KARL MARX: Workers of the world unite · Hand-signed print

Artwork title: KARL MARX – Workers of the world unite – Calligraphy portrait of Karl Marx

Product info: Serigraphy print made and hand-signed by the artist.

Number of copies: 50

Print size: 315 x 417 mm

Description and commentary by Hassan Musa:

The Arabic text in Karl Marx portrait is not from the Communist Manifesto except for the « Workers of the world Unite! » on the upper part of my image. The facial features of K.Marx are made of a fake writing (Arabic letters are recognizable but there is no text). The background is made of a selection of Koranic verses inciting Muslims to fight against tyranny and injustice.

I remember I discovered the Communist Manifesto as a teenager, after reading the Coran. The communist Utopia seemed similar to the Muslim Paradise.

Below, the English translation of the Koranic verses used in my image :

قَالَتْ إِنَّ الْمُلُوكَ إِذَا دَخَلُوا قَرْيَةً أَفْسَدُوهَا وَجَعَلُوا أَعِزَّةَ أَهْلِهَا أَذِلَّةً ۖ وَكَذَٰلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ
[ النمل: 34]

She said, “Indeed kings – when they enter a city, they ruin it and render the honored of its people humbled. And thus do they do.

(Sourat Annaml, 34)

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ النَّبِيِّينَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَيَقْتُلُونَ الَّذِينَ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْقِسْطِ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَبَشِّرْهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ 21

Those who disbelieve in the signs of Allah and kill the prophets without right and kill those who order justice from among the people – give them tidings of a painful punishment.(Sourat AL Omran,21)

﴿وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَاءِ وَالْوِلْدَانِ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْ هَٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ الظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا وَاجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا وَاجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ نَصِيرًا﴾
[ النساء: 75]

And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, “Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?”
(Sourat An Nissa,75).

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ الطَّاغُوتِ فَقَاتِلُوا أَوْلِيَاءَ الشَّيْطَانِ ۖ إِنَّ كَيْدَ الشَّيْطَانِ كَانَ ضَعِيفًا
[ النساء: 76]

Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the cause of Taghut. So fight against the allies of Satan. Indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak.
(Sourat An Nissa,76)

التوبة

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْأَحْبَارِ وَالرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنْفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ 34

O you who have believed, indeed many of the scholars and the monks devour the wealth of people unjustly and avert [them] from the way of Allah . And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah – give them tidings of a painful punishment.

(Sourat At Toba, 34)

﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبَا أَضْعَافًا مُّضَاعَفَةً ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ﴾
[ آل عمران: 130]

O you who have believed, do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah that you may be successful.
(Sourat Al Omran,130)

﴿فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌ﴾
[ الغاشية: 21]

So remind, [O Muhammad]; you are only a reminder.

(Sourat Al Ghashiya21)