X Tapestry is a partnership project between Interfaith Youth Circle and Graphity Collective, using different art forms to facilitate conversations about faith.
Crawl if you have to
by Aishah
Feel before thinking, move with momentum.
What is a human? Trust is the question.
Don’t mind, don’t matter. The origins we flatter.
Cosplays and uniforms. Why the hell do we conform?
Light switching, nit picking; let’s not go obsessing
For an artist provides expression. Dreamers, inspiration. Doers, aspiration.
The world is designed to turn in motion, the clock never stops.
Conspirational notion — if you believe
One-kind leadership is timed to stop.
Ethnicity, culture, DNA and skin
No doubt, worlds collide; This is where we begin.
Some pray to a black box, commanded to be built to see
Mother nature, mother is nature — the abundance is real
Water rises in the wells, 80% capacity so live in reality.
Connect with presence, for now is present
Tangible, visible, vibes that we feel.
Radiance is the heart and face, calm is the mind and place
Wind blows on my face, I crash into the waves
Essence of tranquility, fights my mortality;
Now hold on a minute!
Why do we put names to the names, to the games to the games, to the place to the place?
Beverage or poison, that is your choice.
Words of wisdom, use your own voice.
Issues of bread and butter, of course they matter — we’ll find a way.
Underground, real ground, above ground, keeping sound.
When angels watch us everyday, we just can’t go astray.
Islam is feared, haven’t you heard
Something directly palatable; inconceivable
Some believe in Oneness of the Potato
I for instance, believe in the Oneness of a Marble
Security systems, privacy concerns;
Who are you is the question
When world-play is taken over by wordplay
The question is rather asked — what do you seek?
Why is Islam feared? I think you might have misheard.
Breathe
by Bani Muhamad Iyad
Day 1, the first breath, Then I was wailing out loud Craving attention
The first words I hear
Is from Bapak whispering The blessed Adhaan
Heard on my right ear Is Allah is the Greatest Then, the Shahadah
(Recite Shahadah)
I bear witness that
there is no God except Allah,
And I bear witness that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
I’m at Ground Zero
From young till now, I fill in The gap of wisdom
Through madrasah school,
For 12 years since young, learning About my belief
Fiqh, Islamic jurisprudence
Akhlaq, Morals
Tawhid, Monotheism
Sirah, Prophetic biography
Al-Quran, The Holy Book
But I don’t think it’s Enough to cover, so I’m Still learning on Islam
Safinah Institute, Al Qudwah Academy, Darul Arqam, Mosques
Wherever, whenever I can
Till this very day,
Day 8349, on 16 Feb 2020 I’m still learning
I can never stop learning
I can never stop breathing Breathing in knowledge Breathing out doubts
Goodness fill my chest Keeping me afloat
Taking away the weight Blowing mucus out of my nose
Who is Allah?
Who is Muhammad s.a.w.? Who are the 25 prophets? Who are the angels?
What are the Holy books? What is life after death? What is the Divine Decree?
Information so Overloading, that I took Deep breaths and take in
Bits and pieces of Wisdom into my brain with Space ballooning out
Having a mind that
Is willing to be open, like A sponge swelling up
Learning is one thing
What’s next is practicing what I have learnt so far
How to believe in my faith? How to pray?
How to read the Quran? How to fast?
How to give charity?
How to visit the House of Allah? How beautiful is the Kaabah?
Masha Allah God has willed it For such beauty
I still have questions Growing up on Planet Earth To stay relevant
We all live with doubts
While living our own lives with faith Seeking improvement
Different beliefs
Yet we live on the same ground Breathing the same air
After practicing,
I’ll do my best to spread wisdom Towards my good peers
So that we can breathe the same air In harmony
In unity
I’m thankful being
Born as a Muslim, and learnt On my life purpose
So that I can breathe the air in ease
Love
by Fadhuli
Love
It’s where it begins
L; is for the way you look, at me
O; is for the only one I see
V; is very very, extraordinary
E; is even more than anyone I could adore and love…
Love
Love is a very beautiful thing
It could hurt us
But also heal us
Heal this tired mind. This heavy heart
In this unforgiving world we live in
This busy routine that trap us, tunnelising our views
To focus on personal growth
This paper money that we hold so dearly
It could never calm this heart
This soul, this existence
We are just mere pawns in this constructed world,
Designed to test our beliefs
Who do we have to be thankful for?
For this body to move
This mind to think
Air to breathe
Lest we forget
That when we are asleep,
We are just a breath away from death
Weak, with our guts down
The world may be unforgiving at times
It may also quiz your beliefs
But stay strong
When all doesn’t seem right
When you feel like you don’t have anyone to turn to
When your hope is bleak
When your soul feels weak
When your love….
When your love is lost
Stand up
Revenge and angst is not what you seek
Have faith
Believe
Believe that there are more plans that are there for you
Than what you already know
For what is lost
Is not chances missed
But opportunities, waiting to be found
Trust that you will find your path
Trust that there are better things for you
But do not thrust yourself at the feet of those who hurt you
Begging to love and be loved
You….
You my friend, are a soul/sole player in this journey
In this path you created
You choose your own path
So have a little faith
And believe that this journey
Meant to shape you, not break you
Salam
Do I regret following my god?
by Felicia
do i regret following my god
take up your cross and dont look back
i confess i have looked back many times
in sadness in regret in "what if"
does this mean i am no longer fit for the cloth
yes yes and amen
i confess before my father
my pride my ignorance my lack
my grace is sufficent for thee
and my power made strong in your weaknesses
Psalms 23 - Personal version
by Felicia
If You lead me through quiet paths and still waters
why then does my heart still feel troubled
swirling and tumultuous waves
as the water reflects the face, so does ones life reflect the heart
You lead me through the valley of the shadow of death
Darkness engulfs me, and
tears blind my eyes
Though grief and loss threaten to overwhelm my heart,
Your gentle shepherds hand
protects me safely through the other side.
