Search - Frontline - Muslims on DVD

Good effort

Haseeb | Tempe, AZ United States | 06/30/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Most documentaries on Islam tend to focus on the religion as a whole as opposed to the people that make up Islam. This news documentary focuses on Muslims just as the title suggests. This video takes us to Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, Turkey, Nigeria, and America to listen to Muslim activists, scholars, mainstream Muslims, moderates and others who have opinions on Islam. In each country visited, a brief historical summary of Islam is given. Some countries are given more detailed historical backgrounds than others. The program begins by visiting professors of Sociology and Islamic History discussing the negative impact western civilization has had on Islam and Muslims. It is also explained very clearly why Muslims often look down on the western ideology. In this program we see that not all Muslims are the same. We see Muslims who praise Osama Bin Laden and we see Muslims who are angrier at other Muslims than anyone else for condoning terroism. A recent convert in LA who wears the Hijaab is profiled and talks of the reasons she accepted Islam. There is also a Saudi-American Muslim sister profiled who does not wear Hijaab and seems very Americanized. This Saudi-American sister founded an organizaton called "Muslims Against Terroism" in response to the Sept. 11 terroist attacks. Although she talks of not being accepted in some Islamic circles for not wearing the Hijaab, she says she feels very secure in her connection to Islam. The commentator also says "she has found her own way to be a Muslim". One segment shows her in a classroom emphasizing to the nonmuslim students that the veil is not a representation of Islam nor is it required. As long as there are Muslims who teach things like this, there will be more amunition for nonmuslims to say that the Hijaab is "outdated", "backwords" and "oppresive". The division between African-Americans and Arabs in Islam is mentioned but not discussed in any significant detail. The fact that the first Muslims in this country were African slaves was not even mentioned. This would have fit in perfectly with a historical summary of Islam in America and its popularity with African-Americans."

Documentation of Muslim culture and beliefs in modern times

Midwest Book Review | Oregon, WI USA | 10/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Produced for the acclaimed television program "Frontline", Muslims will appeal to the entire family from pre-teens through adults, providing a documentation of Muslim culture and beliefs in modern times. Extenstive film footage from Egypt, Malaysia, Iran, Turkey and the U.S. explores politics, religion, and economics and provides insights on connections between Muslims groups and cultures from around the world. The video is presented in both the "family friendly" VHS (1561764892) and DVD (1561764906) formats."