Down With The Psychological Barrier Between Islamists And The Arts
By Nabeel Shabeeb
Islam Online, Cairo
A psychological barrier has grown between the arts and myself. It is a long story that I intend to discuss only in as much as it relates to the current debate on the views of Islam on theatrical acting and other related types of arts and entertainment.
There are two things that prompted me to write this, after having abandoned the subject for years. The first are the shows broadcast during the holy month of Ramadan, when we were inundated with shows that claim to represent Islamic views and Islamic events. The other is the statement made by our respected Sheikh Yousef Qaradawi, stating that he sees no problem in women acting under "certain conditions."
His opponents, as usual, were quick to attack, without concerning themselves with the nature of these "certain conditions." Rather, they debated the issue of prohibiting women from acting without even bringing any proof. It is a continuation to the same line of thinking that has been going on for the past 50 years at least. Some Islamic media even intentionally refrained from taking part in the discussion.
I am also very troubled at the lack of response to the great cinematic projects proposed by the able actor Hassan Yousef, who was forced to go into cartoons because there is no Islamic framework for actors to follow. There is no framework among Islamists so that they may take part in such great projects that will eventually promote the cause of Islam. Satellite TV is also complaining about a lack of Islamic participation and a shortage of values-oriented movies. Iqra and Sharjah Satellite TV station have pleaded for such contributions.
The point I am trying to make here is that the Islamic movement committed a strategic mistake when it abandoned some professions, leaving them for non-Islamists who poisoned societies and distorted their values. Professions involving women, such as teaching, medicine, arts and entertainment are among the examples of this phenomenon. These professions were left to non-Islamists without any competition. The only effort Islamists made is to condemn movies with women in them and orchestrate boycott campaigns on certain occasions. The result was a generation of Islamists that grew up without media skills, leaving them without the ability to produce movies, documentary series or any other related entertainment material.
I am also troubled to see many Islamists adopt the same views on the Internet. Therefore, instead of employing the latest technology to advance the causes of Muslims all over the world, we are engaging in unproductive discussions on whether the Internet is lawful or prohibited. Day by day, I am becoming more convinced that this generation should rebel against the restrictions imposed by the previous generation on the issues of arts and entertainment.
Our societies are facing serious problems in this area. We have no option but to engage actively in the media, the Internet, the arts and entertainment. We cannot isolate ourselves anymore. We cannot pretend that these types of technologies do not exist.
Yes indeed, the psychological divide between Islamists and the fields of arts and entertainment is great. However, we will be able to bridge it. In order to bring about our renaissance, development and prosperity, preserve our values, advance our causes, defend our rights, express positive images about us and spread our message, we have only one option. That option is to break the psychological barrier and overcome the mistakes made toward the fields of arts and entertainment
source
Islam Online, Cairo
A psychological barrier has grown between the arts and myself. It is a long story that I intend to discuss only in as much as it relates to the current debate on the views of Islam on theatrical acting and other related types of arts and entertainment.
There are two things that prompted me to write this, after having abandoned the subject for years. The first are the shows broadcast during the holy month of Ramadan, when we were inundated with shows that claim to represent Islamic views and Islamic events. The other is the statement made by our respected Sheikh Yousef Qaradawi, stating that he sees no problem in women acting under "certain conditions."
His opponents, as usual, were quick to attack, without concerning themselves with the nature of these "certain conditions." Rather, they debated the issue of prohibiting women from acting without even bringing any proof. It is a continuation to the same line of thinking that has been going on for the past 50 years at least. Some Islamic media even intentionally refrained from taking part in the discussion.
I am also very troubled at the lack of response to the great cinematic projects proposed by the able actor Hassan Yousef, who was forced to go into cartoons because there is no Islamic framework for actors to follow. There is no framework among Islamists so that they may take part in such great projects that will eventually promote the cause of Islam. Satellite TV is also complaining about a lack of Islamic participation and a shortage of values-oriented movies. Iqra and Sharjah Satellite TV station have pleaded for such contributions.
The point I am trying to make here is that the Islamic movement committed a strategic mistake when it abandoned some professions, leaving them for non-Islamists who poisoned societies and distorted their values. Professions involving women, such as teaching, medicine, arts and entertainment are among the examples of this phenomenon. These professions were left to non-Islamists without any competition. The only effort Islamists made is to condemn movies with women in them and orchestrate boycott campaigns on certain occasions. The result was a generation of Islamists that grew up without media skills, leaving them without the ability to produce movies, documentary series or any other related entertainment material.
I am also troubled to see many Islamists adopt the same views on the Internet. Therefore, instead of employing the latest technology to advance the causes of Muslims all over the world, we are engaging in unproductive discussions on whether the Internet is lawful or prohibited. Day by day, I am becoming more convinced that this generation should rebel against the restrictions imposed by the previous generation on the issues of arts and entertainment.
Our societies are facing serious problems in this area. We have no option but to engage actively in the media, the Internet, the arts and entertainment. We cannot isolate ourselves anymore. We cannot pretend that these types of technologies do not exist.
Yes indeed, the psychological divide between Islamists and the fields of arts and entertainment is great. However, we will be able to bridge it. In order to bring about our renaissance, development and prosperity, preserve our values, advance our causes, defend our rights, express positive images about us and spread our message, we have only one option. That option is to break the psychological barrier and overcome the mistakes made toward the fields of arts and entertainment
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Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 4:04 PM.
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