You guide me along the right paths for your name's sake.
A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Even the crooked and stony paths you will make straight
Even the deserts will be as a spring to you.
You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies, ypu annoint my head with oil, ypu bless me over and over, pressed down shaken together and running over. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.
With You, I lack nothing.
By faith, I will see it this way.
My son, Sazali
by Al Hafiz
Sazali - A direct translation of a 1956 Malay film titled, Anak-Ku Sazali.
I hear the call,
And I remember.
Inilah panggilan pertama. (This is the first call.)
It is the same call that I whispered into your ear
As you cried your way into this brave new world
Welcoming you in with my hati yang terbuka (an open heart)
And I assured you that I’m here every step of the way.
And as you grow, I hear those calls
Speaking to me as I speak to you
Every word, every sound, every tune I taught you,
Tanggungjawab telah ku laksanakan. (My duties have been served.)
Your smile became my tranquillity
Your cry became my tears
I planted a thousand seeds of virtue
Termasuk doa dan harapanku. (Including my prayers and my faith/dream.)
But as you learn, you begun to unlearn
Redoing everything, reinventing anything
My words suddenly become noise to you
And the call I gave sekarang sudah tiada. (is now gone)
I hear the call,
And I remember.
Inilah panggilan kedua. (This is the second call.)
That you are not you anymore
Your eyes are now hollow, an entire different gaze
I tried to cleanse the blackness of your soul
But your tongue is now, pelik (weird) , as mine is to you.
I tried calling you with that same call
Hoping that you would turn and call back
But your back remained turned, your feet refused
I called tetapi tiada balasan. (but there was no response)
I hear the call,
And I remember.
Inilah panggilan ketiga. (This is the third call.)
It is the same call that I whispered into your ear
After you shut yourself away from this cold, cold world
With a white cloth, I wrapped you delicately dengan hati yang tertutup (with a sealed heart)
And I assured you that I’m still here every step of the way.
I hear the call,
And I remember.
Itulah panggilan terakhir. (That was the final call.)
The Unsung Chorus
by Jes
She went beyond the delicate tracks
Her heart being dazzled
Imprints in the vicinity
Dangled softly
The scent of Judas in the midst
Her suspicions never faltered
She knew the early morn prayer
Whistled an unfamiliar tune
​
They are the Waves of one Sea
They are the Birds one Tree
Singing one song
They are the Lamps of one Light
Couldn’t we be lovers of light?
​
She buckled her girdle to the cross
To rescue my arms from the wolves
Lurking quiet in the meadows
The cold morning rush consented
Moved by her deafening entreat
Delivered my careful shadows
Unto the soul swallowing heat
​
Scattered senses, in trembling knees
I saw the fire in her popped eyes
She flung wide in front, the verses
Marked in green and black underlines
My hands soaked in stocking numbness
My throat croaking in staccatos
As I gulped down the passages
‘Once more’ a thunder noise, ‘Louder’
Her voice gyrated in tempo,
With echoes of surging temper
​
Alas! My mother’s ire dispersed
The charm of the mystical dawn
Misty dewdrops gliding my soul
To the high realms
Vowed not to return
Now in midnight’s solace, my soul
O my soul! I will find a home
​
And when the evening’s curtains fall
The song unfurled its melodies
And trumpets blast for worship calls
Crooning the first lines she taught me
The unknowns traces of the trails
Are the missing lines of the song
Missing chorus she searched but failed
Once more, I sing it loud and strong
​
They are the Waves of one Sea
They are the Birds one Tree
Singing one song
They are the Lamps of one Light
Couldn’t we be lovers
Be lovers of light?
Have I Prayed
by Tomithy
Finished my prayers
body slummed, spirit arched, bible poised
A tension between my eyes
between what I saw and what I believed
between what I hoped for but lived instead
between fingers; fingering faith
digging deep
unto skins
until the shouts and walls of penitence has crawled away
​
I prayed, I supposed
s u p p o s e d
Was that enough?
(or do I pray again? Go deeper. Perhaps there's someone tuning in this time)
The irony of me discerning
of that which shouldn't be judged by human
But only by Your great soul which bears us
Liberally strict; morally untaught
​
The will of God shalls ought to return and guide; what I ought do or undo, but cannot refuse
But hey, the tiny voice only prompts ex-post when I come running back to pray
​
Dear god, that's You
I Supposed
Being Close to i
by Tomithy
My bloodied hands screamed at me
in mean, demeaning ways
but I couldn't, wouldn't, shouldn't never stop,
strangling, grasping, pulling at the truth.
I want her out of my head to be my friend
but there she remains
closer to me,
close to without,
never being nearer.
She speaks to me in endearing ways expecting I to change,
Expecting i ! to see her skin as dresses,
her nakedness as wonderment,
her form as essence,
and her bosom as metaphors,
ripe.
She sings to me
but it is her thoughts that kisses me and
dances with my other selves
as I stood there watching, my other selves.
who gather and chatter
philosophising in the silent emptiness of my mind to the other selves
Of themselves of themselves of themselves
- all who know not and see not -
the watcher' the judged
of this very pantomime.