more at: http://www.iisna.com/articles/pamphlets/the-importance-of-prayer/#sthash.6LAJO7sN.dpuf

“Without doubt, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.” - See more at: http://www.iisna.com/articles/pamphlets/the-importance-of-prayer/#sthash.6LAJO7sN.dpufThanks to more and more great webpages such as productivemuslim.com, suhaibwebb.com etc. have opened up the subject in a way, that does not blame or brandmark anyone.

The Tawaf of Mind

2014-04-13T16:54:00.000+03:00

"And We made the House a place of return for the people and a place of security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer." (2:125)

Dear Brothers and Sisters, please make Du'a for me so that I will perform Umrah or Hajj soon!I have watched this mekkanian live TV quite often and it is allways an uplifting experience. Not only that I was moved to tears when the camera showed a very, very old and very tiny man in his white ihram (gawn used during Hajj) and a white beard performing his Salat from a wheelchair with such solemnity that he almost streched to his knees when making sujood. Seeing all kinds of people standing next to each other in prayer, focusing on Allah, making Du'a for their loved ones (or yawning and scratching their ears or other bodyparts!) is moving. I can recommend following Friday Isha prayers, just be sure to drop by at the saudi arabian time for Isha ;) But of course all prayers are fascinating!

Enjoy and Salams!

Until you see raindrops issue from their midst

2014-04-11T16:25:00.000+03:00

"It is God Who sends the winds, and they raise the clouds: then does He spread them in the sky as He wills, and break them into fragments, until you see raindrops issue from the midst thereof: then when He has made them reach such of his servants as He wills, behold, they do rejoice!"

(Surat ar-Room, 48)

Eleven Weeks #thepastyear

2014-04-10T14:57:00.000+03:00

It is weird to start writing a blogpost and naming it "Eleven Weeks", randomly, after almost a year of inactivity on the posting-frontier. Still, this headline is the starting point to my post. Ramadan 2014 begins in more or less 11 weeks and it is time for me to look back and evaluate what has happened since August 2013. What has happened, changed, turned better or worse?
Looking back at that time the first thought that comes to my mind is that everything and no less has changed.

art

I will begin with the most obvious experience. I started my first year in University, studying what I have been dreaming of as long as I remember: art. Such a small word by the way; art. Ironically this seems to be excactly what I dicovered during the past year. Just the plain subject or term "art" does not really guarantee anything. And still it creeps into your consciousness, while working, making research, painting. And what used to come out naturally, almost effortlessly doesn't even consider to make it's way out, intimidated by the huge expectations it has to face. With other words, the real challenge of my studies until now has been to try to focus on what is relevant for me personally and to exclude and ignore any own/foreign expectations towards my artistic work. And to put it even simpler: It was a hell of a struggle. (For my German speaking readers: ein-fremdwoerterbuch: Competition 50)

home

The second thing that changed was that i moved to another city. Although most of the time I have been thankful of having that refuge (click here for previous post about home/lessness) it has been very interesting from time to time. Not that I thought it would be easy! But the problems that I soon had to face weren't quite the ones I had imagined for myself. The Top 3 are possibly:

Living in a shared flat with a vietnamese girl, many chinese girls and an invisible finnish girl in a chaotic mix of bunches of black hair floating on the floor, a cable-anarchy of a wide variety of ricecookers in the kitchen, spilled sweet chili sauce on the table/stove/floor/sink/cardboard/microwave, warmcoloured kitchen lightbulbs (or lightbubbles) being steadily replaced by very effective blue ones and finally a very comfortable temperature of 30 °C companioned by a humidity of 75% and a flavour of fried bacon in the air (for a Muslim this represents Hell. Or djahannam)

Despite everything described above - the feeling of loneliness; that lures somewhere hidden most of the time and hits when you expect it the least. Nothing makes you feel more isolated than the spontanous experience of loneliness. When your best friends are visiting their relatives in other cities or countries and you're staying in town over the weekend. Or you're calling home and nobody answers because everyone's gone out and calling a mobilephone is just too expensive. Or you don't really know your local umma and you miss your hometowns mosque.

Cold winters + weird/missing public transportation. You would like to go out, visit the city, meet your friend after school, have long walks on the seashore, make it to an appointment on time etc. but you won't.

love

The biggest change, and that is a change that I welcomed sincerely and fullheartedly, accepting it's short- and longterm consecuences with pleasure, that was finding love. Too corny for you? I don't care! Fact is that I thank Allah every day for answering my prayers and introducing me to a person that I wish to spend the rest of my life with. A person that I love and that loves me. Alhamdulillahi rabbi l'alamiin. May Allah bless our bond.

“And of His signs is that He created for you partners from amongst yourselves, that you may find tranquility in them and He has placed between you affection and mercy.” (30.21)

faith

Now I have arrived at the most important subject. Faith. Islam. I think everything that I have described above is somehow having an effect on my faith. Challenges of life are allways mirrored in our faith, our craving for a meaning in life, our desires.

I think this year has showed me the mercy and love that Allah has for us humans and made me, at least for a while, humble in front of all those blessings. It has strenghtened my iman and made me understand what Islam means.

