Video of Muhammad - Movie Review Example

Video Review Muhammad: Legacy of the Prophet is a documentary film based on the life of Islam founder, Prophet Muhammad. First broadcasted in PBS, the documentary was produced by Michael Wolfe and Alexander Kronemer, and directed by Michael Schwarz, with actor André Braugher as the narrator. The documentary film follows the life of Muhammad from his birth, his enlightenment, his preaching of Islam and its spread, through the personal perspectives of few American Muslims. It incorporates views of some of the worlds greatest scholars as well as that of common American Muslims about Prophet Muhammad and Islam as a whole. This two hour documentary, in the form of inter-linked narratives take the viewers straight into their residences, mosques and even their organizations to discover and understand many of the positive and constructive teachings of Muhammad, and particularly how they interpret and adopt those teachings in their personal and social lives. Among the people, who are interviewed and from whom views are elicited, Kevin James, Daisy Khan and Jameel Johnson provide a lot of in-depth and clear perspectives about Muhammad. So, this content will discuss these three individuals’ views on Muhammad, his teachings and Islam as a whole, particularly focusing on what aspect of Islam appealed to them and how Muhammads message influenced their way of life. Kevin James, his views about Muhammad and how it influenced his way of life Kevin James is a retired firefighter and Supervising Fire Marshal, who had a 20 year career with the New York Fire Department. Although, he had mixed parentage and had various faiths to choose from, he got converted to Islam because of Muhammad’s teachings. His father is from an African American and Native American lineage and his mother had parents who were Caucasian and Jewish. Actually, this mixed heritage and faiths made it difficult for him to select and follow one particular faith. From early days, he followed both Judaism and Christianity but still felt out of place because of the mixed background. “Either youre Black, youre White, youre Italian, youre Jewish, youre this, youre that. So coming from a mixed background, Ive felt like, kind of in limbo." (James qtd. in islamproject.org). That was when he began a phase of spiritual seeking, and found clear answers and enlightenment in Islam and Muhammad’s teachings. As Muhammad’s teachings preached racial equity, his feeling of ‘limbo’ because of mixed background, disappeared and he got enticed to Islam. “What appealed to me was the universality of the message. Any religion that gives a code of righteous ethical conduct and respect and gratitude and obedience to one being, is Islam.” (James qtd. in islamproject.org). James’ embracing of Islam, due to its appeal, also influenced his life, particularly his chose of the profession of firefighting. That is, James joined firefighting partly because of the Muhammad’s teachings that if you love your god, you have to first serve, your fellow human beings. “Do you love your Creator, serve your fellow man first.” (James qtd. in islamproject.org). James thought that if he becomes a fire fighter, he will be able to save or serve a lot of human lives, irrespective of their faiths and backgrounds. Also, as Muhammad’s teachings state that even if an individual saves one life, it is like saving humanity, James was further influenced to join firefighting. Apart from influencing his entry into the firefighting department, teachings of Muhammad regarding Jihad helped him to overcome his fear of public speaking. Jihad is often a discredited Islamic term, often associated with terrorism and violence, but James views jihad as a "constant struggle with yourself, to improve yourself and perfect your intent," (James qtd. in islamproject.org). He opines that Jihad is actually struggle of inner development, during which an individual will struggle to improve oneself, control their egos and perfect their intent. James adopted this teaching or Jihad to overcome his fear or struggle of public speaking. “For a long time, I was deathly afraid of speaking in public, of giving speeches. And I saw that, and I, well, this is my Jihad” (James qtd. in islamproject.org). He successfully managed his ‘jihad’, by forming a thinking that if he want to help people through his words and experiences, he need to confidently talk in public. To overcome this ‘jihad’, James viewed Muhammad as an inspirational figure whose teachings and actions can bring wholesome changes to any individual. “Prophet Muhammad was a man; he was flesh and blood, who brought one of the most eloquent revelations to mankind. Hes set an example to mankind through his behavior, through his actions, a living example.” (James qtd. in islamproject.org). Thus, it is clear that Muhammad’s teachings gave James a clear religious path to travel, when his mind was cluttered about various faiths, justified his decision to join firefighting and finally gave him the confidence to talk in public to help other people. Daisy Khan, his views about Muhammad and how it influenced her way of life Daisy Khan, a New York businesswoman, immigrated to United States in her teenage from India. Although a born-Muslim, during those teenage or pre-adult years in America, Khan wanted to live the life of fellow Americans or American friends and did not want hold or exhibit her faith of Islam. “As I started becoming part and parcel of this culture and society, I gravitated towards just wanting to be like everybody else ... and tended to stray away from my own faith” (Khan qtd. in islamproject.org). At that time, she felt that she wanted to merge with the normal American life and so gravitated away from her religion, and did not practice any of the religious practices. However, after living the life on those lines for some