A new series of Britain's Channel 4 explores the wonders and essence of the soul-searching journey of hajj through the eyes of six Muslims from different parts of the world, shattering common myths on Muslims and their much- stereotyped faith.
"We wanted to make a series about the idea of prayer and pilgrimage for normal Muslims," Faris Kermani, director of Channel 4's new series "The Seven Wonders of the Muslim World," told the Telegraph on Monday, July 14.
The week-long series, which starts Monday, travels all the way to the holy city of Makkah, following six Muslims from around the world, all have one dream: to perform hajj.
A 10-minute episode follows each of the pilgrims, who come from Spain, Palestine, Pakistan, Turkey, Mali and Iran, to show how he lives and the way he prays and worships.
The six short films then culminate in a 90-minute documentary that combines their hajj experiences.
"What's appealing about them is that they are ordinary Muslims, not necessarily people who say their prayers five times a day and have a beard," said Kermani.
"They are middle of the road, ordinary Joes, and when the emotion of religion comes through, their being normal people makes it all the more powerful."
The program organizers hope it will give a rare insight into the ultimate spiritual experience of hajj, whether for Muslims or non-Muslims.
"Until you've been to Makkah, the Ka`bah's just an image, but as soon as that image becomes a reality it's quite overpowering," said Channel 4 commissioning editor Aaqil Ahmed.
"It makes you realize straight away that you're quite small – suddenly you're among millions of people, and that is a religious thing.
"My hope is that viewers get that sense, too."
One of the five pillars of Islam, hajj consists of several ceremonies, which are meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family.
Every able-bodied adult Muslim — who can financially afford the trip — must perform hajj at least once in their lifetime.
Stereotypes
The program makers hope the series will break away many stereotypes about Islam and Muslims.
"We hear about extreme, politicized Muslims all the time," said Kermani.
"But – obviously – 99.9 per cent of Muslims are not engaged in anything like terrorist activities."
Kermani said he tried to present a portrait of global Islam through personal stories of the pilgrims.
"As we followed the pilgrims, first at home and then travelling, we asked them questions and made them think about things."
One of the short films follows young Palestinian courier Sameh, who performs hajj partly in memory of his brother, who died aged just 21 in a car crash.
"Sameh… signifies that there's more to the Palestinian experience than refugee camps," said Ahmed, the program editor.
In her segment, Ranaa, the pilgrim from Iran, offers a different image for Iranian women, and Muslim women in general, than what is usually conceived.
"We in the West never seem to think you're going to come across a highly educated, beautiful, middle-class woman who is at ease with how she relates life, religion and the political structure of her country," Ahmed explained.
"The Seven Wonders of the Muslim World," program is part of Channel 4's Islam season, which includes special films and series about Islam and the two million Muslims in Britain.
Ahmed believes the season is taking on a hard task; to de-mystify Islam and shatter misconceptions that have been rife ever since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US.
"Post 9/11, program makers and commissioners, myself included, have been looking at issues involving 9/11," he said.
"What we've not done is to go back and look at what people actually believe in – the belief structure and the story of Islam."
