MARUNDU’S THOUSAND VEILS 24″x30″ oil & acrylic on canvas

Marundu's Thousand Veils (c) 2008 Aida Toure

“O Allah, let us see things as they are.”
~ Prophet Muhammad (saw)
“And to Allâh belong the east and the west, so wherever you turn (yourselves or your faces) there is the Face of Allâh (and He is High above, over His Throne). Surely! Allâh is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knowing.”
2:115 ~Qur’an

Description: this piece was inspired from this poem. The “Veil” theme externally relates to the modesty of women, a custom that disturbs many materialists but which has been observed worldwide in many noble traditions for eons. Also there is a deeper meaning to the “Veil” theme here: unceasantly, the veils that conceal the mysteries of existence lift themselves for the soul to dance through and to revel in its pure state of bliss. The reverence of wise souls come from the beholding of this divine reality… In my maternal culture, “Marundu” is the name of a Princess which is in this context an allegory for the soul as it innately is royal due to its properties, attributes, origin and its capability to move beyond limits… this painting developed gently in a dreamlike way.

~ Marundu’s Thousand Veils ~

Bismillah, Love compels us
to circle in bliss like
the universe and its spheres.
We mingle with every atom

that exists only to entice the soul
to its Beloved. Come, let us
meet on the edge of Al Fatiha!
Come and hear the Music of Light,

Let us dangle from Inertia,
palms upon the ground
like the Christ (as),
we bow in Islam,

secrets interwoven with secrets
we endure Al Khidr’s (as) company,
our hearts leaping from body to body
we gather around the Word,

we are these lovers whose existence reveals
the thousand veils Marundu wears.
Lo! The Moon begins its praises of The Divine:
“Al hamdulillah il rabil alamin!

I curve in silver to lit
the awakened lovers
upon their prayer mats,
their lips upon the angels’

as suras unite all creation
women reflect Mary’s (as)
universal style, institutions
aim to ban modesty, still

the light envelops humanity
with its infinite kisses.”
Suddenly we long to retreat,
Somebody else will continue this…

copyright 2007 Aïda Touré.

AL FATTAH, THE OPENER 24″x30″ oil & acrylic on canvas

The Opener (c) 2008 Aida Toure

Description: I started working on this painting during Ramadan. “Al Fattah: The Opener” is one of the 99 sacred names of The Creator who opens hearts to His Favor and Grace, He illuminates the Universe and our being with mercy and love. I painted this sacred Name as the “opening” theme is always relevent to being, creativity, prayer, breath, love and existence itself. Below is the poem that goes with “Al Fattah: The Opener” painting.

~ Al Fattah: The Opener ~

Lo, it’s Tahajjud time!
You lay your prayer mat

upon the whirling floor,
Surrender~Islam at the core:

“Bismillah ir Rahman ir Rahim”
your heart gently opens like

the mauve night sky
swirling to the Throne’s music;

its immense beauty drives
the stars and galaxies to tears:

“There is no us without
the tenderness of this

multi-layered Opening all
lovers wear like hidden robes!

O, how sweet this vertigo:
celestial bodies crazed

by the heightened sense
Love breathed upon their lips!

Ya Fattahu, You opened
our collective pulse to the Truth,

now all we observe is
the glory of being Nothing!”

copyright 2007 Aida Touré.

SAHELIAN LUMINARIES 24″x30″ oil & acrylic on canvas

Sahelian Luminaries (c) 2008 Aida Toure

“And follow not the bidding of those who are extravagant, who make mischief in the land, and mend not (their ways).”
26: 151-152 ~Qur’an
“As for that Abode of the Hereafter We assign it unto those who seek not oppression in the earth, nor yet corruption. The sequel is for those who ward off (evil).
28: 83 ~Qur’an

Description: “Sahelian Luminaries” was inspired from a poem of the same title, an hommage to all the West African Muslim saints, thinkers, sages, humble intellectuals and scientists whose work reflected the observance of Islamic values and whose struggle honored the Truth. These beings strove to preserve their divine rights, freedom, integrity, culture and native resources; for this reason they were exiled, persecuted, ridiculed and sometimes eliminated by usurping and colonialist forces in Africa. Simultaneously this painting is a spiritual metaphor for the glorious Songhaï Empire that flourished thanks to its foundation upon the Islamic universal principles of righteousness, knowledge, equality, wisdom, justice and thus love for The Divine Being.

