Film Review: Paradise Now

Film: Paradise Now

This film follows two Palestinian men, Said and Khaled, as they volunteer to go on a suicide bombing mission into Israel.  They both record a final video which glorifies Allah and their cause of resistance.  The next day they are taken to the Palestinian-Israeli border to complete their mission but once they cross the border they are compromised by Israeli guards.  They both run away and are separated.  Khaled returns to the resistance group who remove his explosive belt and he is off to find Said, who is missing.  Khaled eventually decides not to follow through on the attack as he sees no point to it, but Said still believes it is the right thing to do.  I don't want to spoil the film, but the last shot is of Said sitting on a bus with Israeli civilians and soliders...

This is a great movie because it humanizes the people on one side of a conflict who are often demonized without given a fair chance to make their case.  Although violence against innocent people is never justifiable, it shows the complex emotions and societal factors that go into making the decision to engage in that level of "resistance."  Essentially, the movie brings the human element into the forefront, instead of the violence or conflict.

Islam and Germany: Culture as Identity

Reading: "Turkish Islam in Germany: A Problematic Tradition or the Fifth Project of Constitutional Patriotism?"
Author: Heiko Henkel

This piece discusses the conflicts Turkish Muslims are having in Germany, as well as some possible reasons why those conflicts are occurring.  Henkel writes that since the fall of the Soviet Union and the appearance of many new nation-states that occurred after that, culture has become the new basis for social identity, not race, at least in Europe.  There are many in Germany, and elsewhere in Europe that believe that Islam and Western Secularism are incompatible, and use this "otherness" as justification for discrimination.  The article also talks about the writer Ralph Giordano who believes Islamism is a mortal threat to Western society and culture, and believes that "European culture"is the rightful recipient of his allegiance.  The article then goes on to discuss the Four Projects of Constitutional Patriotism, which is the constitutional order under which German government and society operate.  These are: Nationalism, Liberalism, Socialism, and Christianity.  The author believes, however, that Islamic tradition can be seen as another, unincorporated, facet of this project.
I think this article is very thought-provoking because it makes one think about what one's culture really means, and how a shift in culture can be met with serious backlash.  In other words, what does it really mean to be German, or for that matter, American.  Are these concepts something tangible? Or are these notions of cultural identity evolving into something new every day?  And if so, is that a bad thing?

Creating an American Muslim identity

This video is about Abid Rehman, an MTV technologist, as he discusses what it means to be both American and Muslim.  This video is interesting because he talks about, among other things, how Muslim immigrants to America have/had both cultural and language barriers so they were unable to effectively educate and interact with the communities in which they live about Islam, but how the children of those immigrants are now stepping-up to do so.

Creating Viable American Muslim Identity

Sami Yusuf defending Pop songs within Islam

British-born Azeri pop singer Sami Yusuf gives his reaction to scholars and critics who claim his music is forbidden within Islamic law.  

This is interesting because he notes the differences in jurisprudence of Islamic scholars and discusses how the word "extremist" is becoming almost a fashionable catch-all category for those who disagree with one's point of view.  

Sami Yusuf

Korean Muslims

Many do not know that Asia is home to the largest Muslim community in the world, but fewer, probably even within Asia, realize that there are muslims even in Korea.

Korean Muslims

Muslims in Russia: The largest Muslim population in Europe

A video about the lack of space for prayer within Russia's mosques:  4 mosques serving 2 million Muslims.  Russia has Europe's largest muslim population.

Russia's Muslims Demand More Mosques

Superheroes inspired by Islam

Naif Al-Mutawa's new brand of superhero - inspired by Islam.  The superheroes "The 99" derive their names from the 99 attributes of Allah.  Interesting TED talk.

Naif al-Mutawa: Superheroes Inspired by Islam

Dietary Patches: the controversial Ramadan fasting solution

Here is a link to a site that talks about how dietary patch use during Ramadan is becoming more common and controversial.

Diet Patches for Ramadan

Muslims in Politics

Heres a link to "Muslims for America," a site about "getting Americans, and Muslims, more involved and excited about the American political process."

Enjoy

Muslims for America

Inside Mecca

Film:  Inside Mecca by National Geographic

This film was a look into one of the biggest pilgrimages of all the world's religions: the Hajj.  The Hajj is a pilgrimage obligatory on all Muslims at least once in their life, provided they are both healthy enough and financially able.  Mecca is a city closed off to non-Muslims so it was a very interesting and rare opportunity to be essentially on the ground-level with some 3 million Muslims as they participated in this historic and spiritual journey.

The film itself follows three Muslims and their journey both to the physical city of Mecca as well as the spiritual journey each person undergoes as they conduct the rites that the Hajj requires.  These three individuals, however, were not your "stereotypical" Muslims.  One was a white woman from Texas who had converted to Islam, another was a businessman from Indonesia, and the third was a black South African.  All of these people had separate, entirely different lives and lifestyles, but were united by their common faith.

While at Hajj, pilgrims are supposed to remain in a constant pensive state known as ihram.  For men, this entails wearing two simple white sheets, and for women involves dressing modestly; however, during this time, women are not required to cover their hands or face.  Another interesting aspect of the Hajj that is portrayed is how even though there is supposed to be no class distinction or separation, there were still vacation-style packages pilgrims could buy to enhance their stay at Hajj.  These packages could include such things as extra or better food, mattresses for staying in the tents, among other "luxuries".  To me, it was the commercialization of Hajj that was most fascinating.

It was also interesting watching how the woman, being both tall and blonde, was challenged while she was on the Hajj by other people, both men and women, asking her if she "really is a Muslim" and chastising her based on her looks.  It was sad to see how stereotypes exist even within a religion as diverse and far-reaching as Islam.  It was also interesting that she had to have a male relative give her written permission to go to Saudi Arabia to participate in Hajj; the male she eventually received the OK from was her son.  Being in a state of ihram, however, she endured the ridicule and stares and went on to complete the Hajj which had a profound impact on her life.  The business man from Indonesia presumably grew up Muslim and seemed to go on it as just another duty.  He did not seem particularly religious at the beginning of the film, but by the end a noticeable change had occurred.  The black South African man was a Muslim radio-host who wanted to experience the religious camaraderie being on the Hajj would bring.  Being from South Africa, a land with a long history of racial tensions, he was excited by the prospect of not being seen for the color of his skin, but rather seen as a fellow Muslim, part of a body or worldwide religious family.  It was disappointing to find out, however, that he was often still seen only as a "black African" first, and a Muslim second.  In fact, at one point in the film he actually switches prayer tents to pray with Muslims from Nigeria (I think it was Nigeria), because of some unsaid racial issue at the South African tent.

The film was a very fascinating look at an event that has taken place for over 1400 years, and although it is a spiritual journey to find, connect, and be with God, it still has many all-too-human qualities within it.  I recommend this film to everyone, whether they know anything about Islam or not, as it is hard to view such a massive, spiritual gathering of people from all around the world and not feel moved.