I know that there is a lot, and by that I mean a lot, that I could have done better. Starting from fard deeds to sunnah ones. The biggest problem I still see in myself is the lack of discipline and capability to prioritize. On the other hand I have learned many things. Starting from (re)acting in a new environment, facing new situations and obstacles with confidence and trying to be faithful to myself and my beliefs. But alhamdulillah that we have Ramadan coming up so we can prep and struggle for our faith and find motivate ourselves for a better life! And I am so much up to the 11 weeks to Ramadan challenge! But that is the subject of my next post ;)

May Allah accept our good deeds and forgive us our transgressions and sins, Amin.

Make me a Muslim

2013-07-29T18:02:00.001+03:00

“Islam began as something strange and will revert to being strange as it began, so give glad tidings to the strangers.”

-The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Muslim)

Ramadan is mostly fasting, praying, reading Quran, making dhikr and, nowadays, surfing the web. We do not only have to check facts and details concerning the fast or browse some ayat; we intuitively search for material that vitalizes and boosts our iman. And that's really good!

Somehow my computer refused to play the BBC Learning Zone clips that I wanted to watch and when I started to get frustrated and began clicking around, I discovered a really nice BBC 3 documentary, Emily Hughes' "Make me a Muslim". I typed the title in the youtube-searchbox and detected the documentary split up in four episodes.

I was especially moved by Saffiyahs story, as she's about the same age as I am.

In my opinion the documentary is a good reminder to all of us that "becoming muslim" does not mean becoming a serious, perfectly synchronized, niqab-wearing - not that it's a bad thing - mu'min. It means only a start, a beginning. It means growing as a human being, growing in who we can be: respectful, awake, conscious adults. Avoiding the extremes, understanding Islams's organic nature, striving for the "happy medium".

Although some material is rather bizarre - keyword "co-wife" - the documentary offers a somehow realistic picture of what it is like for today's female converts. Yep, this is rather girls' stuff ;)

Der Islam für Kinder und Erwachsene

2013-07-12T15:17:00.000+03:00

Der Ramadan hat angefangen und neben Quran lesen möchte ich herauszufinden was noch so an islamischen Büchern auf dem Markt zu finden ist. Also begebe ich mich in eine große Filiale der Meyerschen und steuere dort die zweite Etage an - "Geisteswissenschaften". Dort laufe ich schnurstracks zu den "Religionen". Seit dem ich nach Finnland gezogen bin hat sich nicht viel geändert was die islamische Abteilung angeht. Die Quranübersetzung von Muhammad Asad ist ausverkauft (gut so; ich bin sowieso ein bisschen pleite...) und irgendwie scheinen Zen-Buddhismus und Hinduismus sich immer weiter auszubreiten. Hier steht ein CD-Regal mit buddhistischen Mönchsgesängen/Mantras, dort eines mit Meditationsmusik. Nirgends ist auch nur eine einzige CD mit Quran-Rezitation zu finden, schon merkwürdig. Allerdings trifft dies auch auf jüdische und christliche Audiomedien zu. Vielleicht sind südostasiatische Klänge zur Zeit einfach etwas angesagter!

Trotzdem sichte ich ein neues Buch: "Der Islam für Kinder und Erwachsene" von Lamya Kaddor und Rabeya Müller. Geschnappt, durchgeblättert, gekauft (da kann man noch so pleite sein!). Bereuen tue ich es nicht.

Warum das Buch gut ist:

Super Autoren! Lamya Kaddor z.B. ist Islamwisschenschaftlerin und erste Vorsitzende des Liberal-Islamischen Bundes und wurde mit dem "European Muslim Woman of Influence Award" ausgezeichnet.

Ausführlich und Themendeckend. Grundlagen und "erweiterte Themen" werden gut verständlich und ausfühlich genug erläutert. Um brisante Themen wird kein Bogen gemacht (Fundamentalismus, Homosexualität, Rechte der Frauen).

Aussagen werden reichlich durch entsprechende Verse/Suren des Qurans belegt.

Gesamteindruck liberal und menschenfreundlich. Trotzdem werden verschiedene existierende Auslegungen stets respektiert und erläutert.

Angenehm zu lesen und frische Ästhetik. Kinder-/Jugendfreundlich gestaltet mit ausgezeichneten Illustrationen von Alexandra Klobouk! Meines Erachtens ist das Buch gut gebunden.

Im Unterschied zu üblicher Lektüre (Ilmihal usw.) bemerkenswert wenige Schreibfehler und gutes Deutsch, da nicht aus dem Arabischen übersetzt o. Ä.

Kostet 19,95 €, ist aber JEDEN Cent wert, glaubt's mir!

Das Buch "Koran für Kinder und Erwachsene" (3. Auflage 2010) will ich mir als Nächstes anschaffen!

Allerdings:

Eher kein Buch für "Kinder" im eigentlichen Sinne, ich würde sagen für Kinder ab 10 J. Ich hatte nicht den Eindruck ein Kinderbuch zu lesen...

Ich versuche noch öfter im Ramadan zu posten, also bleibt gefasst ;) Liebe Salams und noch einen gesegneten Ramadan!

Prepare a yummy Sahur!

