There is one painting by Sigismund Goetze (1866-1939) which fascinates me beyond words, and the commentary made on it by a bible scholar who wrote up on it in a book from a multi-volume set on the book of Isaiah which i read parts of at Regents Park mosque back in 2005 stuck in my mind almost as if deeply etched.
I've searched for the commentary online every once in a while over the years and came across it recently, the description is so vivid and modern that it's impossible for me to forget - a net search of the following text (contains a whole load of false superstition but some parts are enlightening) so a control+f or find in page should scroll straight to it:
---
Sigismund Goetze, in his picture “Despised and Rejected,” has placed upon the canvas a striking illustration of this text.
---
Edit:
i would like to clarify at the same time that the painting - although giving a vivid description of an imagined reality - does fall short of the standards of uprightness - although to a much lesser extent than the actual situation which it describes - and to many of the realities which it depicts that we see happening today.
Although i marvel at the picture, I see great wisdom in the hadith which claims that the Prophet :saws: advised a companion who painted to draw trees etc instead of "animate" beings -despite trees being animate though in a genre further removed from humans - it appears to be a way of guarding people from going astray and falling into false illusion, pornography, and idol worship.
And Allah :swt: - who rewards the well intentioned deeds which are for His sake, overlooks the smaller strayings of true believers who do good and rewards them according to the best of their actions - knows best.
Fa inna al ahsan wa asduaq al hadeeth Kalam Allah - wa khair al hadyi hadyi Muhammad ar Rasool Allah :saws:
﴿سورة العنكبوت﴾
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
١) الم
٢) أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يُتْرَكُوا أَنْ يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ
٣) وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ
٤) أَمْ حَسِبَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ أَنْ يَسْبِقُونَا ۚ سَاءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ
٥) مَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ أَجَلَ اللَّهِ لَآتٍ ۚ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
٦) وَمَنْ جَاهَدَ فَإِنَّمَا يُجَاهِدُ لِنَفْسِهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ
٧) وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَنُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَحْسَنَ الَّذِي كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
٨) وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حُسْنًا ۖ وَإِنْ جَاهَدَاكَ لِتُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا ۚ إِلَيَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
٩) وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَنُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ فِي الصَّالِحِينَ
١٠) وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ فَإِذَا أُوذِيَ فِي اللَّهِ جَعَلَ فِتْنَةَ النَّاسِ كَعَذَابِ اللَّهِ وَلَئِنْ جَاءَ نَصْرٌ مِنْ رَبِّكَ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّا كُنَّا مَعَكُمْ ۚ أَوَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِمَا فِي صُدُورِ الْعَالَمِينَ
١١) وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ
١٢) وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّبِعُوا سَبِيلَنَا وَلْنَحْمِلْ خَطَايَاكُمْ وَمَا هُمْ بِحَامِلِينَ مِنْ خَطَايَاهُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ
[Quran Chapter 29]
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
1. Alif, Lam, Meem.
2. Have the people supposed that they will be left alone to say, "We believe," without being put to the test?
3. We have tested those before them. Allah will surely know the truthful, and He will surely know the liars.
4. Or do those who commit sins think they can fool Us? Terrible is their opinion!
5. Whoever looks forward to the meeting with Allah—the appointed time of Allah is coming. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
6. Whoever strives, strives only for himself. Allah is Independent of the beings.
7. Those who believe and do righteous deeds—We will remit their sins, and We will reward them according to the best of what they used to do.
8. We have advised the human being to be good to his parents. But if they urge you to associate with Me something you have no knowledge of, do not obey them. To Me is your return; and I will inform you of what you used to do.
9. Those who believe and do good works—We will admit them into the company of the righteous.
10. Among the people is he who says, "We have believed in Allah." Yet when he is harmed on Allah's account, he equates the people's persecution with Allah's retribution. And if help comes from your Lord, he says, "We were actually with you." Is not Allah aware of what is inside the hearts of the people?
11. Allah certainly knows those who believe, and He certainly knows the hypocrites.
12. Those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Follow our way, and we will carry your sins." In no way can they carry any of their sins. They are liars.
https://goo.gl/H4zAso
---
Hudhaifah Bin al Yamaan (radiyallaahu anhu). Is reported to have said:
‘’People used to ask the Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) about the good times, but I used to ask him about bad times fearing lest they overtake me.”
I said: Messenger of Allaah, we were in the midst of ignorance and evil, and then Allaah brought us this good (time through Islam). Is there any bad time after this good one?
He said: Yes.
I asked: Will there be a good time again after that bad time?
He said: Yes, but therein will be a hidden evil. I asked: What will be the evil hidden therein?
He said: (That time will witness the rise of) the people who will adopt ways other than mine and seek guidance other than mine.
You will know (their) good points as well as (their) bad points.
I asked: Will there be a bad time after this good one?
He said: Yes. (A time will come) when there will be people standing and inviting at the gates of Hell. Whosoever responds to their call they will throw them into the fire.
I said: Messenger of Allaah, describe them for us.
He said: They will be a people having the same complexion as ours and speaking our language.
I said: Messenger of Allaah, what do you suggest if I happen to live in that time?
He said: You should stick to the main body of the Muslims and their leader.
I said: If they have no (such thing as the) main body and have no leader?
He said: Separate yourself from all these factions, though you may have to eat the roots of trees (in a jungle) until death comes to you and you are in this state.”
[Bukhari and Muslim…. The wording of the above is that of Imaam Muslim]
https://salaficentre.com/2013/09/upd...yallaahu-anhu/