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British-Pakistani filmmaker’s documentaries supply viewers uncommon glimpses into Islam’s holiest websites
ISLAMABAD: An acclaimed British-Pakistani filmmaker, Abrar Hussain, who has produced documentaries on the Grand Mosque of Makkah and Al-Aqsa Mosque, has instructed Arab Information that his movies intention to counter anti-Islamic narratives by providing uncommon glimpses into the faith’s cultural heritage.
Born in Islamabad, Hussain moved together with his household to London within the late Seventies lower than a yr after his start. Previous to turning into a documentary filmmaker, he labored as a sequence producer on the Islam Channel, and directed and produced the favored returning TV exhibits “Mannequin Mosque” (2007) and “Religion Off” (2008).
In 2017, Hussain launched his best-known work, “One Day within the Haram.” As solely Muslims are permitted to enter Makkah, Islam’s holiest metropolis, the movie supplied a glimpse contained in the Grand Mosque in Makkah — exhibiting how the world’s largest mosque is run and what the every day routines are like.
“Publish 9/11, there was lot of media backlash in opposition to Muslims, particularly within the UK and in Western nations, and I knew this isn’t the true portrayal of Islam,” Hussain instructed Arab Information in an interview.
“I actually felt that I wanted to make use of my inventive expertise to do one thing to fight this. So, I began doing Islamic productions and I had very large success.”
Hussain’s new movie, “One Night time in Al-Aqsa,” premiered in London earlier this month. It exhibits Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem throughout Laylat Al-Qadr, a pageant that commemorates the evening when the primary verses of the Qur’an had been revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
“Our movie is all about selling higher and extra tolerant understanding of Islam,” Hussain stated.
In a evaluation, the Guardian newspaper wrote that the movie “interweaves awe-inspiring aerial footage of Al-Aqsa with intimate pictures of the trustworthy.”
“Lots of them are Palestinians from the West Financial institution who endure quite a few Israeli safety checkpoints, including excruciatingly lengthy hours to their journey. Certainly, the omnipresence of the Israeli occupation looms massive over the convivial and transferring scenes of worshippers praying or breaking bread on the finish of their quick,” the Guardian stated.
“This documentary is a helpful window into the lengths that Palestinians need to go to easily to have a good time their religion.”
For Hussain, the documentary, shot on a £200,000 ($268,000) funds in about 18 months, was an “unbelievable and phenomenal expertise to protect cultural heritage and Islamic historical past.”
“It is without doubt one of the most necessary locations (in Islam) and a way of delight for Muslims,” he stated, including that the intention of the movie was to encourage folks to return to Al-Aqsa for worship and to face in solidarity with the Palestinian folks.
Funds generated from the movie have been donated to Penny Enchantment Palestine, the worldwide humanitarian charity, which additionally contributed to its manufacturing.
“By these funds, they may assist different initiatives like this one, and supply well being care, meals, and different very important assist to the Palestinian folks, largely in Gaza,” Hussain stated.
He added that his documentaries had already been watched by thousands and thousands of individuals in cinemas, on airline leisure programs and video on demand platforms.
“‘One Day within the Haram’ remained on Amazon Prime for 2 years and now it has been transferred to a different platform within the US, known as USHUB, which is streaming the movie in over 200 nations worldwide,” the director stated.
“One Night time in Al-Aqsa” had already been screened in 12 nations, boasting “large success” in Britain, the US, Canada, South Africa and Australia. It was additionally proven in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey.
“The Muslim viewers has appreciated that somebody went by means of all of the troubles to make this movie,” Hussain stated.
For his subsequent undertaking, the filmmaker goes to return to Saudi Arabia.
“One other large undertaking on which we’re working these days is ‘A Day in Madinah’,” he stated, including that it’ll function the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, the second-holiest metropolis in Islam.
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