2013-07-10T13:09:00.000+03:00

Nothing beats a good, easy-to-prepare breakfast! Here's how to make a delicious-ambitious-nutritious-Sahur. I usually prefere organic products because in my opinion a meal should be not just yummy but you should feel good about it's ingredients! And that's surely very islamic ;)

All you need is:

Organic Plain Yogurt (low fat or full-fat Greek yogurt)

Organic Muesli (crunchy, sweet, uncooked, with cereals, everything's ok!)

1 handful of Hazelnuts

1 tablespoon Sunseeds

2 tablespoons of Goji berries (wolfberries)

1 tablespoon Linseeds

Strawberries (washed and sliced)

I added a teaspoon of dried-berries-powder, a special delicacy that I bought in Finland, which simply makes it more colourful :)

Make it as BIG as you want!

Put the ingredients in a bowl and enjoy!

♥ Welcome Ramadan ♥

2013-07-09T18:05:00.000+03:00

Yippee!
Ramadan has begun and even though I managed to catch a cold a few days ago and therefore need to get well before starting to fast I am still very excited! Besides fasting and it's huge ability to boost our spirituality, there are plenty of moments and chances for everyone of us to purify and strengthen their iman in this holy month! So let's see what my "good-intensions-compilation" looks like...

Mission: Make the most out of Ramadan

(InshaAllah - إن شاء الله)

1. Try to respect basic deeds such as:

performing Salat (prayer)
making Du'a (personal act of worship, prayer, call upon God)
trying to be kind and nice to people (try smiling once in a while!)
making 1 charitable act a day (try to figure out more creative ways to help than to donate money - especially if you do not have any!)

2. Do some extra for the sake of Ramadan:

wake up during Fajr to eat the pre-dawn meal (Sahur, if you are fasting) and stay up to read a portion of the Qur'an before and after Fajr.
visit your local mosque or community regularly (and experience Iftar, breaking fast together).
do some meditation in the evening, such as tasbih, listening to Quran, painting, reading, playing music or any other way of Dhikr (remembrance of God).
Take care of your body. Drink a lot of water during the nights of Ramadan! Fasting is effective when you avoid overeating at iftar but eat enough and nutricious food in the morning to manage the days duties and stay healthy. If you are not fasting, try to purify your body by alternative methods, f.e. eating more healthy, doing sports etc.
Try to focus on "inner beauty" and the "detox of everyday-life". Spend quality time with family and friends instead of watching TV on your own. Walk or bike instead of taking the tram or traveling by car. Write a post on The Forenoon instead of scrolling infinitively on Facebook!
Slow down :)

For more tips on how to have a spiritual and successful Ramadan, check out the links below!

Productivity? Go to www.productivemuslim.com ...
Spirituality? Go to www.muslimahanie.com or www.islamicinsights.com

Preparing for Ramadan? Go to www.ramadanprep2013.com

How to make the most out of Ramadan? Go to www.wikihow.com

Free Printable Ramadan Calendar with Prayertimes (Germany)? Go to www.imsakiye-creator.de

Simple Printable Ramadan Calendar without Prayertimes? Go to www.craftionary.net

Ramadan in the USA? Go to www.usatoday.com

Ramadan begins around the world. See pictures www.washingtonpost.com

You like photographing and need a special challenge? Go to www.capturethespiritoframadan.org

I wish everyone a blessed and successful Ramadan! May Allah give us strength and peace to make it a holy month! Salams and Greetings from Cologne Germany ♥

I have a home.

2013-07-02T01:20:00.000+03:00

Today is a special day. It is the day I realized I finally have a home. In Helsinki.

Helsinki is the capital of Finland with alltogether 1.3 million people living in its area. It is the world's northernmost metro area of over one million people, and the city is the northernmost capital of an EU member state. In 2011, the Monocle Magazine ranked Helsinki the most liveable city in the world. It was chosen to be the World Design Capital 2012. There are over 130 nationalities represented in Helsinki. And there are about 9 mosques in the urban areas, staying near the Eastern Centre, Itäkeskus, I will be living next to one. But most importantly, the Arts University is located in Helsinki and I will be studying there! I think I will fit in this city :)

The realization of the fact that I've finally got a "real home" has made me think of those of us, who do not have a home at all. And of those, who have a home but do not feel comfortable or secure at home. It is important to value and thank for everything we have, even for the most basic things - things we take for granted. This day made me happy and truly thankful.

الحمد لله ربّ العالمين‎

AlhamduLillahi Rabbi 'Alameen

All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of all that exists

(Read an interesting article about muslim duties towards homeless: Homelessness-and-Muslims)

Matematiikkaa ja punainen täysikuu

2013-06-25T02:00:00.000+03:00

"Juuri Hän saattaa auringon paistamaan ja kuun loistamaan ja on määrännyt sille asentonsa, niin että te voitte tietää vuosien kulun ja ajanlaskun. Kaiken tämän Hän on tehnyt totuudessa. Hän selittää merkkinsä ihmisille, joilla on ymmärrystä." (Quran 10:5)

Mikä on matemaatikon suhtautuminen uskontoon? Entä uskonnollisen suhtautuminen matematiikkaan? Kumoavatko looginen päättely ja uskonnollinen ajattelutapa toisensa?