time, she felt some kind of emptiness in her heart. As she grew older and experienced various facets of teenage and youth life, Khan felt that she must hold on to some faith to fill the emptiness in her heart. This is when she discovered how the views of Muhammad can provide a lot of support during various situations of one’s life. So, after years of soul searching, she felt Muhammad’s views on god and spirituality quite healing and thus it could fill the ‘hole’ in her heart. In addition, Muhammad’s treatment of women particularly his first wife, Khadija influenced Khan in her professional life. That is, in the documentary, it is clear that Khan drew a lot of inspiration and strength from the way how Khadija succeeded as a businesswoman in those days, that too in male-dominated Arabian society, mainly with the support of her husband. Khan was able to ‘channel’ that inspiration in her business and work, and is able to inspire and guide other women professionals as well. Based on Muhammad’s views on women and his treatment of his wife, Khan guides other young Muslim women professionals in New York on how to balance their stressful professional life as well as Islam practices, complimenting each other. “The challenges that I faced in my life are the very same challenges that a lot of young girls are facing. And, when they come to me with their questions, I feel like a person who has already traveled the road. I dispense advice to them from real experience as to how I would have dealt with something” (Khan qtd. in islamproject.org). Muhammad also influenced Khan’s response to 9/11, which showed Islamic faith in bad light. That is, as stated by Khan, “one of the ways that I want to respond is the way the Prophet would have responded. To just talk about the humanity which we all belong to.” (Khan qtd. in islamproject.org). On those lines, she organized a kind of interfaith event at Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan, during which various Muslim artists came up with artistic works in remembrance of 9/11. Thus, it is clear that Muhammad teachings made Khan to rediscover her faith and also influenced her other social and humane activities. Jameel Johnson his views about Muhammad and how it influenced his way of life Jameel Johnson, the Chief of Staff for the Congressman Gregory Meeks from New York, was raised as a Christian but enticed by Muhammad’s teachings converted to Islam in his youth. To intertwine Muhammad’s teachings as part of his life, Johnson not only prays 5 times per day, but also organizes "Jumma" prayer every week in Capitol Hill, the seat of United States Congress, for Muslims as well as interested non-Muslims. Johnson is a government official, who faces a lot of situations with the public, where he needs to be little more flexible and has to negotiate well. He learned these two characteristics from the life of Muhammad. For Johnson, the best example is the Muhammad’s handling of the Treaty of Hudaybiyah. That is, although Muhammad planned his pilgrimage to Mecca, following the treaty, he became flexible and delayed the pilgrimage for a year, thus fulfilling his long-term wish to establish Islam more prominently. Johnson also learned the need to consult others and hear their views while taking crucial public related policy decisions, from Muhammad’s life and teachings. At the Battle of Badr, Muhammad changed his battle strategies, when one of his soldiers came up with a better strategy to defeat the opponent. This importance given to shura (or consultation) by Muhammad influenced Johnson’s decisions in his professional life. Muhammad’s views on fighting justice, when wrongs takes place further influenced and inspired Johnson to do his duty as ‘law protector’ or public servant, in a more optimum manner. “One of the things that the Prophet Muhammad taught us was that it is our duty to try to correct injustices in the world. If you see something wrong, change it with your hands. If youre not able to change it, then speak out against it.” (Johnson qtd. in islamproject.org). On the lines of Muhammad’s teaching, Johnson also believes that Muslims should not fight for justice for their fellow Muslims alone, but seek justice for all people. From these words of Johnson, it is clear that his life was influenced by Muhammad’s life and views. Conclusion After seeing the documentary and reviewing it, from the perspective of three individuals, one can surely recommend others to watch this documentary. Firstly, the individuals’ views about Muhammad and the impact of those views on their lives are well brought out in the work. As this work juxtaposes the origins and story of Muhammad with the personal opinions of various Muslims and experts, it is informative as well as an eye-opener. Informative in the sense, it provides a lot of information about how Islam as a religion evolved with the enlightenment and teachings of Muhammad. More that that, it clearly succeeds in disapproving and dispelling many false myths about Islam’s fundamentalist and violent tendencies. That is, the documentary “Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet” by putting forward the positive and constructive teachings of Muhammad and Islam sets the record straight about an individual, who has been demonized by many, who knew very little or nothing about him and his peaceful and constructive messages to the humanity. So, this movie should be viewed by all people, particularly non- Muslims, so they can understand how Islam or Muhammad does not propagate any violence and it is only minority of the Muslims, who interpret in a negative way. Works Cited islamproject.org. Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet. Transcript of the Program Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet. 15 October 2010. http://www.islamproject.org/muhammad/muhammad_transcript.htm Read More