Allah / Mohammad
2009
80 x 40 cm
Acrylic & Marble Dust on Canvas

A gold and chocolate brown corresponding abstract piece with the names Allah & Mohammad in contrasting corners. This painting is in mixed media with the acrylic paint mixed with course marble dust to create the texture of a sand like background.

Peace and salaams to all.

A recent death in the family has left me contemplating my own departure from this world and the preparations I have made for it.

My cousin who was only 33 years of age passed away on the evening of Thursday 5th November and was buried after the Jummah prayers on Friday. She has left behind 3 Masha-Allah beautiful young children all under the age of 9, the youngest being only 22 months. She herself was a beautiful girl, not just on the outside but most importantly, on the inside too. Her warm smile always greeted you with love, her calm manner always put you at ease and her happy go lucky attitude to life, reminded you why she was loved by all. Having passed away with little warning, she herself became the warning for us all!

The last time I wrote about a family member passing away, I talked about my dear father-in-law. That was over 3 years ago. I wrote then about how much we all prepare for events in our lives. Our preparations for weddings, for Eid, for the holidays are so comprehensive, but how much do we prepare for our final and ultimate destination. These last few days have left me reflecting and questioning  how much have i tried to educate myself on death or the hereafter since my last post regarding my father-in-laws passing? How much has my eemaan or taqwa increased since then? How much have I prepared for the time when I will be called to my maker?

Every moment of time that passes, decreases one’s life span and the dying moment of the dying comes ever nearer. Each and every person has to live through the moments of death and face this event alone.

It is only a matter of time and time will eventually humble all.

“Every soul shall taste death and only on the Day of Judgement will you be given what you earned”. Quran, Al-Imran, (3):185

 I pray Allah SWA grants my cousin the highest place in Jannah and saves her from the punishment of the grave, filling it with light and sweet smells of Jannah. I pray He gives patience to all the family at this time of grief. I pray Allah SWA gives the most patience to her 3 daughters and fills their lives with happiness and true eemaan Insha-Allah. Aameen.

Till the next time

Peace and salaams to all

Umm Aisha 

2009
Acrylic & glass on canvas
80 x 40 cm

A modish & chic contemporary piece of mixed media. Bismillah (Meaning – In the name of God, the most merciful) written in cream Kufic Arabic script over a background base of dark maroon. A detailed rectangle of swirly maroon patterns over a cream base is on the top left of the painting. The textured strip detail on the right of the painting has been painted using a base of cream with maroon over tiny glass beads.

Salaams to all.

The above painting was one that was recently donated and sold at auction to raise funds for the SEECC in Billericay. Alhamdulillah, it raised a good sum and kick started the fundraising for the new school they hope to aquire.

I just recently finished another Bismillah piece and will soon upload the image. I had started it in June and due to illness and other events, I had not been able to complete it. Alhamdulillah, I managed to finish it last week and I have also added it to the Saatchi Online Competition for this week.

Till the next time

Peace and salaams to all

Umm Aisha

This painting represents the ocean as mentioned in the Quran in Surah Kahf Chapter 18, Verse 109. Painted in royal blue and sky blue with the verse in Naskh style Arabic script in corresponding royal blue. Translation of Verse: “If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it, for its aid”. 

Acrylic on canvas – 2009 – 50 x 70cm

I have added this painting into the Saatchi Online gallery competition. See link below to view the page or to vote. This round ends 9am on 12th October 2009.

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/showdown/index.php?showpic=233450

Kun FayaKoon / “BE” and it is!
2009
50 x 70 cm
Acylic on Canvas

This painting with its striking dark background and central fusion of colour symbolises the existence out of non-existence that God created. The fusion of colours represents atoms forming in the beginning of time where God just says Kun Fayakoon – BE and it is. This is an extract of verse 82 in chapter 36 of the Quran. It is also mentioned in other verses of the Quran on a number of occasions.

Salaams to all.

It certainly has been such a long time since my last post. I had tried very hard during ramadan (which seems like a lifetime away), to keep away from the computer. After a two month detox of the net, I was succombed to it once again. Hope you all had a fantastic and memorable Eid!

The events of the last couple of months, has certainly put a new perspective to life and to the hereafter. We make our plans for the future, but we seem to be constantly reminded by the Almighty, that He is the best of planners, Alhamdulillah.

Life is too short to stress or worry about what has happened or what may happen. Allah SWA always does the best for us and we just need to take that leap of faith and put our total trust in His hands Insha-Allah. Prayer and reflection will take you far, for Allah can put our affairs in order whenever He wills.

Remember this sister in your prayers.

Peace and salaams to all

Umm Aisha

Elevation (From Darkness to Light)

This painting represents the darkness within our hearts. We strive to clean our hearts aiming to be one of the righteous, the ones at the top. The White strip at the top represents the most pure, the most righteous, of whom there are few.

