By: Nada Al-Shamery 

An art exhibition of the well-known Yemeni artist Abdul-Rahman Al-Ghabiri was held last Tuesday 15 Feb. 2000 on Arthur Rambo’s hall in the French Cultural Center under the title Yemeni Faces “Visage du Yemen’’. The art exhibition was inaugurated by Mr. Abdul-Malik Mansour, Minister of Culture and Tourism. Mr. Pierre Boillot, French Ambassador in Yemen, and Mr. Gerard Marciniak, Secretary General, have both attended the exhibition which contained 66 photographic pictures. 

Q: How did you start? 
A: It all began when I was just a little child. I lived my childhood among moors and mountains and I had always wanted to capture the moments that I would see. In those days I did not have a camera. In the 60s, my dream became true when I got my first camera and I was in class 1/E then. Beginning there, my camera became my happiness and I always tried to personalize special photos. 
I joined the political guidance, the photography section where I worked practically in the darkroom. I also practiced printing and developing films until I was sent in a scholarship to Syria. There I was able to study photography in theory and practice. I was working and at the same time to learning theater and music. 
I graduated in 1973 then I was sent to Lebanon where I specialized as Cinema Director of documentary films. During this period I participated in directing two films which were shot in south Lebanon in Nabatia and  Kafr Shouba. I graduated with excellent degree and I returned to Yemen. There was no cinema in Yemen at that time so I worked for the on TV for a shot time. After that I moved to the private sector and finally I started my own business that I still do until now. 

Q: What do you think of the awareness of Yemeni People of the importance of photography? 
A: I cannot say for sure that there is a high awareness in this respect among the Yemeni people. At the same time I cannot deny the there were some brilliant brains which understood what photography is. Artistically speaking, there are many artists and critics who touched the beauty of this art like Hassan Al-Nouri, Moufeed Al-Yousifi, Abdul-Aziz Al-Makalih, Ahmed Shoja’a and many others. However, at the public level, the development of awareness is still quite slow. People always see pictures but still they cannot comprehend this art’s implied or even the visible meanings it conveys. I am longing to see the day when this art is appreciated. This art portrays our reality in a style which enables us to see it more vividly so that we can clearly observe its concealed features which grant it a mixture of strength of sincerity in both taking and giving. 

Mr. Abdul-Malik Mansour, Minister of Culture and Tourism said: 
“In the beginning I would like to thank the French Cultural Center for hosting this art exhibition of the Yemeni great artist Mr. Abdul-Rahman Al-Ghabiri. Mr. Al-Ghabiri is really an artist in all fields of art but when it comes to photography he is the most prominent. This kind of art requires an eye which senses beauty and never misses it. We can see that his photos almost speak of what he felt and read in that picture. It is also clear that Mr. Al-Ghabiri adores the history and glory of Yemen and this is embodied in the expressions of yearning and patriotism that he portrayed in his photos. I personally encourage the Yemeni artist, Mr. Abdul-Rahman Al-Ghabiri who has become a school for all the coming generations.” 

Mr. Zayed Saleh Al-Fakeeh General Manager of the Book House noted: 
“Before this exhibition I was used to think that photography exhibitions are never like those of paintings. However, now I can clearly see that photos far overweigh paintings. This art exhibition reflects the artist’s soul which in turn portrays the brilliant, civilized side of Yemen. I should not also forget to thank the French Cultural Center for hosting such Yemeni cultural activities.” 
“I am originally from Damar and I have known Yemen through Al-Ghabiri art exhibition. I am really happy and I also hope that all the world become to know Yemen through this artist.” Novelist  Al-Gherby Amran observed. 
 

Little knowledge about insurance in the Arab countries creates misinterpretation of its meaning. This misinterpretation leads to some misunderstanding of its aims and benefits. Some Islamic religious figures have recently called for the idea of prohibiting of the system of insurance. 

A number of Islamic conferences were being held in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries to discuss the issue. Most of these countries supported the idea of prohibition. Insurance system , however, is up till now operative in all Arab countries. The reason behind the rejection of the idea of prohibition is that there is no clear Quranic indicator against it. Indeed, there are some reasons that make the idea unreasonable and then unconvincing. 

Those who support the idea of prohibition have no evidence from  the Holy Quran or the Sunna. Their argument is that insurance is a foreign subject or system that is suitable for foreign societies only. Islamic societies are not in need of a system like it because the Islamic teachings cover all that is connected with human life. 
The idea of prohibition is not supported or declared by all Islamic figures. Islamic figures are divided into three groups. Some are with the legitimacy of insurance, some are of the opinion of its  prohibition while the remainder adopt a neutral stance. The group that follows the opinion of legitimacy of insurance says that the Islamic figures who follow the idea of prohibition know nothing about Islamic instructions. 

Some Islamic religious figures prohibited dealing with banks. They asked people to deal with the Islamic banks that were established for this aim. They say that dealing with the commercial banks is illegal because they pay interests. The idea of insurance prohibition is based on the same argument. Those who support the thought call for establishing insurance companies based on the Islamic teachings so both of the two groups do not exactly prevent the system of insurance companies that deal with people according to the Islamic principles. Their objective is the prohibition of the system of insurance as a whole. They do not distinguish between its various kinds and assess each in accordance with whether it is harmful or useful. Insurance is sorted into four main categories: Marine, Life, Property and Pecuniary. Each of these is subdivided into sections that may have one or more forms of policies. Each policy has its own provision and exclusions rather than the general condition and conditions used in all policies. So, the thought about prohibition must rely on good knowledge of the conditions of each and must also be restricted, if necessary, to the type which it is in contrast to our religious principles. 

Islam asks us to treat the subjects, that have no clear and direct Quranic teachings according to the general instructions stated in the holy Quran and the Prophet’s Sunna. General instructions state that humans should take everything that brings benefits and comfort for them and leave what may hurt them. Dealing with insurance proves that it offers many individual, collective and social benefits.  People can benefit from it much. In addition, insurance plays an important role in increasing the national revenue of any country, Thus, there is no reason to stand against it or prohibit it because it is useful and advantageous. Some may say there are certain irregularities and wrong procedures in  insurance operations. I reply that this is true but it is a great mistake to claim that these irregularities take place in all insurance companies. If they happen, they will be on argument on who commit them and not on insurance and a system. 

From my good study of insurance and its various types and forms my working experience in dealing with it I see no reason for prohibiting it, Insurance is an orderly system. It has clear and direct eight basic principles and about nine limitations which show together the nature of insurance and the way of exercising it. These principles and limitations can be considered the platform for passing a  judgment on insurance system. Those of the opinion of prohibition must study them well. What is worthy to mentioning is that prohibition concentrates much on life insurance because it is against Allah’s wish and fate. It clearly they misunderstand it. Life insurance offers great benefits to  people and there is no reason to prohibit it. We must realize that the title “life insurance” is branched into different types and it carries another meaning not as some understand it. We may discuss this point next. 

To conclude, my advice to the figures who advocate the idea of prohibiting  the system of insurance is to read and exercise insurance much. To assess something you must have good knowledge about it.