"The Qur'an"
Jul. 20th, 2008 01:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rhythmaningI watched Channel 4’s documentary on the Qur’an this week – imaginatively entitled “The Qur’an” - and its daily companion pieces, “The Seven Wonders of the Muslim World”.
“The Qur’an” was a fascinating programme about something of which I knew very little (it might be fairer to say nothing); at two hours long (though I cut out the ads – so it probably came in at 105 minutes or so) it really didn’t feel like it was too long, and it was full of interesting debate – I felt it presented both sides of the story, and it explained how there were several interpretations of the Qur’an, just as there are any text, giving rise to many versions of Islam, some of which contradict each other. (How many Christian sects are there with contradictory beliefs? Just look at the Anglican Church and its current schisms.)
It was full of beautiful images – I would gladly travel to Iran just to see the glorious Iman Mosque (more pictures here) - and startling facts – the billions of dollars of oil money spent by Saudi Arabia on promoting Wahabism through the printing and distribution of the Qur’an (including their own, somewhat inflammatory, warlike interpretation of some passages).
The contrasts were startling: how Cairo has changed from a culture where women dressed as they would anywhere in the western world to one where most women wear the veil in one or another form; how some Muslims believe that Jews and Christians are kindred spirits who belive in “the one God” (Moses, Abraham and Jesus all playing important roles in Islam) – including praying in Jewish temples and Christian churches - and how others view them as sworn enemies; and how the various sects within Islam vie for power through their differing views. Particularly interesting were how the differences came about – why some Muslims view aspects of Islam as cultural (wearing the veil, for instance, or – more shocking, perhaps – female circumcision) whilst others view these as doctrinal.
Different sects views on their relationship with God was fascinating, most interpreting the Qur’an as providing a direct, personal relationship , whilst what we hear in the UK comes from a few loud, often fundamental, imams.
What worried me, though, was how little I felt challenged. This was actually down to me, I think: I naturally agreed with the more liberal, westernised Islamicists the programme featured than the more fundamental, anti-western hardliners. The liberal viewpoint presented an open, more rational interpretation; the hardliners just presented their arguments, not broaching debate. This could have been down to the editing, although the impression that I got was of the programme makers being open to all views. (Perhaps it was just good editing!) Still, this disturbed me:
“The Seven Wonders of the Muslim World” was equally fascinating, featuring several Muslims and allowing them to speak for themselves – and then following them as they journeyed to Mecca. These were articulate, free-thinkers who were making their own choices, talking openly to the camera about their beliefs (of course, if they hadn’t been articulate they probably wouldn’t have been chosen to appear on British tv screens); and again Isfahan looked beautiful.
You can watch The Qur’an HERE, today and tomorrow (Sunday and Monday) only; “The Seven Wonders of the Muslim World” is on Channel 4 tonight (Sunday), all seven episodes shown together, after which I presume it will available to watch online for the next week.
“The Qur’an” was a fascinating programme about something of which I knew very little (it might be fairer to say nothing); at two hours long (though I cut out the ads – so it probably came in at 105 minutes or so) it really didn’t feel like it was too long, and it was full of interesting debate – I felt it presented both sides of the story, and it explained how there were several interpretations of the Qur’an, just as there are any text, giving rise to many versions of Islam, some of which contradict each other. (How many Christian sects are there with contradictory beliefs? Just look at the Anglican Church and its current schisms.)
It was full of beautiful images – I would gladly travel to Iran just to see the glorious Iman Mosque (more pictures here) - and startling facts – the billions of dollars of oil money spent by Saudi Arabia on promoting Wahabism through the printing and distribution of the Qur’an (including their own, somewhat inflammatory, warlike interpretation of some passages).
The Imam Mosque in Isfahan, Iran. Source: Folded Bird, on flickr
The contrasts were startling: how Cairo has changed from a culture where women dressed as they would anywhere in the western world to one where most women wear the veil in one or another form; how some Muslims believe that Jews and Christians are kindred spirits who belive in “the one God” (Moses, Abraham and Jesus all playing important roles in Islam) – including praying in Jewish temples and Christian churches - and how others view them as sworn enemies; and how the various sects within Islam vie for power through their differing views. Particularly interesting were how the differences came about – why some Muslims view aspects of Islam as cultural (wearing the veil, for instance, or – more shocking, perhaps – female circumcision) whilst others view these as doctrinal.
Different sects views on their relationship with God was fascinating, most interpreting the Qur’an as providing a direct, personal relationship , whilst what we hear in the UK comes from a few loud, often fundamental, imams.
What worried me, though, was how little I felt challenged. This was actually down to me, I think: I naturally agreed with the more liberal, westernised Islamicists the programme featured than the more fundamental, anti-western hardliners. The liberal viewpoint presented an open, more rational interpretation; the hardliners just presented their arguments, not broaching debate. This could have been down to the editing, although the impression that I got was of the programme makers being open to all views. (Perhaps it was just good editing!) Still, this disturbed me:
“The Seven Wonders of the Muslim World” was equally fascinating, featuring several Muslims and allowing them to speak for themselves – and then following them as they journeyed to Mecca. These were articulate, free-thinkers who were making their own choices, talking openly to the camera about their beliefs (of course, if they hadn’t been articulate they probably wouldn’t have been chosen to appear on British tv screens); and again Isfahan looked beautiful.
You can watch The Qur’an HERE, today and tomorrow (Sunday and Monday) only; “The Seven Wonders of the Muslim World” is on Channel 4 tonight (Sunday), all seven episodes shown together, after which I presume it will available to watch online for the next week.