Inscription in Naskh style reads:

“Wherewith Allah guides all those who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His will unto light and guides them to a straight way.” Quran 5:16

 Medium:      Acrylic on paper

Salaams and Ramadan Mubarak to all.

May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you all Insha-Allah in this blessed month. May he guide our souls to a higher level of purity and may He bless our hearts so we increase our love for Him and His beloved prophet Muhammad SAW. Aameen.

Increase your rememberence of Allah SWA in this month, for the rewards are most fruitful and please remember me in your prayers.

Peace and salaams to all

Umm Aisha

Inferno

 

 Salaams all.

This painting has been added to the Saatchi Online Competition Showdown which ends next Monday 20th July at 9am.

Follow the link below to give it a vote of 1 – 10 :

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/showdown/index.php?showpic=222857

334 votes so far with an overall of 7.15 out of 10. Alhamdulillah not bad.

Peace and salaams to all

Umm Aisha

 

Salaams to all,

Not so long ago I uploaded images of my paintings on the Saatchi website of which I have been a member for a couple of years.

Please see the link below to view my home page and to see images of my latest paintings Insha-Allah.

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery/artist_profile/Umm%20Aisha,+Awakening%20Art/91052.html

Peace and salaams to all

Umm Aisha

Shahadah / Declaration of Faith

Contemporary far eastern influenced abstract painting with Shahadah written in Kufi style. The red circle represents the one-ness and everlasting attribute of God and the five textured layers in the red, represent the five pillars of Islam. The textured black at the top represents chaos outside of the faith. True belief in the shahadah and practising the pillars of Islam, brings your soul out of the darkness and into the light of Islam. Shahadah translates:  ‘There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger Of God.’

mixed media on canvas
50 x 70 cm
Salaams to all,

I pray you all are keeping well Insha-Allah. Alhamdulillah, Friday evening’s Muslim Youth Helpline’s Annual Dinner was quite an eye-opener. I had not realised that so many people of different ages suffer the way they do. We certainly take our lives for granted, living in a bubble of self-centred emotions. The volunteers of MYH do a fantastic job in helping so many in trouble and in need of saving. It really is a worthy cause so please support them as much as you can.

The above painting of mine was one which was auctioned off during the evening and Alhamdulillah it went well. The winning bidder bought it as a gift for his mother. I hope she enjoys the painting as much as I enjoyed painting it.

Peace and salaams to all.

Umm Aisha

A Charity Dinner to raise funds to support young Muslims in the UK The annual London dinner is back and better than ever. Come show your support for hundreds of young muslims suffering alone.

Friday 26th June 2009, 6.30pm Porchester Hall, Bayswater, W2

An evening of inspiration, enlightenment and entertainment. With delicious food catered by Sapna, exquisite surroundings and great company, with Professor Tariq Ramadan, author Shelina Janmohamed, Sheikh Babikir and BBC Asian Network presenter Murtaza ‘Mutz’ Ali. A charity auction will be held of some beautiful, exclusive artwork including Umm Aisha’s and framed photos with more to come.

More details to follow, for any further enquiries please contact:
events@myh.org.uk
020 7435 8171

Salaams to all,

The above is an add for the MYH Annual Dinner to be held on Friday 26th June 2009, 6.30pm at The Porchester Hall in Bayswater, W2. Please support the event as it is a worthy and deserving charity. I will be exhibiting my paintings at the event and praying my donated piece fetches a good amount for the good cause.

Till the next time

Peace and salaams

Umm Aisha

Al-Wali / The Patron

Life is like a piece of marble, emotions we feel, people we meet.

Events we go through in our life. The darkness, the light that guides us.

These are inter-twined to create the picture of life. Without friends, the marble would be a darker shade.

With Allah SWA by your side as your best friend, your patron, there is only Light upon Light!

Insha-Allah.

Salaams to all.

The above painting is one of my older pieces. I wrote the above to go with it. The marble background represents our life intertwined with darkness and peace. Al-Wali has been highlighted in gold to emphasize the light you go towards once you remember your creator. This piece is acrylic on paper, size 40×50cm.

I recently had a minor operation and am recovering well Alhamdulillah. Sometimes when adversity hits us, its quite easy to question why we are being tested. Its simply human nature. We have to keep reminding ourselves that any illness or hardship, any type of adversity is a test from the Allmighty. We need to keep our faith and also not beat ourselves up for our questioning. Allah SWA is our Wali, our patron, our best friend and he always provides ease after hardship. You don’t see it at the time, but afterwards you see that something good has also come out of the initial hardship. Allah SWA alone knows whats best for us, we just have to keep faith!

I pray Allah SWA eases everybody’s hardships, whether they are ill, in poverty, lost or in any kind of dark despair. May He guide us all to the light of peace and tranquility. Ameen

Till the next time,

Peace and salaams to all.

Umm Aisha