Purity of the Soul
A painting exploring the cleansing power of prayer, presented with artwork documentation, process footage, the artistic story, and the artist’s biography.
The story behind “Purity of the Soul”
“Purity of the Soul” is a painting inspired by a hadith in which the Prophet Muhammad compares the five daily prayers to a river at a person's doorstep. If someone bathes in that river five times every day, no dirt remains; likewise, the prayers wash away wrongdoings. The artwork gives that spiritual analogy a visual form. A green-domed mosque rises among slender minarets, palm trees, gardens, stone steps, and a quiet stretch of reflective water. The repetition of water, light, and greenery evokes renewal and inner clarity. Architectural details anchor the painting in a recognizable visual language, while the surrounding landscape creates a contemplative atmosphere. Rather than recording an identified historical site, the scene is interpreted here as an image of devotion and the cleansing power of prayer. The accompanying process video documents the artwork from early sketch lines and architectural construction through layered color, foliage, and final detailing. These successive stages allow the viewer to see the work develop through the artist's hands and provide a direct record of her creative process.
«أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّ نَهَرًا بِبَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَغْتَسِلُ فِيهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسًا، مَا تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ يُبْقِي مِنْ دَرَنِهِ؟» قَالُوا: لَا يُبْقِي مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْئًا، قَالَ: «فَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ، يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بِهِ الْخَطَايَا».From the first sketch to the finished painting
The artist-provided process video traces the making of the painting, from its initial outlines and architectural forms to color development, trees, reflections, and the final layers. Duration: under one minute.
Artwork information
- Title
- Purity of the Soul
- Artist
- Hanan Refaat Elbokl
- Art form
- Hand-painted visual artwork
- Medium & materials
- Exact materials for this painting have not been supplied; artist confirmation required.
- Dimensions
- Not supplied; dimensions require confirmation by the artist.
- Process documentation
- Artist-supplied video of sketching, painting and finishing stages.
Artist biography and practice
Hanan Refaat Elbokl is an Egyptian visual artist and craftsperson based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Her practice explores cultural heritage through pronounced textures, three-dimensional forms, and carefully built surfaces. She works with modeling paste and varied techniques, drawing inspiration from traditional Rawashin wooden latticework, wooden sticks, and other materials to produce both raised and flat tactile compositions. Her work moves between architectural memory, natural landscapes, and reflective imagery. In the artist's supplied statement, she reports first-place achievements in art competitions in 2024 and 2025, first place in a Best Logo contest, and second place in the 20-Minute Challenge at the Battle Art competition at Salma Center. She also reports a first-place recognition for the artwork “And the Earth Shone with the Light of Its Lord” in the Al-Wahy competition, and participation with “My Grandfather's House” in the Ru'a competition. She has participated in group exhibitions since 2017, including Bridges of Saudi-Egyptian Art and Ibn Al-Shaheed, while maintaining an active public record of her creative practice.
Awards and competition achievements cited here are based on the artist’s supplied written statement; a supplied award document also appears in the main portfolio.
An artwork, a story, a living practice
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