The Keir Collection: The First Islamic Art Collection at the Dallas Museum of Art

DALLAS — It has been a little over a year since the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) of Texas received the third largest collection of Islamic Art of North America on an extended loan. It is said to be one of the world’s leading and private collection of Islamic art. The collection features Islamic and Islamicate arts from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The collection was put together by Edmund de Unger, an Hungarian art collector over a period of fifty years. The Keir Collection used to be also displayed in a British mansion, thus the name. With the help and determination of Sabiha Al Khemir, a Tunisian American curator, the collection made its way in the DMA for the public to see.

THE LAUDABLE

The Keir Collection is composed of priceless and unique pieces of Islamic and Islamicate History and Art. The colors of some of the pieces are vibrant and the skillmanship of the pieces is simply praise-able.

Ewer, Egypt, late 10th to early 11th century, rock crystal; 19th-century gold mount by Jean-Valentin Morel. Brad Flowers / Keir Collection of Islamic Art on loan to the Dallas Museum of Art.

Source: The National

Bowl, Iran, 13th century, ceramic. Ira Schrank / The Keir Collection of Islamic Art on loan to the Dallas Museum of Art.

Source: The National

The preserved Arabic texts of some items in the precious Keir Collection range from a Quran the size of a very small matchbox to embroidered fabric with sacred Arabic texts. The level of detail is mind-boggling and often requires a magnifying glass to peruse.

THE LIMITS OF THE COLLECTION

The map of the Islamic world in Africa was not totally accurate. It only showed two leading Islamic centers in West Africa and they were more than that. What’s more? Islam has always been all over the world, not in sporadic areas. Timbuktu and Abuja were great Islamic centers and so was Mankono in the north of Ivory Coast.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE DMA OVERALL

The Keir Collection is composed of about 2000 pieces if not more. The DMA displays about 150 pieces at a time. Perhaps we will get to see an old manuscript from Timbuktu like depicted below one day locally.

Source: Manuscript recovered from Bamako, Mali by ‘Timbukto Renaissance’ curator Abdel Kader Haidara (image via the Prince Claus Fund)

OTHER PIECES OF ART IN THE KEIR COLLECTION

Jug, second half of the 12th century, ceramic. Ira Schrank / The Keir Collection of Islamic Art on loan to the Dallas Museum of Art.

Source: The National

Manuscript, Turkey, circa 1605–1610, work on paper. Ira Schrank / The Keir Collection of Islamic Art on loan to the Dallas Museum of Art.

Source: The National

Visit dma.org for more details.

Article written by Papatia Feauxzar. Originally appeared at MVSLIM.

SEVERAL PROMINENT AMERICANS OF FOREIGN DESCENT THAT MAKE AMERICA THRIVE

Trump put a visa ban on 7 Muslim dominated countries which are Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Sudan and Lybia. Priority will be given to the minority faiths constituents of these countries. We can all agree that family dynamics  are VERY complex. Some families have Jews, Christians, Muslims, Seculars, and non-denominational members in their mix and this visa ban will split families, friends, and relatives. A religious test is not acceptable. It’s favoritism, un-American, it and goes against the inherent values of the country.

Even the poem inscribed on The Statue of Liberty states:

“Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Tump’s supporters are going to great length to defend his actions and even claim it’s not a Muslim ban. The denying game can go on but deep down we all know what it is about. It’s a Muslim ban period. From Trump’s actions, we can infer several things. One of which is that he doesn’t know the US history well perhaps. The origin of USA inhabitants is so broad and even surprising at times. In fact, many prominent and successful US figures were originally immigrants or descendants from the very countries he put a visa ban on.  These people made and make America great again and again. America thrives on their contributions and inventions.

So check out these US prominent figures we gathered for you.

 THE LATE STEVE JOBS

Co-founder of Apple Inc, Jobs’ father Abdulfattah Jandali was a Syrian immigrant. Nowadays, Apple is a multi-billion revenue worldwide company. Every year, Apple fans impatiently await the latest model of phones and electronics. They even stay in line for hours just to acquire to acquire them. Wouldn’t you say, it would have somewhat different for Apple users if Jobs’ father hadn’t emigrated from Syria?

HAMDI ULUKAYA

Of Turkish citizenship, Ulukaya’s company, Chobani is the most popular Greek yogurt brand in America! Valued at about $2 billion, Chobani fly off the shelf. I know because my sister buys them on a regular basis. She loves the packaging and the different flavors.

To continue, Hamdi Ulukaya is the CEO and owner of Chobani.  He is also very generous because on top of paying his employees, he also gives them extra benefits. Read more on the philanthropist here because this is what I call making America great; spreading goodness.

ABDULLAH HAMMOUD

Hammoud is a Democrat and the first Arab American Muslim to win a seat in the State House of Representatives in Dearborn, Michigan. Congress is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. While there are only 100 senators, 2 per state, there are 435 House of Representatives and the population of each state plays in the number of these representatives. Dearborn, Michigan being a state with a high numbers of Muslims, it’s groundbreaking and amazing that the citizens in that state now have a voice via his election. Kudos to him!

