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The Muslim Jesus

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Director
  
Irshad Ashraf

Country
  
United Kingdom

Genre
  
Documentary

Duration
  

Language
  
English

The Muslim Jesus movie poster

Release date
  
19 August 2007 (2007-08-19)

The Muslim Jesus is a 2007 British documentary directed and produced by Irshad Ashraf, and commissioned and narrated by Melvyn Bragg. The documentary is about the Islamic view of Jesus. It was broadcast by ITV on 19 August 2007.

Contents

History channel documentary the muslim jesus


Overview

The one-hour special uses the Quran as its main source, and draws on interviews with scholars and historians. It features commentary from Hamza Yusuf, who was filmed quite extensively for this documentary. The documentary is the first time the subject has been dealt with on British television.

The Muslim Jesus explores the similarities and differences between the Jesus of the Gospels and in the Quran. It explores how Islam honours Jesus Christ as a prophet but not as the son of God. According to the Quran the crucifixion was a divine illusion. Instead of dying on the cross, Jesus was rescued by angels and raised to heaven. It concludes that the two faiths have more in common than most people realise.

Background

The narrator Melvyn Bragg said, "I was fascinated by the idea ... Jesus was such a prominent figure in Islam but most people don't know that." He added: "I hope it will provoke among Muslims the feeling they are included in television."

The director and producer Irshad Ashraf said, the film was an attempt to shift the focus away from extremism to the spiritual side of Islam. He added, "Jesus is loved and respected by Muslims and he's one of the most important prophets in our religion."

Hamza Yusuf said, "In the Christian narrative the most central and fundamental point of Christianity is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ but Islam basically denies that. The Quran states that it was made to appear that Jesus was crucified as when the Romans captured Jesus God organised a rescue operation."

Appearances

  • Hamza Yusuf (Muslim scholar of Zaytuna Institute, California)
  • Ajmal Masroor (Imam)
  • Usama Hasan (Imam of Al-Tawhid Masjid, London)
  • Ahmad Thomson (co-author of Jesus Prophet of Islam)
  • Karen Armstrong (religious historian)
  • Ahmed Babikir (Imam of Islamia Primary School, London)
  • Sarah Joseph OBE (editor of Emel)
  • Mohammed Saeed Bahmanpour (writer of Saint Mary)
  • Ismael Lea South (rapper)
  • Sukina Douglas (member of Poetic Pilgrimage)
  • Muneera Williams (member of Poetic Pilgrimage)
  • Ibrahim Mogra (Chair, interfaith relations Muslim Council of Britain)
  • Abdur Raheem Green (visit administrator of London Central Mosque)

    • Reception

    Philip Lewis, the Bishop of Bradford's aide on inter-faith matters, urged believers on both sides to take advantage of a "worthwhile contribution to understanding a complex issue". However, Patrick Sookhdeo, an Anglican canon and spokesman for the Barnabas Fund, which works with persecuted Christians, accused broadcasters of double standards. Sookhdeo said, "How would the Muslim community respond if ITV made a programme challenging Muhammad as the last prophet?"

    References

    The Muslim Jesus Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA