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Turning Point and the Art of Community Giving
We cannot wait for money to fall from the sky. As American Muslims with many community needs, how do we continue essential social services?
Recently, Turning Point for Women and Families found one answer-- many new Muslim community members willing to offer support for its important programs, especially in the area of domestic violence, a problem that exists in all communities including our own. How was this done? Through the art of generous giving!
On Sunday January 27, over 162 members of the Muslim Finance Professionals and the Muslim Bar Association of New York turned out to raise money for Turning Point’s Muslim Domestic Violence programs. After networking over a delicious spicy dinner furnished by Diwan Restaurant on East 48 Street, attendees joined in a live Art Auction which increased the total monies raised to $9,745—including a $1,000 check written by a generous soul at the end of the evening.
“Who will bid on this magic flying carpet?” MC Malik Sarwar asked the crowd, starting the auction. Slowly the bidding heated up, prompted and prodded by the MC’s enthusiasm. The auction items included dinners, Knicks basketball tickets and a sports club membership, not to mention the large carpet; but it mostly focused on art, which is not always well understood in our community these days, with our simple New York mosques and lack of art education. What trends at the auction? Most of the art was clearly focused on Islamic Identity, text and female identity. It sometimes seemed the larger the piece and the more green in it, the more money it collected! But much of the work was quite thoughtful as well as beautiful. Many bidders were generous and all items were sold.
Artist Huda Totonji was one of the featured female artists whose work was donated to the auction. One painting, entitled “The Key to Female Beauty”, was inspired by an arabesque seen in a mosque in Egypt, and its depiction of light that shines through the window is meant to remind us of the light that shines through a female’s face when treated with respect and dignity.
Several other of her canvases were ornamented with carefully selected Islamic calligraphy. One of her larger paintings, called “Behind the Door”, consists of 2 four-foot long canvases standing side by side like the two sides of a door. These are covered with Quranic verses referring to the roles women have in Islamic and Western society that are universal, whether East or West.
Islamic Text was also beautifully presented in Haji Noor Deen’s three calligraphic works: the Sura Ihlas, the circular “Shahada”, and the Prayer for forgiveness for Self and Parents. Interestingly, the winning bid went to a non-Muslim! She was very happy to have them however. Haji Noor brings Chinese and Arabic calligraphic traditions together in a harmonious marriage of beauty and devotion in this piece. The sacred text plays a central role in all these art works.
In addition, as the first photograph with her new camera, Photographer Zeenat Iqbal focused on the words Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim. In “Linked to Allah” Iqbal also has depicted a burnished silver bracelet from Turkey. The focus of the photograph is on the intricate detail of the Arabic script of "Allah". Similarly but in his own way, Pakistani photographer Hashim Ali focuses upon an image of bracelets from his sister's wedding.
Arriving in person, Artist Amina Ahmed donated a small but precious work “Tree Neither of the East Nor West” reflecting upon the inward spiritual journey; or as she put it, “I seek to re-member who we are…to be whole and learn how we are part of this universal language.”
Other artists represented included Anjali Bhargava, Antoinette Procacci, and the celebrated photo journalist Ron Haviv, who provided a hand-signed copy of his book “Afghanistan: The Road to Kabul.”
Uzma Kaleem and Mustafa Siddiqui’s bidding war galvanized the crowd. Many other donors went home pleased with their purchases and their support for a noble cause. Thanks to speakers Chaplain Khalid Latif; Turning Point Executive Director Robina Niaz, for their inspiration words; to MC Malik Sarwar and organizers Javeria Arif (MFPA), Dalia Mahmoud (MFPA), Adem Carroll (Turning Point), and Asaad K. Siddiqi (MuBANY). Thanks also go to volunteers Sara, Saquib, Suweba, Afsaan, Shehzad, Saad, Uzma and many more.
Visit the Turning Point Gallery to see photos from the event >>
Past Events
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