By: Dr. Anice Morsy
This book or musical journey of Charbel Baini, ‘In Praise of Ali”, is fascinating reading, It is a journey of a Lebanese Christian – who like Gibran- explores human beliefs and psychology.
The book is divided into psalms which are traditionally a moving experience in the Eastern Rite Churches, Giving a Christian flavour to an Islamic theme.
Charbel Baini is a humanitarian who sees God through his brothers and sisters in humanity, without relinquishing or losing any of his original faith.
He sees his fellow human beings as they are without regard to colour, faith or creed.
This makes him a free and unrestricted person who sees “beauty” in everything.
He does not even wait until “beauty” falls in his hands but searches and delves to find both “beauty” and truth wherever he thinks they exist.
To highlight my appreciation of this poetic journey, I would like to show some examples of my interpretation of these poetic psalms.
1- He portrayed a new Trinity in Ali:
To me,
Your name,
Image and body
Are a revered holy trinity.
Thinker,
Muse,
Preacher,
Soldier,
A master who defies description.
Although I might agree with his sentiments and recognize his good intentions, I disagree with the analogy of the two holy trinities.
1- The effort for rapprochement between Christianity and Islam – a concept which he believes in – could be easily found in his poem.
A- In psalm 2:
Oh saint of saints,
Oh reviver of Jesus,
Who is Love,
You united a religion
With your teaching,
Which was pleasing to ALLAH (God).
What is the Gospel?
And what is the Koran?
Books..
Revealed for my sake!
You interpreted,
You said the Judge is one,
To ease my mind.
B- In psalm 8, our poet proclaims:-
Jesus who taught me to love,
Oh Ali..
Is embodied in you.
You shared the pains
Of His crucifixion..
And diminished His pains,
Oh partner!
I will not elaborate
My discourse is self explanatory.
Our master Mohammed has said;
You resemble Jesus more,
Enjoying a harmonious state of being.
2- After his religious introductions, Charbel started from the 4th psalm to probe the philosophy of Ali on different issues, righteousness, fanaticism, falsity and deception, cheating and malice, sacrifice of wealth for the good of humanity etc.
3- Charbel in his endeavour to reach the truth, started to commune with Ali – as a human being, philosopher and teacher,
asking for guidance through his philosophy. How to forgive his enemies, how to be humble and modest, how to plan his time ahead and see the unseen, how to be truthful with oneself, and with all people. He sought the guidance in Ali’s books to enlighten his path during times of despair.
4- In psalm 10 Charbel took a different approach when he defended Ali for a quotation taken out of context. He was quoted as having said: “Woman is evil”.
Charbel respond:
To you woman is,
A spring of virtues,
A source for future generations,
You honoured her,
You let the birds
Recount to her
The most beautiful story.
5- Because Ali is renowned for his eloquence and philosophy, Charbel the eloquent poet, used his language skills to describe Ali’s philosophy.
He described it as an icon ”Embellishing the chest of the universe”. His abstract description of Ali’s philosophy does not need a translator nor a writer but a surrealist artist to paint the picture as the poet sees it.
He says;
Its crops are scattered groves,
Enriched by the sunshine,
A down pour from the clouds,
Washes its feet,
Then proceeds to capture its beauty.
6- Charbel, the Lebanese migrant feeling homesick, describes his suffering and unhappiness in psalm 16. He is only seeking comfort from Ali whose words are a fountain of joy.
He also remembers his faith which he describes as his homeland and asks God, who does not abandon anyone, to help him.
My past remains not..
And the present incapable
Of healing,
I am dissatisfied
As an expatriate,
Tell me something to console me.
…..
God abandons no one.
Without him,
You’re deemed worthless,
Your faith is the homeland.
7- Our courageous poet/philosopher – who gave to his Church more of his art and talent – wrote this poem ignoring the anger and intimidation of the narrow minded bigots. As a free thinker he felt that he could absorb this anger through philosophical dialogue and quite reasoned debate. In psalm 19 he says;-
Threats..
They cast at my doorstep
Claws of poisonous daggers,
Intending to obliterate the feast,
…….
They said:-
“You insulted the religions,
Which were sent to earth by God..
You jumbled the haphazardly,
And disrupted the serenity of man,
Who weaved his life with faith,
And imposed it on mankind.
…you blinded his eyes with hatred”.
But Charbel has already answered them in psalm 18 when he said:-
I fear not to whom I declare my love,
And preach his enlightening words,
For my faith is strengthened
By the unity of heavenly religions,
And the oneness of God,
Who through piety
Made us all equal.
8- In the epilogue, he left us with a message of hope and happiness for all human kind.
I love them all..
All.. All
Jews, Christians And Moslems.
I love them all irrespective,
Of mundane differences.
Our meeting
Will be at a mutual venue,
Where God shall be the judge.
My faith motivated me
To honour them,
And upon psalms lean,
Content to distribute
Aspirations,
Among mankind.
