I don't agree with her response that "we actually don't release anything nor do we express anything". Art releases quite a bit of tension, but what it doesn't do is offer you a solution. It might give you some clarity once you've expressed yourself, but that's not guaranteed. She's right that art can over complicate what is already complicated. I have felt that quite a bit, digging an emotion deeper into my consciousness because of art when it could be dealt with more rationally through another medium, such as prayer.

But Ilham's response raised my spirits like nothing else has been able to achieve for so long. Maybe because she called Allah the Real Artist. The Creator of Thoughts. The right terminology to help me not feel alienated anymore in my field. She brought it back to Allah, which I have been struggling to do, but sometimes you need human interaction to emphasize what you already know, to give strength to a voice of truth that has been weakened in your mind from many difficult inner confrontations. Her Rumi quote captured the experience well. Ilham, you hit the right trigger. May Allah Subhana wa Ta'Ala reward you immensely :).

>>art vs prayer
indeed,when emotions are opressed we turn to art to release the opressed and express the unexpressed. we actually don't release anything nor do we express anything. we rather over complicate what is already complicated. we seem to forget about the One who CAN release us from anything anytime. all we have to do is to go to Him cuz He is there for us. few drops of pure water, some simple moves, et voila!!! we are there between the Hands of the Real Artist. free from ALL!!

" Be empty of worrying.
Think of who created thought!
why do you stay in prison
when the door is so wide open? "
Rumi. "the essential Rumi" <<