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Salma Arastu: How I Wrote ‘Allah O Akbar!’

Photo credit: Alamdar Arastu | Interview by Zoë Brigley

“I was asked to create a painting which showed my reaction to the negativity and biased views about Muslims and extreme Islamophobia around the globe… While thinking in mind about the image the poem happened naturally.“

Allah O Akbar!

It is the call to my prayers
Allah O Akbar, Allah O Akbar, Allah O Akbar
I pray every Morning, every day, every night
With gratitude in my heart and in my mind
God is great, God is great, God is Great
The terrorist comes and hijacks this phrase of mine
Seeking Allah’s help for an action not right
Allah O Akbar Allah O Akbar Allah O Akbar
And media picks up,
Interprets Killer God is great!
Who is giving permission to kill the innocent?
We respond with fear, hatred and violence
Leaders rise to ban the Muslim’s call to pray
Creating more chaos upon chaos
All this is happening because of our ignorance…
Allah O Akbar! Allah O Akbar! Allah O Akbar!

I recently read a great book which also has a companion documentary, Reel Bad Arabs by Jack Shaheen, and the author analyzes over 1000 films featuring Arab and Muslim characters, noting the awful stereotypes, for example the terrorist stereotype which dominates Western movies. I was put in mind of that when I read this poem, and I wondered what inspired to write it?

I was asked to create a painting (below) which showed my reaction to the negativity and biased views about Muslims and extreme Islamophobia around the globe. By nature, I am very spiritual person and believe in oneness of not only one Creator but also universality of humanity. I also like to spread my message with love and make it subtle as I believe in the power of spirituality and compassion. While thinking in mind about the image the poem happened naturally.

Allah O Akbar by Salma Arastu ©2023

Poetry is sometimes used as a medium to make a political point, but what are the challenges of that?

As I said I am more spiritual in not political. Though it is a current crisis, and it does sound a political statement which it is, but I like the subtlety of the expression.

Is spirituality something that you write about often and what does it mean to you?

I have always said that I was born with two blessings – the love for the Creator and the love for creativity. My creativity is always on the path of spirituality. These two forces inspire me to remain happy and positive and spread joy and peace among others.

Salma Arastu (she/her) is an internationally exhibited artist. She was born into the Sindhi and Hindu traditions in Rajasthan, India, and later embraced Islam and moved to USA in 1986. She works to create harmony by expressing the universality of humanity through paintings, sculpture, calligraphy, and poetry. Her works are greatly influenced by her studies and experiences in different cultures around the world. After graduating in Fine Arts from Maharaja Sayajirao University in Baroda, India, she lived and worked in Iran and Kuwait, where she was exposed to a wealth of Islamic arts and Arabic calligraphy. Calligraphy, miniatures, and the folk art of Islam and the Hindu tradition continue to influence her work today.

You can follow her on Twitter @salmaarastu and on Instagram @salmaarastu.

Her website is www.salmaarastu.com and you can see more of her work at www.onenessprojects.org