Juhannusvieraiden lähdettyä, mökille jää perhe ja ihmeellinen hiljaisuus. Täydellinen kesäpäivä taittuu täydelliseksi kesäyöksi ja ihmisten istuessa terassilla ja rantakalliolla taivaalle nousee kirkas täysikuu.

Keskustelen helsinkiläisen serkkuni kanssa joka opiskelee pääkaupungissa matematiikkaa.
Kerron ylioppilastodistuksessani komeilevasta, matematiikan kirjallisesta kokeesta saamastani pistemäärästä. 0 pistettä. Suullinen: 3 pistettä. Nauramme hetkisen saavutukselleni ja jatkamme keskustelua.

Sanon minun älyllisen kapasiteettini olevan matemaattiseen pohdiskeluun yksinkertaisesti aivan liian olematon, mutta olen silti kiinnostunut matemaattis-analyyttisestä ajattelutavasta ja vakuuttunut siitä että maailmamme perustuu aina toistuviin kaavoihin, uusiutuviin sykleihin!

Serkkuni nyökkää ymmärtäväisesti mutta vastaa että minun ei pitäisi aliarvioida älyäni, matematiikassa kun ei ole kyse siitä että ihminen kykenisi älyllisiin huippusuorituksiin, vaan löytäisi ratkaisuja komplekseihin kysymyksiin mahdollisimman pienin askelin edeten. Ihmisen äly kun on rajallinen muutenkin! Looginen ajattelu on silti ihmiselle luonnollista, se kun on perusteellinen ja luotettava tapa hahmottaa maailmaa ja maailmankaikkeutta.

Vastaan että ymmärrän, kykyni ajatella asioita loogisesti on asia josta en haluaisi tinkiä. Mutta vaikka serkkuni suttupaperille yksinkertaisesti visualisoima matemaattinen laskelma tuntuukin järkeenkäyvältä, puhdas matemaattis-looginen ajattelutapa tuntuu minusta silti vieraalta, ehkä jollain tapaa litteältä. On kuin siitä puuttuisi jokin olennainen dimensio.

Sillä välin taivaalla loistava kuu on muuttunut punertavaksi ja vedelle on muodostunut läikehtivä silta. Siirrymme rannalle ihastelemaan kaunista näkymää, juomaan Pepsiä ja ollaksemme hyttysten purtavana. Hyttyset! Mikä turhake! Onko niistä tässä maailmassa mitään hyötyä? Hyötyä tai ei, vastaisi uskonnollinen ihminen, hyttysille on annettu tässä ekosysteemissä paikka; niiden mahdollisia hyötyjä tai haittoja ei ihmisen pitäisi kyseenalaistaa. Loogis-analyyttisesti ajatteleva vastaisi niiden olemassaolon hyödyn perustelevan niitä syövien Lintujen ja muiden saalistajien ravintoketjujen tarkastelun antamat tulokset.

Stereotypia matemaattis-loogisesti ajattelevasta ihmisestä todennäköisesti olisi sitä mieltä että maailma selittyy loogisilla päätelmillä tekemistämme havainnoista. Asiat joista emme pysty olemaan varmoja tai jotka eivät ole ihmisen havaittavissa perustuvat oletettavasti samoihin kaavoihin ja ovat vain pieni toistaiseksi ratkaisematon palapelin pala.

Perinteinen kuva uskonnollisesta ihmisestä taas on, että tämän olisi helpompi hyväksyä se, että maailmankaikkeus perustuu monimutkaiseen systeemiin, kuvioihin tai kaavoihin jotka ovat ihmisen tutkittavissa mutta eivät silti välttämättä ikinä avaudu ihmiselle täysin. Tilaa annetaan siis jonkinlaiselle mysteerille, Jumalalle, jonka voimat/toiminta ovat/on meille arvoitus.

"Kuu kuumottaa punahohtoisena ja Hemulin on aika istuttaa onnenpuun siemen. Vai enteileekö kuun väri sittenkin onnettomuutta?" (Muumit: Punainen täysikuu)

Itse, uskonnollisena ihmisenä, pystyn samaistumaan viimeisenä mainittuun ihmistyyppiin. Silti serkkuni kanssa käymäni keskustelu laajensi horisonttiani taas hitusen, ja olen entistä enemmän vakuuttunut siitä, että jokaisella ihmisellä on velvollisuus ja kuuluu olla mahdollisuus oppia, tutkia ja oivaltaa!

Uskonto kun ei sulje tiedettä pois. Uskonto on parhaimmillaan rikkaus, joka mahdollistaa meille tutkia, miettiä, analysoida ja oivaltaa universumin lakeja, vilpittömästi ihailla ympärillä olevaa luontoamme, itseämme, mutta myös tuntea kiitollisuutta ja nöyrtyä luonnon ja Luojan edessä.

Matematiikkakaan ei sulje pois tiettyjä sitä kyseenalaistavia mahdollisuuksia. Se ei ole uskonnollinen tapa tarkastella maailmaa, eikä välttämättä ole maailmakatsomus ollenkaan. Siksi se voi kulkea käsikäden erilaisten filosofisten, uskonnollisten tai muiden hengellisten käsitysten kanssa, sillä se ei väitä olevansa absoluuttinen totuus tai vaadi harrastajaltaan minkäänlaista uskollisuutta.

