A former BBC journalist, filmmaker Navid describes himself as a man in three parts: British; Muslim; and Pakistani. He feels that there is an enormous need to better understand Islam in Britain – in fact goes a step further and says British Islam should be celebrated.

Next month Al Jazeera English will begin showing a series of films on British Islam. The films cover a range of issues and are also sent out to British schools in packs of educational material.

As a Muslim Voices blogger, I was able to have a sneak preview — providing me with a virtual engagement in my exploration of Islam in the UK. I also managed to speak to the producer of the films Navid Akthar about why he made these films.

A former BBC journalist, Navid describes himself as a man in three parts:  British; Muslim; and Pakistani. He feels that there is an enormous need to better understand Islam in Britain — in fact goes a step further and says British Islam should be celebrated.

And I agree (kinda why I write this blog). My main fear however, was in how these films would be received by a non-Muslim British audience. Narrated by Muslims, I can already see the Islamophobes of this island nation viewing these films as PR for Islam — rather than the genuine education pieces that they are.

Insight Into Muslim Lives

For anyone outside of Britain — this series of films will give you real insight into the lives of British Muslims.

Highlights for me were learning about Britain’s first (and stunningly beautiful) mosque in Woking and understanding the diversity in British Muslim women — wheelie wearing farmers, sassy businesswomen and hijab wearing fashion designers are all in the mix.

However, the smartly named “For Allah, King & Country” felt like it missed a trick. Navid claims that this series is for everybody and has no specific target audience, but also concedes that there is no real one size fits all.

I would argue that this piece, whilst being educational to a mild liberal audience (it was recently shown to Cambridge University students), it is primarily of most appeal to British Muslims themselves –  it offers them a cause for celebration of their identity.

Target Those Who Understand The Least

Maybe equally useful would be a series of films that directly target communities who understand Islam the least.  People whose ignorance most threatens the harmony of community relations.

A film about the Muslim contribution during the World Wars could have spoken to these people in their own language.

For in Britain there is huge irony that those who sway towards the fascist right are the same people who buy poppies on Remembrance Day, and take pride in the allied victory in the second world war.

A war which stood up against fascism and the ethnic solutions of the Nazis.

To use the same imagery and narrative could potentially be very powerful.  But Navid’s work felt more like a story for Indians, perhaps living in Britain.

Can’t Be Everything

As Navid says, you cannot be everything to everyone, and these films certainly provide a lively talking point within British Muslim communities.

And I guess the Islamophobes wont be watching Al Jazeera anyway!

Perhaps because I spend so much of my time explaining the little I know about Islam to non-Muslims I am looking for something to better educate on a broader level.

Only last week I found myself explaining to a confused resident why the street was filling with Muslims on a Friday lunchtime.

We were standing a street away from Cambridge mosque.

Overall, however The Best of British Islam is well worth a watch. And come to think of it another Al Jazeera film — Rageh Omaar exploring Islam in the USA — another treasure to Google.

Source: muslimvoices

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