In memory of: Askia Muhammad Touré, Ahmed Baba, Fodé Sahnoune Touré, Cidy Moktar Touré, Cheikh Amadou Bamba, Samory Touré, Dr Cheikh Anta Diop and my father Dr Abdoulaye Touré.

~ Sahelian Luminaries ~

Lit with a billion ecstasies
we speak with no words,
being one another’s lanterns

we build hidden empires
coveted for their excellence.
Look, the Moon fills with sobs

as our hearts turn to Love, lo!
The truth slips in and we taste
the nectar of Union; it is this

vertiginous sweetness Askia Touré’s
lips kissed, communities in circles
contagiously journeyed by to endure

the grace of Islam too!
Lights in human form in prostration
for centuries between worlds,

alternately from the seen to the unseen,
caravans of gold get returned
to the poor; Justice knocks

at every door! No one I know
would shy away such reality!
Tonight we stay awake to reap

the benefit of this Longing
slowly fed to us with gigantic
golden spoons: no interruption please!

Love is always unfurling like
the Creation’s ongoing recitation
of the Holy Qur’an.

Bismillah, hear the pulling in and
you succumb to the purity of Ruh (as).
We die just like this, before dying.

copyrights 2007 Aida Touré

LA ROMANCE DES MONDES/ ROMANCE OF THE WORLDS 24″x30″ oil & acrylic on canvas

Romance of the World (c) 2008 Aida Toure

“The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, declare His glory: there is not a thing but celebrates His praise; And yet ye understand not how they declare His glory! Verily He is Oft-Forbear, Most Forgiving!”
(~Qur’an 17: 44).

Description: “Romance of the Worlds” was inspired from this poem of the same title composed in French. The painting celebrates the romance of the Divine System that transcends the rigid human ones imposed upon us on Earth. Our soul prioritizes and constantly invites us to alignment with this Romance which goes on in the unseen and visible worlds and which unceasingly calls us by its beauty. The romance of the worlds is a sublime reality that compels us to remember our Source, The Beloved and thus to contribute to the harmony of His Creation. Working on this painting was a deeply peaceful experience. I painted this piece while listening to the graceful music of Yohosame.

~ La Romance des Mondes ~

Le Bien-Aimé sur Son Trone,
les planètes en extase,
le coeur ivre:

l’égo se déchire,
le Soleil en prosternation
et le sol interne vibre!

Ya Allah (swt) quel est ce spectacle
dont la majesté tait tous mots?
La langue parlée n’a plus

aucune signification ce soir,
seuls les délices d’Ailleurs
emplissent ce couloir

menant à la Lumiere Noire;
Kabbah Cosmique Originelle.
La Plume par excellence retrace

la dictée divine qu’est la Création
choyée par les élans de Ruh (as)
tous voiles se lèvent:

des rubis tapissent le dome dissimulé
des ames douces
et l’ange Djibril (as) étreint

la première lumière (saw);
voila que l’humanité hérite
des Versets Divins Coraniques!

Enfin les quatre rivières jaillissent:
Jésus (as) sur la surface prie
En compagnie de son frère Muhammad (saw)

Et les autres prophètes (as) les joignent,
l’humanité se rend à l’unisson,
toute la Création chante Ses louanges,

notre ame aussi depuis la naissance,
délectons-nous donc
de cette Romance des Mondes!

copyrights 2007 Aida Touré.

THE PERSECUTED WIDOW 24″x30″ oil & acrylic on canvas

Persecuted Widow (c) 2007 Aida Toure

O Allah! You be the witness that I consider any violation of the rights of orphan and woman as an enormity entailing serious consequences!”
~ Prophet Muhammad (saw)

Description: this painting denounces the mistreatment of grieving widows and children. Unfortunately this practice is rampant in many African countries. Ill-intended relatives and in-laws seem to rejoice when the head of the household passes away because for them it represents an opportunity to not only prey upon the deceased man’s children and wife but also to scheme in order to embezzle whatever property the deceased owned and to steal the money the community donated for the deceased man’s children. Often times these oppressed children and widows end up being homeless and destitute as a result of the persecution they endure at the hands of relatives. Working on this painting and going through its intensity was a profound experience for me because even though it depicts the harm ill-intended family members inflict upon helpless widows and orphans, it more so shows the triumph of Divine Mercy, Love and Justice. The Persecuted Widow poem can be read below.

~ The Persecuted Widow ~

The Beloved : “O My servant, return to Me!”
Lo! A father’s soul gently slips out of his body.
Ill-intended family members immediately prey
upon the departed soul’s widow and orphans,
violating their rights; it is but a plot
to destitute them.
Woe to the ones who covet
the spiritual and material inheritance
a late father leaves to his children.
You see, Light exposes all obscure intent
aimed at the helpless as such deliberate
oppression reaches the unseen worlds,
it unleashes forces to establish Justice.
In death, there is Life magnified as Love itself.
Remember the best of the Creation (saw) when he said:
” O Allah (swt), You be the Witness that I consider
any violation of the rights of orphan and woman
as an enormity entailing serious consequences!”
No authentic tradition on Earth advocates
the victimization of the vulnerable
Divine Mercy governs the Universe;
The Beloved is the Light of the Heavens and the Earth.

copyrights 2007 Aida Toure.

THE LOTUS OF THE LIMIT/SIDRAT-AL-MUNTAHA 22″x28″  acrylic on canvas

The Lotus of the Limit

Description: In the Islamic tradition, The Lotus of The Limit is a gigantic celestial Tree that represents the point beyond which no one passes but the beloved (saw) of The Divine. This painting was inspired from a reality that is beyond the seven heavens and which was experienced by Prophet Muhammad (saw) during his nocturnal Miraj’ or Ascension. The poem that offered this painting was Sidrat Al Muntaha, The Lotus of The Limit.

~ Sidrat-al-Muntaha: Lotus of The Limit ~

Everywhere I look
it circles and circles!
My heart curves

to the calligraphy
of your Love.
Muted by Sound

and shapelessness,
ego falls off itself
and bows with joy,

all of being now
surrendered as if the letters
printed of the Scriptures.

Each page, an immaculate cloak
around the gentle soul
who whirls to the tone

of the Return.
Bewildered by the Book
of the Universe,

your inner being leaps
from worlds to worlds
wild yet wise, it reads Nature

Jesus (as) appears upon the Word
Moses (as) nearby
and Muhammad (saw) passes

the Lotus of the Limit
to unite with the Light
that made him.

There is some universal prayer
which the prophets (as) lead,
all in unity; lo! Sura Al Kahf

strolls by the eye
and right then Aida’s
brush dries out!

2007 copyrights Aida Toure.

EMERALD VERSES 20″x10″ acrylic on canvas panel

Emerald Verses (c) 2007 Aida Toure

Description: “Emerald Verses” was inspired from this poem. Working on it felt like an unending calligraphic promenade that relates of our collective journeying from and toward The Creator of the Worlds.

Love is the fragrance that invites mankind to The Divine One’s apostles (as), their Revelations awaken us to the Way all human souls innately know.

~ Emerald Verses ~

Illuminated is the Heart
that chants the glories

of The Sublime’s throne.
Blessed be the soul

who embraces Injil
through the Holy Qur’an

like earth embraces truths
through the galaxies’ currents.

The Word commands “read!”
Lo! The inner eye opens:

Djibril (as) on his emerald seat,
Jesus (as) walking upon the sea,

Noah (as) gathers the light of humanity
and prophet Muhammad (saw)

crowns the collective being
with the altitudes of humility.

You see, Love is this gentleness
that governs the Muslim Universe,

while the moon transcribes to us:
“… unto Him is the journeying!”

2007 copyrights Aida Toure

THE PROPHETS’ FOOTPRINTS 14″x18″ acrylic on canvas

Prophets' Footprints (c) 2006 Aida Toure

Description: This painting celebrates the lovers’ aspirations to follow the prophets (as) in their unity. The center of the piece here represents the inner/outer Kabba/Center where the prophets (as) of The Divine converged, leaving their luminous footprints for us to trace and follow with grace and love. “The Prophets Footprints” started from this poem.

~ The Prophets’ Footprints ~

Look at what you started!

Love has knocked again…

A kiss on your hand’s scent

and the soul collapses, every time

with the wish to no longer be.

Who will attenuate this tender

teasing that only you can do?

You drop red gold nuggets

on the believers’ prayer mat,

Love nurses their fragments

and the royally wretched

ego walks out but to follow

the prophets (as) footprints.

We delight in not-being

and in laying at your feet,

alternately.

There is the flirtation

we wanted: continuous,

lingering long enough

to silence the bells

of grief, of temporality.

Your kindness has left

our shy hearts confounded

wondering how we are

worthy of all this Mercy.

2007 copyrights Aida Toure.