Olisiko parempaa hetkeä keskustella maailmankatsomuksellisista kysymyksistä matemaattis-analyyttisestä näkökulmasta kuin mystisen, hohtavan punaisen täysikuun loistaessa taivaalla?

(Valokuva: Ilona from One goal, one dream - blog)

Unohtamisesta ja muistamisesta

2013-06-21T01:52:00.000+03:00

Olen todella huonomuistinen ihminen. Unohtelen asioita jatkuvasti. Tämänkin blogitekstin kirjoitin aamuyöllä muistiin kun se juolahti mieleeni, sillä amulla herätessäni en olisi todennäköisesti muistanut siitä enää mitään.

Olen usein miettinyt mistä unohtelemiseni johtuu, onko se luonteenpiirre, geneettistä vai jonkinlainen psyykoottinen seuraamus. Ikävien asioiden unohtaminen luokiteltaisiin varmaan aivojen suojamekanismiksi. Mutta neutraalien tai positiivisten asioiden unohtaminen on huonomuistisuutta. Kun ihminen unohtaa tärkeitä tapahtumia kuten esimerkiksi tapaamisia, juhlia tai merkkipäiviä, häntä paheksutaan. Unohtaminen tulkitaan välinpitämättömyytenä jota katsotaan erittäin epäkohteliaana.

Täysin eri asia kuitenkin on kun ihminen unohtaa kokonaisia ajanjaksoja. Lomien, kouluaikojen tai jopa ystävyyssuhteiden unohtaminen on paitsi kiusallista, myös dementiaan viittaavaa! Vaikka se kuulostaakin merkilliseltä, olen itse kokenut kaikki ylhäällä mainitut skenaariot. Kaksikymppisenä en kuitenkaan tunne olevani mitenkään dementoitunut tai vastaavaa. En vain yksinkertaisesti jaksa muistaa kaikkea!

Elämäni aikana olen kokenut paljon. Olen matkustanut jo pelkän kaksoiskansalaisuuteni vuoksi enemmän kuin tuntemani samanikäiset keskivertoeurooppalaiset. Vaikka viihdyn erinomaisesti kotonakin, joudun silti kuin pakosta tilanteisiin jotka johtavat siihen että löydän itseni jostain vieraasta maasta, tuntemattomien ihmisten joukosta. Olen esimerkiksi oleskellut paljon Venäjällä. Nuorempana matkustan äitini ja siskojeni kanssa lomille Pietariin, teini-ikäisenä asuin jo kuukausia itsekseni Pietarissa, jossa kävin venäjän kielen kursseja ja tutstuin uusin ihmisiin.

Valitettavasti olen unohtanut niistäkin päivistä valtaosan, vaikka luulisin näiden tavallisuudesta poikkeavien aikojen pinttyneen mieleeni ikuisiksi ajoiksi! Toisinaan ajattelen että olinkohan minä kuitenkin liian nuori matkustaakseni aiavn yksin? Myönnän, että vaikka tutustun helposti toisiin ihmisiin ja sain matkoillani jopa pysyviä ystäviä, kanssani matkusti usein epämääräinen yksinäisyyden tunne. Valitettavasti yksinäisyys on tosiasia, jolta tuskin kukaan yhtä suuressa metropolissa kuin Pietarissa itsenäisesti oleskeleva ihminen voi välttyä.

Kuinka monta päivää tunsin itseni onnelliseksi vieraassa kaupungissa? Kuinka monta päivää tunsin itseni yksinäiseksi?

Unissani kuitenkin palaan aina yhdelle, samalle paikalle. Kävelen kirkkaassa auringonpaisteessa leveää katua pitkin, kaukana edessäni häämöttävät Smolnyin katedraalin kauniit sipulitornit. Niiden kullatut kupolit loistavat miltei yliluonnollisessa valossa. Myöhemmin, nähtyäni Kiovassa Rastrellin suunnitteleman, kauniin Pyhän Andrein kirkon samettikattoineen, tiesin sen liittyvän Smolnyihin jotenkin. Olen aina pitänyt tuosta kirkosta, sen kauniista arkkitehtuurista, lämpöisestä olemuksesta. Nytkin kävelen sitä kohti kuin se vetäisi minua lempeästi luokseen. Oikealla puolellani kohoavat jykevät kiviset toimistorakennukset jotka ahmivat töihin kiiruhtavia toimistorottiaan. Unisina, vaikkakin jo hikisinä, ne risteilevät kaduilla, omiin ajatuksiinsa vaipuneina, kiireisinä, yskin. Olen myöhässä tunniltani. Eteeni kaartaa bussi, johon minäkin voisin nousta. Harkitsen sitä ja päätän kävellä. Kävelen, sillä tiedän kuuluvani tähän hetkeen. Kävelen, sillä tunnen itseni levollisemmaksi kuin pitkään aikaan.