TARIQ FARID

Founder and CEO of Edible Arrangements, Farid is a Pakistani immigrant who became naturalized in 1986. Edible Arrangements are crafty fresh fruits arrangements. Recipients of his invention get a bouquet of fresh fruits. He started his business in 1999 with a $5,000 investment and today his company beloved by foodies worldwide is estimated at $480 million. You can read more on him here.

SADIA FARUQI

Faruqi is a Pakistani-American Muslim author of the acclaimed short story collection “ Brick Walls: Tales of Hope & Courage from Pakistan”. Born in Karachi, Pakistan she is also an interfaith activist who trains a wide group of people including police personnel on Cultural Sensitivity. Her efforts are have been lauded and we definitely need more people like her especially in these times. She lives in Houston, Texas with her family.

FAYEZ SAROFIM

Also having ties with Texas, Sarofim is a co-owner of the NFL's Houston Texans. Originally from Egypt, he became a US citizen in 1961. He is a wealthy fund manager from aristocratic roots. To end here, American football would have been different without his contribution.

PAULA ABDUL

Abdul is a singer and a dancer but she became well known after American Idol first aired. The show was copied all around the world. Paula Abdul is of Syrian descent from her father side. Syria contributes again to American entertainement.

SHAHID KHAN

Owner of the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars, Khan emigrated from Pakistan when he was 16 years old and did a lot of small jobs before making it to the top, Today, the billionaire contributes to America’s number one sport too; American Football. The NFL generates a lot of revenue and is a favorite pass time for a great American majority.

Above all, this ban needs to be overturned because it will impact America in all domains as we’ve seen above. It’s also imperative that we don’t fall in the traps of division. Some citizens of Saudi Arabia had something to do with 09/11 but there was no ban on the country. We shouldn’t point that out because it will create a divided ummah and that’s the goals of the enemies of justice and Islam. Let’s put our differences aside and stay a united front. #NoMuslimBan !

Written 02/03/2017

Meet the Millennials That Are Anchoring Black History Forward

In the United States of America and Canada, Black History Month is celebrated every year in February. In the United Kingdom it’s in October while in places like Brazil that has the largest population of black people in the world, it’s observed on November 20th. There, it’s called Black Awareness Day. Therefore, while we can say that Black History Month should be year round and I agree, we should also keep in mind that other places in the world with more Blacks don’t have that privilege.

If we want it to be year round, we shouldn’t wait for it to be official. We should just honor the Blacks that deserve to be cheered on our own with regular blog posts, articles, videos, you name it. Let’s be their cheerleader on any platform that will get them known to those that have no idea of their existence. It could be a reminder to those who have forgotten. Repetition is pedagogic. Even Islam vouches for the fact human nature is often forgetful.

So check out the blend of new people that anchor Black History forward.

BLAIR IMANI

Imani is a convert to Islam who is prominent in the Black Lives Matter movement (BLM). She is also the founder of Equality for HER (Health Education Rights); a non-profit organization she created in 2014 that seek to raise awareness on a wide range of issues femmes (women) face. Imani Blair was arrested during the protests following the death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with other 50 plus protesters in July 2016. An Alumni of Louisiana State University, she is also a Muslim community activist.

PATRISSE CULLORS

Co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, Cullors is also an African American activist. She also stands against discrimination of all kinds as a queer, a woman, and a black person. She has received several awards for her work including the 2015 NAACP History Maker.

OPAL TOMETI

Tometi is also a Black Lives Matter movement co-founder. Of Nigerian descent, Opal Tometi is an American writer who lives in New York. She also strongly advocates for immigrants’ rights with Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI). The feminist is also involved in several other African and Pan Africanism organizations. In 2015, she was named New Civil Rights Leader by the LA Times.

DERAY MCKESSON

Mckesson is a leader in the BLM movement as well. His symbol is a blue Patagonia vest he wears all the time to keep warm. Inadvertently, the vest became the mark by which people recognize the activist. He was also arrested during the Alton Sterling protest in July 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Deray Mckesson is a key player in the formation of Campaign Zero and the project MappingPoliceViolence.com .

ALICIA GARZA

Part of the queer trio that founded the BLM movement when the killer of Trayvon Martin was set free and the teenager was put on trial for his own murder while being already dead, Garza is Mexican-African American and a writer. She lives in Oakland, California. Some of her awards include the Root 100 2015 list of African American achievers and influencers between the ages of 25 and 45. She was also highlighted in the Politico50 guide to the thinkers, doers and visionaries transforming American politics in 2015.

KARIMAH GRAYSON

Grayson is an African American writer and educator that advocates against anti-black racism, Muslim profiling, and discrimination as a whole. She also pens books that highlight the realities on the field. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

There are tons of Blacks that deserved to be featured during Black History Month but with not enough time to so. So which ones are you going to honor and put on the spotlight year round?