**
This book or musical journey of Charbel Baini, ‘In Praise of Ali”, is fascinating reading, It is a journey of a Lebanese Christian – who like Gibran- explores human beliefs and psychology.
The book is divided into psalms which are traditionally a moving experience in the Eastern Rite Churches, Giving a Christian flavour to an Islamic theme.
Charbel Baini is a humanitarian who sees God through his brothers and sisters in humanity, without relinquishing or losing any of his original faith.
He sees his fellow human beings as they are without regard to colour, faith or creed.
This makes him a free and unrestricted person who sees “beauty” in everything.
He does not even wait until “beauty” falls in his hands but searches and delves to find both “beauty” and truth wherever he thinks they exist.
To highlight my appreciation of this poetic journey, I would like to show some examples of my interpretation of these poetic psalms.
1- He portrayed a new Trinity in Ali:
To me,
Your name,
Image and body
Are a revered holy trinity.
Thinker,
Muse,
Preacher,
Soldier,
A master who defies description.
Although I might agree with his sentiments and recognize his good intentions, I disagree with the analogy of the two holy trinities.
1- The effort for rapprochement between Christianity and Islam – a concept which he believes in – could be easily found in his poem.
A- In psalm 2:
Oh saint of saints,
Oh reviver of Jesus,
Who is Love,
You united a religion
With your teaching,
Which was pleasing to ALLAH (God).
What is the Gospel?
And what is the Koran?
Books..
Revealed for my sake!
You interpreted,
You said the Judge is one,
To ease my mind.
B- In psalm 8, our poet proclaims:-
Jesus who taught me to love,
Oh Ali..
Is embodied in you.
You shared the pains
Of His crucifixion..
And diminished His pains,
Oh partner!
I will not elaborate
My discourse is self explanatory.
Our master Mohammed has said;
You resemble Jesus more,
Enjoying a harmonious state of being.
2- After his religious introductions, Charbel started from the 4th psalm to probe the philosophy of Ali on different issues, righteousness, fanaticism, falsity and deception, cheating and malice, sacrifice of wealth for the good of humanity etc.
3- Charbel in his endeavour to reach the truth, started to commune with Ali – as a human being, philosopher and teacher,
asking for guidance through his philosophy. How to forgive his enemies, how to be humble and modest, how to plan his time ahead and see the unseen, how to be truthful with oneself, and with all people. He sought the guidance in Ali’s books to enlighten his path during times of despair.
4- In psalm 10 Charbel took a different approach when he defended Ali for a quotation taken out of context. He was quoted as having said: “Woman is evil”.
Charbel respond:
To you woman is,
A spring of virtues,
A source for future generations,
You honoured her,
You let the birds
Recount to her
The most beautiful story.
5- Because Ali is renowned for his eloquence and philosophy, Charbel the eloquent poet, used his language skills to describe Ali’s philosophy.
He described it as an icon ”Embellishing the chest of the universe”. His abstract description of Ali’s philosophy does not need a translator nor a writer but a surrealist artist to paint the picture as the poet sees it.
He says;
Its crops are scattered groves,
Enriched by the sunshine,
A down pour from the clouds,
Washes its feet,
Then proceeds to capture its beauty.
6- Charbel, the Lebanese migrant feeling homesick, describes his suffering and unhappiness in psalm 16. He is only seeking comfort from Ali whose words are a fountain of joy.
He also remembers his faith which he describes as his homeland and asks God, who does not abandon anyone, to help him.
My past remains not..
And the present incapable
Of healing,
I am dissatisfied
As an expatriate,
Tell me something to console me.
…..
God abandons no one.
Without him,
You’re deemed worthless,
Your faith is the homeland.
7- Our courageous poet/philosopher – who gave to his Church more of his art and talent – wrote this poem ignoring the anger and intimidation of the narrow minded bigots. As a free thinker he felt that he could absorb this anger through philosophical dialogue and quite reasoned debate. In psalm 19 he says;-
Threats..
They cast at my doorstep
Claws of poisonous daggers,
Intending to obliterate the feast,
…….
They said:-
“You insulted the religions,
Which were sent to earth by God..
You jumbled the haphazardly,
And disrupted the serenity of man,
Who weaved his life with faith,
And imposed it on mankind.
…you blinded his eyes with hatred”.
But Charbel has already answered them in psalm 18 when he said:-
I fear not to whom I declare my love,
And preach his enlightening words,
For my faith is strengthened
By the unity of heavenly religions,
And the oneness of God,
Who through piety
Made us all equal.
8- In the epilogue, he left us with a message of hope and happiness for all human kind.
I love them all..
All.. All
Jews, Christians And Moslems.
I love them all irrespective,
Of mundane differences.
Our meeting
Will be at a mutual venue,
Where God shall be the judge.
My faith motivated me
To honour them,
And upon psalms lean,
Content to distribute
Aspirations,
Among mankind.
**