About Afro-European Luxury

2013-06-20T19:11:00.002+03:00

Based in the Netherlands, where it has been creating authentic dutch Wax fabrics since 1846, Vlisco has become a globally recognized fashion brand. Today it has a high influence on the african fashion landscape. It has also become one of my favourite fashion-fabric manufacturers. Alongside with Marimekko and a few others it has totally deserved its placement in my top 5 ranking.
Here's why:

Bright colours that make you smile and feel good!

Careless, unique prints inspired by traditional west-african fabric!

High-quality fabric that brings some luxury in your life!

This brand is hot!

Did I mention this brand was hot?

Check it out yourself! Vlisco Official Homepage (Click me!). Vlisco is also on twitter, facebook, pinterest!

By the way: This would be my wedding dress... (sigh) ...

Zu Ehren eines neuen Guerillero: BlaBlaCar

2013-06-20T01:43:00.003+03:00

Man muss nicht das "Schwarzbuch Deutsche Bahn" (von Christian Esser und Astrid Randerath) gelesen haben, um festzustellen, dass es sich bei den nationalen Verkehrsbetrieben Deutschlands um eine unbarmherzige Diktatur handelt. Eine uneingeschränkte Willkürherrschaft, um genau zu sein. Und das nicht nur gegen den bescheidenen Durschnittsmenschen, sondern auch gegen all jene, die uns eine bezahlbare Alternative zur Inlandsreise ermöglichen könnten. Ich betone: Könnten. Würden. Aber nicht dürfen.

Ich selber stamme aus einer, so nenne ich sie mal, "Mitfahrerdynastie" ab. Meine Mutter stammt von Trampern ab (die mitunter zu Mitfahrern konvertierten) und trampte selbst bis sie schließlich eine feste Beziehung mit der Mitfahrzentrale einging; nun fahren alle ihre Töchter und selbst deren Freunde mit.

Deswegen bin ich über Neuigkeitem in dem besagten Feld natürlich stets auf dem Laufenden. Auch der Bericht der Zeit über den neuesten Meilenstein in der Mitfahrkultur ging nicht an mir vorbei. "Die neue Mitfahrzentrale BlaBlaCar will Menschen mit ähnlichem Mitteilungsbedürfnis zusammenbringen. Geht das gut?" verkündigt die Zeit. (ZeitOnline: Hier zum Bericht!)

Schon lange habe ich mich nicht so stolz gefühlt deutscher Verbraucher zu sein!

Obwohl das Monopol der Deutschen Bahn schon 2012 per Gesetz beendet wurde - ab 2013 dürfen nationale Fernbusse mit dem Eisenbahverkehr konkurrieren - ist dies kein uneingeschränkter Freibrief an die Busunternehmen. "Zum Schutz des von den Ländern mitbezahlten regionalen Zugverkehrs wurde vereinbart, dass die Veranstalter Fahrtstrecken unter 50 Kilometern Länge und mit weniger als einer Stunde Reisezeit nicht anbieten dürfen." berichet der Focus. ( Fokus.de, link zum Bericht!)

Bis dieser absurde und zweifellos umstrittene Paragraf aus den 1930ern aus den deutschen Gesetzbüchern verschwindet, müssen wir uns etwas Anderes einfallen lassen. Mitfahrzentralen haben uns einen sanften Widerstand gegen die Abzocke ermöglicht. Und hiermit möchte ich mich bei allen am Mitfahrgewerbe Beteiligten bedanken: Danke!

“We're stuck. We're stuck between the East and the West. Between the past and the future."

2013-06-19T00:32:00.000+03:00

Elif Shafak

As the protests in Turkey continue, I have started to read "The Bastard of Istanbul" by turkish novelist Elif Shafak. I can't imagine a better moment to read this book than the current one. For someone who isn't very much into reading the newspaper but still likes to read a good novel, this is the perfect opportunity to mind-travel to Turkey. You will discover a fresh and completely subjective view on this country and the people living their everyday life in Istanbul, a view that is probably not provided on CNN. While other superimportant turkish author Orhan Pamuk knits to a rather fine tension, Shafak knows how to not prolong the thread of the story in a too exhausting manner (I am still a huge fan of Orhan Pamuk!).

So I really couldn't resist to put some quotes of this amazingly written, smart, virtuous (what other words do I find to express my admiration to this book?) and yet hilarious novel into a blogpost! I hope these quotes explain why I put the novel in a direct context with what is happening in Turkey currently.

“We're stuck. We're stuck between the East and the West. Between the past and the future. On the one hand there are the secular modernists, so proud of the regime they constructed, you cannot breathe a critical word. They've got the army and half of the state on their side. On the other hand there are the conventional traditionalist, so infatuated with the Ottoman past, you cannot breathe a critical word. They've got the general public and the remaining half of the state on their side."

❊

“Yeah, we should all line up along the Bosphorus Bridge and puff as hard as we can to shove this city in the direction of the West. If that doesn't work, we'll try the other way, see if we can veer to the East. It's no good to be in between. International politics does not appreciate ambiguity."

❊

“How on earth could she now tell Armanoush that, though only nineteen, she had known many men's hands and did not feel a speck of guilt for it? Besides, how could she ever reveal the truth without giving the wrong impression to an outsider about "the chastity of Turkish girls"?
This kind of "national responsibility" was utterly foreign to Asya Kasancı. Never before had she felt part of a collectivity and was accomplishing a pretty good impersonation of someone else, someone who had gotten patriotic overnight. How could she now step outside her national identity and be her pure, sinning self?"

