9. Heart Surgery
The arrow that pierces,
Also bears the cure.
The sword that cuts,
Also heals the wound.
...............
Archery is a Sunnaturasul, which essentially means that it is a tradition of the Prophet Muhammad(pbuh). Particularly when practised in the traditional art of archery.
My brother followed our friends when they took part recently in the Al-Faris International Horseback Archery Competition in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Part of the entourage, mind you, and not involved at all in the competition, as far as I am aware. Not even Poon's (as how my brother's friends like to call him) most ardent admirer will say that Poon is a particularly energetic fella.
But over the past couple of days, he has taken up the offer (some might call it instructions) from our mutual friend, Pak Din, to learn archery from him. Seeing my brother going off in the evening to learn archery (perhaps his first physical training in 25 years) warms the cockles of my heart.
Because you see, whenever the Prophet practises something, it is not about violence or death. In truth, it is about the preservation of life and not the taking away of life. It is never about destruction, rather it is all about validation... of your life. my life, my brother's life. This is true of archery, horseback archery, wrestling, swordsmanship and all other martial arts of the Sunnaturasul. Thus, I am very glad for my brother.
Have a lovely day, sunshine.
wa min Allah at-taufiq
Hate has no place in Islam
Love will show the Way
taufiq, its wahti mahidin adek pak din. was wondering if Poon has many more photographs of the event in Jordan? esp kalau ada my brother's pix. would like copies kalau boleh. he doesn't record anything, you see..sigh.
ReplyDeleteHi Wahti,
ReplyDeleteNo worries. Drop an email to me at tk1970@gmail.com and I will send you the pics I have, courtesy of the Sarawakians!
I'm a political cartoonist working with Aljazera netwrok and have lot of interest in Islamic weapons particularly after on Qatari brother introduced me to the Islamic style of releasig the arrow and I got more interested in Archery and then started searching for Islamic traditoonal style of bows and arrows online and still struggling , just saw your site and thought to ask you for assistance. I really love it and I need to know about the islamic weapons like this for the sake of documenting history through art as I paint history as well. Sowrd and horse of Salah Din Ayyoubi whch still a point of curiousity to find in order to paint that great warrior. If you can help me in finding any trace please do that.My e-mail is shujaat@aljazeera.net
ReplyDeleteMany thanks
Shujaat