Birthday newsletter Summer Soulstice ! 2025

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِۦ نَفْسُهُۥ ۖ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ ٱلْوَرِيدِ 

Indeed, ˹it is˺ We ˹Who˺ created humankind and ˹fully˺ know what their souls whisper to them, and We are closer to them than ˹their˺ jugular vein. (Surah Qaf verse 16, Sarah 50)

Dear Artist 

Salaams.

After my last newsletter I have decided to post updates on my blog for a bit so it is easier to find on my website, rather than look through a gazillion mails in the inbox. You can just find them logged under the blog

Life is a cacophony of 'sunburst rays and rainstorms' and within this is the silent symphony of pattern of our lives. Whether it is undulating lines of the ups and downs in our lives or the events of the world, the pattern of the sublime along with the ridiculous emerges. We are skating on thin lines between hope, wonder and pain. Sometimes sacred art and meditation helps us to find the 'eternal now' or presence of now.  I have written about this before and I repeat this because I felt this acutely this summer.  Lets go back to easter holidays, where just before the beginning of summer, I was with the family in Canada. 

I got an invitation  from the revered Professor Mohammed Ghanem Ghosheh, whether I would be able to attend and participate in a Conference called Jerusalem Where to? it was about preserving the heritage and identities of Palestine, with a focus on Al Quds. My heart said 'of course' and initially I thought it would be by zoom. I was not sure what was expected of me but I wished to at least witness whatever initiatives are being put forth. We returned home and I called Professor Mohammad to ask more details  It was at the invitation of His Royal Highness Prince Hassan Bin Talal. I was asked to provide a 5 minute speech on what I see as the artist's role in promoting and preserving the heritage of Palestinian identity.

 What the Conference taught me. 

One of the greatest honours of my life has been to represent my country of birth, Bangladesh and the United Kingdom, at the invitation and patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Hassan Bin Talal, Amman Jordan. The Conference on 'Jerusalem, The Future' was a gathering of some of the finest scholars around the world to preserve the cultural heritage of Palestine, with a focus on Jerusalem. I am so grateful to Professor Mohammad Ghosheh for his kind invitation, May Allah Protect him and Bless him in his tireless efforts to keep the truth of Palestinian heritage visible. Along with 138 scholars from all backgrounds and denominations.  I learnt about the sophisticated and complicated role of the Jordan Custodianship of Jerusalem and how it works.  

In my view, whatever we can do to keep telling the truth about Palestinian heritage is non negotiable as someone who practices and teaches Islamic art. I repeat the truth infinite times in the face of the deafening oppressive colonial narratives to annul Palestine as a nation. This is part of a wider emerging movement of academics negating the position of Islamic Art as a valid discipline or independent genre, to be replaced by secular, nationalistic definitions.    

I made a short presentation on the role of art, scholarship and education in disseminating the knowledge of a nation's visual culture, reaffirming Palestinian heritage and civilisation.  I was especially happy to share with fellow alumnus Dr Nassar Mansour, as we were the only artist scholars amongst a brilliant galaxy of historians. I see the role of the practitioner and scholar as the bridge between the art historian and the artisan maker. We know how to create and to teach it, yet the scholar historian brings with them the wealth of the backstory of how a unique material culture evolves, and the artisan executes the stamp of a cultures identity.  

My presentation was well received and I will be posting more updates about future plans InshaAllah 

It was refreshing to see a prince and scholar who not only hosted the gathering but was also a participating delegate throughout the conference. His Royal Highness  Prince Hassan bin Talal has  shown extraordinary dedication to the cause of Jerusalem.  The extraordinary care and hospitality shown me will always remain a precious chapter in my life.

 I was able to present for HRH, a special 300 count muslin jamdani made by the master weaver Rajon Miah of Sonia Jamdani Ghar. Also presented was a painted box with rickshaw art made by Protibha artists. These are now gifted to Her Royal Highness Princess Sarvath El Hassan.    

I am so grateful to have been given this honour to showcase Bangladeshi heritage and to speak to Prince Hassan about my plans for Dhaka. We talked about his meetings with Professor Yunus and his affection for Bangladesh.  Here is a link to the YouTube channel where the video can be accessed if the above is too small Traditional Ateliers Jordan trip

 In the week that I had spent in Amman, I was so touched by the love of the Palestinians, in particular my brothers and sisters who visited  from Jerusalem who showed so much love and empathy for Bangladesh’s struggle for freedom and justice.   What I learnt is that Palestinians are the most educated and generous people I have ever met. Their zest for life is sublime and despite the horrific realities they are still able to celebrate life. I am only a witness. Only Allah can resolve this now. We pray, we remain hopeful. And the world has now become aware. 

 I know and feel art from a sacred point of view, where the heart pours out the soul’s dna and the result is a visual expression of what we deem to be sacred – that which should not be violated. In this way, sacred Islamic art like its sister faiths, makes a profound statement of a people’s belonging.  What I know best is the nuance of visual language within the vast lexicon of Islamic arts and civilisations that uniquely identify a specific culture.  

Being in Jordan was a surreal experience. All was taken care of by the office of the Royal Household. My companion Dr Hind Al Budeiri and I spent a magical time visiting the sites of Jordan, including the site of  Ashabul Kahf, their resting place, the museum of Jordan and Salt, from where we could see the distant hills of Al Quds. What I felt most in this trip was the experience of timelessness. almost like entering the matrix. I was transported to a special moment I will cherish in my life forever.  I really experienced the Universe conspiring to make things happen. And Allah is the Best of Planners. I learned very quickly to let go and let the Plan unfold. The most incredible things happened without me even envisaging a visit to Jordan this year. For that I am eternally grateful to Allah. Thanks to Professor Mohammad for organising an excellent conference, with the same platform as Ilan Pappe, Dr Nassar Mansour, Robert Frick, Hind Budeiri and Antonino Palliteri.  I made friends whom I will stay in touch in future.  Alhamdulillah for everything

Whilst flying over Gaza skies  the mood in the plane changed immediately and in a way it reminds me of the deep commitment we have made to Palestine. May her people be free soon.

 With deep gratitude and love I have completed the 56th revolution around the sun.

Please keep me in your prayers

Tasleema

 #art #heritage #islamicart #jerusalem #alquds #palestine