Sekaisin kirjoista!

2013-06-17T19:14:00.002+03:00

Vaikka Raumalla on monia hyviä asioita (satama, kaunis vanha kaupunki, luontoa, yms.) pitkän päälle täällä todennäköisesti ehtisi masentua. Pilvisenä kesäpäivänä kadut ovat kummallisen autiot, tuntuu, että kaupungin asukkaiden elämä keskittyy sisäpihoille, koteihin, suuriin ostoskeskuksiin jotka sijaitsevat kauempana keskustasta. Lomien alettua suurin osa ihmisistä on luultavasti mökillä tai jossain muualla.

Silti yksi paikka suorastaan kuhisee väkeä: Rauman Kaupunginkirjasto. Enkä lainkaan ihmettele! Automaattisesti avautuvista, isoista ovista moderniin rakennukseen sisäänastuessaan vastaan tulvii kahvin ja pullan tuoksu. Korkea ja avara kirjastorakennus on sisältä vaalea ja moderni mutta huokuu silti lämpöä ja kodikkuutta. Rauman pitkään pitsinnypläystraditioon viittaavat lasipinnoissa komeilevat pitsikuviot. Pöytiä, Sohvia ja mukavia nojatuoleja riittää ja niissä lymyileekin kirjoihinsa syventyneitä ihmisiä.

En huomaakaan kun minuun salakavalasti iskee kirjojenhamstrausvimma! Kahmin kirjoja hyllyiltä kuin mikäkin hullu ja alta aikayksikön sylissäni on 14 kirjaa ja 3 dvd:tä! Jonkin aikaa mietittyäni lasken raskain sydämin viisi kirjaa lähimmälle hyllylle, mm. David Hockneysta ja taiteilijan tuotannosta kertova iso kuvakirja (liian painava), Johdanto Esitystaiteeseen ja Performanssiin (varsinainen tiiliskivi, mahd. liian raskasta luettavaa) ja Suomen Nykytaide (vuodelta '88) saavat jäädä.

Mukaan tarttuu kuitenkin aikamoinen pino tieto-, kauno- ja koulukirjallisuutta sekä yksi dvd.

Nämä kirjat aion lukea seuraavien 3 viikon aikana:

Katherine Pancol: Krokotiilin keltaiset silmät

Elif Shafak: Kirottu Istanbul

Rain Mitchell: Tasapainoilua

Isabel Allende: Henkien talo

Jaakko Hämeen-Anttila: Johdatus Koraaniin

Isra Lehtinen, Egda Jama Abdellahi ja Mikko Telaranta: Islam - yhteinen uskomme

Deborah Rodriguez: The Kabul Beauty School

Scala Kustannusosakeyhtiö: Kuvataiteen maailma - Kiinan ja Japanin taide

Lisäksi haluan vihdoinkin katsoa tämän elokuvan:

Laurent Cantet: "luokka" (mm. "paras ulkomainen elokuva" Oscar-ehdokkuus ja kultaisella palmulla palkittu )

Kirjoista ilmestyy toivottavasti (sen mukaan kun saan luettua) myös lyhyt yhteenveto ja oma arvio ko. kirjasta The Forenoon Books - sivulla!

Kollaasitaiteesta: Wangechi Mutu ja Kati Rapia

2013-06-15T20:30:00.000+03:00

Kollaasitaide on niitä asioita, joita voisi verrata kahviin. Jokainen saa ihan itse päätellä mitä sillä ajan takaa. Myönnän että käyttämäni vertauskuva ei ole niitä parhaita, mutta aina voi improvisoida tulkinnan suhteen! Joku ehkä tietää etten kauheasti kahvista välitä, toinen keksii että kahvista ei lapsena tykännyt mutta aikuisuuden myötä kahvista on tullut nautittavaa, jopa herkullista. Asenteestani kollaasitaidetta kohtaan voi tietenkin kieliä tälle tekstille antamani otsikkokin.
Oli asia miten oli, olen aikoinani tykännyt paljonkin erään kenialaissyntyisen, New Yorkin Brooklynissä asuvan taiteilijan tuotannosta. Ja pidän edelleen! Kyse on Wangechi Mutusta, jota pidetään yhtenä aikamme tärkeimmistä afrikkalaisista taiteilijoista.

Vuonna 2010, jos oikein muistan, kävin siskoni kanssa Berliinissä jossa Mutulla (s. 1972) oli yksityisnäyttely Deutsche Guggenheimissa. Näyttely pidettiin Deutsche Bank-pankin nimettyä hänet "vuoden tärkeimmäksi taiteilijaksi" (Wangechi Mutu löytyy esimerkiksi facebookista: www.facebook.com/WangechiMutuStudio). Esillä oli suurikokoisia installaatioita, videotaidetta ja isommanpuoleisia kollaaseja. Aiheiltaan työt keskittyvät naisen vartaloon, sen muotoihin ja elekieleen joita Mutu tulkitsee toisinaan epätavallisen eläimelliseen suuntaan, luotaan työntävinä; jopa karmaisevina. Mutun teoksissa esiintyvä ihmisen keho näyttää kiemurtelevan, kuin se yrittäisi paeta jonnekin, ehkä sille annetuista raameista pois. Kollaasimaisiksi työt tekevät mm. pornokuvastosta leikatut osat, joista muodostuvat hahmoille silmät, otsa tai suu. Tunnelma on surrealistinen ja hiukan ahdistava. Näiden jollain tapaa paljastettujen hahmojen tarkastelusta tulee melkein syyllinen olo.

