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Film on "True Islam"
The Islamic world is now facing a
fierce media campaign aimed at distorting image of Islam in
terms of faith, thought, practice, behavior and ethics,
instigated by a number of world media linked to anti-Islam
organizations. The campaigns have left a negative impact on the
true picture of Islam towards the international public opinion
especially they are being carried out in a professional way by
some specialized media and public
relations companies. This matter imposes a necessity on groups
and organizations concerned with Islamic work to face and deal
with such campaigns with a similar level of professionalism,
specialty and mechanisms such as documentary films and
programs…all aimed at informing the international public opinion
on the essence of Islam, its approach, role in people’s life and
influence in human civilization
The Role of
Media and Public Relations on International Public Opinion
Success of any campaign on public
opinion in any society depends on how to deal with big media and
public relations organizations which normally orient the public
opinion through a number of mechanisms such as media programs,
conferences, symposia, and face-to-face encounters.
It is known that there are big
media companies that control and direct public opinion in the
United States and Europe. This dominance has been gained
through addressing categories of a people by their own language,
methods and programs tailored in a professional way; i.e.
preparing dialogues and documentary programs of highly credible
contents destined for most influential categories of people
especially the political and cultural think tanks.
The True Picture of Islam
The incidents being witnessed by
the Islamic world have created need for it to introduce to word
public opinion the true picture of Islam, its important role in
human civilization, key features such as tolerance and
moderation, and its achievements to the world at large. This
definition on the reality of Islam should be made through
messages that could be understood by non-Islamic communities,
presumably affecting their ideas and re-shaping their
perspectives and views on Islamic faith, demonstrating relations
of Islamic societies with other non-Muslim communities, and
reaffirming tolerance, fairness and moderation of Islam.
The Film
In the context of its drive to
introduce the reality of islam in light of media campaign that
has distorted the image of islam among the public opinion in
non-islamic countries and based upon its concern to address
world public opinion through mechanisms that may positively
affect their views and bring about a balance amid this malicious
campaign, Abdulaziz bin Baz Charity Foundation (ABCF) opted to
produce a documentary film called the “true Islam”. The film is
intended to brief the world public opinion on the reality of
Islam, change distorted image that some parties try to spread
and plant among audience of non-Islamic communities. The film
is designed to highlight goals of Islam in terms of faith,
behavior, and its contribution to the development of human
civilization, strengthening of ethical values, establishing true
freedom and reflection of its authentic view to other
non-Muslims.
Themes 0f
the Film
1. Misconceptions and Myths on Islam
The film focuses on a lot of
misconceptions attributed to Islam:
a. The distorted image being
circulated by enemies of Islam on jihad (holy war),
b. Citing a number of true
issues which do exist in Islam and clarifying suspicions
attached to these issues such as hijab (veil), polygamy and
Islamic stance over female circumcision,
c. The role and status of
women in Islam.
2.The five
pillars of Islam
The film deals with these pillars
as follows:
a. The testimony (shahadah),
which means, “there is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the
messenger of Allah”. This is the first pillar of Islam.
b. Prayer (salat), the
second pillar, which is ought to be performed five times per day
by a Muslim. The film gives detailed descriptions on the
prayer.
c. Giving alms (zakat) to
the poor and needy.
d. Fasting the month of
Ramadan. The film focuses on things to be avoided by a fasting
Muslim in addition to interviews with some fasting Muslims.
e. The pilgrimage (hajj),
the fifth pillar to be performed by those who can do it
(financially and physically) once in lifetime. The film touches
on some practical experiences seen by hajj performers.
3. Family in
Islam
The film presents the family
through:
a. Call made by the Holy
Quran and Sunnah on dully respect and love of a Muslim towards
his parents.
b. The responsibility of
parents over bringing up and education of their children.
c. The film displays a
Muslim family and interviews one of family members.
d. The status of women in a
Muslim family and importance of their education.
4. Islamic
sharia
The film gives answers to so many
enquires centered on Islamic sharia as follows:
a. What is meant by “sharia”?
b. The basic sources of
sharia.
c. Violations and inherent
penalties from Islamic sharia point of view.
d. Economic system in Islam.
5. Jihad in
Islam
The film explains the meaning of
jihad in Islam and furnishes corrections on misconceptions
associated to it where enemies of Islam are strenuously trying
to spread such misconceptions.
a. The concept of jihad in
Islam.
b. Jihad is not terrorism.
c. Who is authorized to
declare jihad?
d. Forms of jihad.
Duration of
the film:
45 minutes
Languages of
the film:
The film is being produced in
English and French in initial stages and other languages will be
used later in a bid to convey content of the message to a
variety of non-Muslim communities.
Production
of the film:
The film is being produced by a
series of specialized documentary film producing companies,
which have already produced a number of well-known films.
Themes of the films are being undertaken by a group of
specialized researchers and revised by key sharia and media
specialists.
Distribution
of the film:
The film is scheduled to display
at a number of specialized international documentary film
festivals to be held in some cities such as Los Angles, Toronto,
Paris, Marcella, Amsterdam, and London in addition to sending it
to more than 1400 film festivals around the world. The film will
also be transmitted through ground and satellite-based TV
stations in Europe and the United States, in particular, and,
later, to other parts of the world. Some 5000 copies of the
film are to be distributed to research centers and libraries of
universities, groups, regional and international organizations
worldwide.
Sponsor of
the film:
Production of the film is
sponsored by Abdulaziz bin Baz Charity Foundation (ABCF); a body
that is concerned with cultural and social works. His Royal
Highness Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud chairs ABCF Board
of Trustees. It is to be recalled that one of aims of the ABCF
is to highlight tolerance of Islam as shown by His Eminence
Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Baz – may mercy of Allah be upon him –
through his support and care of religious and cultural projects,
crucial issues concerning Arab and Islamic worlds thus
reflecting tolerance, moderation and fairness of Islam and how
to create channels of research and scientific communication
between Islamic and non-Islamic societies.
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