Palattuamme myöhemmin Kölniin (jossa asuin perheeni kanssa) siskoni ryhtyi innolla tekemään kollaaseja joihin hän lisäsi vesivärejä, liitti helmiä ja muita pieniä esineitä. Mietin että siskoni oli selvästi huomannut taiteijan käyttävän erilaisia materiaaleja saadakseen pinnasta väreilevän ja komiuloitteisen; itse taas olin kiinnittänyt huomioita kuvamaailman maalauksellisuuteen ja aiheisiin. Puhuimme samoista töistä mutta täysin erilaisista näkökulmista.

Kului jonkin aikaa, jona en nähnyt mitään mikä, kollaasitaiteeksi luokiteltuna, olisi vastaavanlaisesti minua kiehtonut. Viime viikonloppuna päätimme kaverini Sallan kanssa kiertää Helsingin keskustan gallerioita saadaksemme jonkinlaisen kuvan siitä miltä pääkaupunkiseudun taidemaailma tällä hetkellä näyttää. Ehkä hieman pettyneinä näytteillä olevien töiden tasoon (saattaa myös johtua siitä että muutamat mielenkiintoiset galleriat olivat lauantaina suljettuna), kävelimme niitä näitä jutellen Galleria Hippolyteen. Ymmärtääkseni pääsääntöisesti valokuvagalleriana toimiva Hippolyte sijaisee Yrjönkadulta käsin löydetävällä sisäpihalla ja vaikuttaa heti ensikokemaltaan viihtyisältä paikalta (tästä pääset gallerian kotisivuille: www.hippolyte.fi ). Helsinki Contemporary Galleryn aivan liian kirkkaasta valaistuksesta (kaverini kuvailemana: "hammaslääkärivalaistuksesta") tulleena interiööri ja tunnelma olivat suoranaisesti kodikkaat.
Näyttelyitä oli kaksi - perinteinen valokuvanäyttely ja kollaasinäyttely. Ensimmäisenä mainittu oli Islantilaista maisemaa ja maisemanmuutosta käsittelevä "Frontiers of Another Nature - Pictures from Island"; kooste erilaisten, islannin tunnetuimpiin kuuluvien valokuvaajien töistä. Toinen (tarkemmin Hippolyte Studion puolella oleva) "Juhlat"-niminen koostui suomalaisen kuvataiteilijan Kati Rapian kollaasitöistä. (Lisätietoja Kati Rapiasta sivustolta: www.napaillustrations.com)

Siinä missä Mutun työt ovat koristeellisia ja hyvin maalauksellisia olivat Kati Rapian (s.1972) työt kaikessa yksinkertaisuudessaan nerokkaita! Oli mielenkiintoista tutkia millä tavoin Rapia oli liimannut paperista leikattuja osia toisiinsa ja taustaan kiinni niin, että niistä rakentui miltei kolmiulotteiselta vaikuttava kokonaisuus. Rapian työt olivat kuin kollaasitaiteen realismia! Toisaalta teoksista välittyi rauhallisen iloinen tunnelma, jollain jännällä tapaa naivistinen. Kaverini huomasi yhden kollaasin muistuttavan paljonkin David Hockneyn uimaallasmaalauksia; jopa veden roiskeet oltiin kuvailtu valkoisesta paperista leikatulla silpulla. Aivan kuin lapsena "nykäise narusta"-kirjoja katsellessa, teki nytkin mieli kosketella Rapian kollaaseja ja tutkia niitä tarkemmin. Kaiken kaikkiaan voin sanoa että ehkä voisin tämän perusteella maistella sitä kahvia joskus toistekin!

Huom: Oli hauska todeta että kummatkin taiteilijat ovat sattumoisin syntyneet samana vuonna (1972)!

Comtemporary Art Daily

2013-06-15T11:00:00.000+03:00

Catch of the day: Contemporary Art Daily! This european Blog, www.contemporaryartdaily.com, focuses on what exhibitions are current. As I am not able to fly by when there's an interesting exhibition in Paris, Berlin or Milano (it's sometimes hard to even travel to the finnish capital city Helsinki just like that!), this is a very good way to keept track of what's happening in the galleries!

Here's for example some interesting facts and photos about the current Venice Biennale 2013:
www.contemporaryartdaily.com/venice-biennale-2013/

I immediately got inspired by an older article about artist David Zink Yi, who had an solo exhibition at Johann Koenig (Berlin) in May, 2010.

Here are some pictures of the Berlin solo show:

David Zink Yi (*1973 in Lima/Perú) lives and works in Berlin. He studied at the Universität der Künste Berlin as well as at the Akademie der bildenden Künste in Munich.