Despite the evident tendency for the globalization and, therefore, an active cultural exchange between the representatives of different nations, some of the culture-related dilemmas remain unresolved, the representation of certain religions and the central figures in them being the primary one. The above phenomenon is quite understandable seeing that misconceptions and the following conflicts emerge even among the members of the same community, as the first episode of the BBC series on the subject of Prophet Mohammad’s life showcase. Although the narrators touch upon a range of issues in the first episode of the series, including the essential ideas of Quran, the stages of Prophet Mohammed’s life, the confrontation between the early Muslims (the monotheistic community) and the pantheistic community, etc., the movie is aimed at raising awareness of the Muslim faith, its origins, primary postulates, and philosophy. The intentions of the movie’s authors are quite understandable in the environment of the contemporary international relations, in which the notions of a Muslim person and a terrorist are often seen as interchangeable.
The analysis of Mohammed’s life, therefore, should be viewed not as a different way of looking at the traditional story but as the means of enlightening people on the subject of the Muslim religion. Thus, although the title of the movie does not represent the scope of the movie fully, it can be interpreted as a passable way of rendering the key message of the story. The latter, in its turn, is that the Muslim religion is not to be judged on the merits of the actions of some of its radical groups. Moreover, the movie makes it very clear that the lack of awareness concerning nature and the intent thereof is just as harmful as the misinformation to the relations between the Muslim community and the rest of the world. More importantly, the authors of the film stress the fact that the further misrepresentation of the Muslim religion is likely to lead to the exacerbation of the conflict.
The movie opens with a brief overview of the current status of Islam in contemporary society. Afterward, the narrator shifts the emphasis to the roots of the religion, telling the story of Mohammad’s origin. It is quite remarkable that the first several minutes of the specified part set Islam aside from other religions, primarily, Christianity. Specifically, the fact that Mohammad was an ordinary man, who could not perform miracles and only spoke the word of God, was brought up (“The Life of Mohammad” 04.20–59.11).
The next part of the movie sets the stage for Mohammad’s evolution as the prophet and the messenger of God. The narrator described the trials and tribulations that Mohammad had to go through to become a member of the local society without great detail, yet the weight of the choices that the prophet had to make are quite tangible. At this point, the author mentions a peculiar detail regarding Mecca being one of the local trading centers at the time and not attracting as much attention as it does now. Mohammad’s desperate attempts at escaping poverty and engaging in the process of caravan trade wrap up the second part of the story and set the stage for the third one.
The revelation that Mohammad experienced and the following spiritual evolution is the third and the final part of the movie. Telling the story of Mohammad’s further life and mentioning his marriage, his spiritual retreat, the ensuing crisis, and the rise from the bottom of despair, the narrator creates a very positive image of the person being in a persistent and unceasing search for the truth. The movie makes it evident that the burden of a prophet is very heavy and that revelation is not only devastating but also very painful. The authors of the movie explore some of the most controversial aspects of Mohammad’s life and the development of Islam in the given part of the movie, addressing the myth about Mohammad being unable to read, the event that created a clash of values and the most recent protests against S. Rudshie and his book.
Shedding light on the life and struggles of Mohammad, the film makes the viewer explore the very core of the mission and the most essential details of Mohammad’s life. Although some of the events glance over, the crucial ones that defined the further evolution of the religion and the spiritual growth of the Prophet Mohammad have been outlined quite well. Nevertheless, it seems that the aspect of relationships between Mohammad and the people that contributed to his growth should have been explored more. Also, the current relationships between the Muslim people and other cultures could have been addressed more elaborately. While stating at the beginning that Muslims are often viewed as a threat in the wake of the post-9/11 era, the film says strangely little about the way, in which the representatives of the Muslim community are viewed nowadays, as well as how they factor in the context of the globalized world.
The movie has a very peculiar way of telling the story. Although the text is cohesive and logical, the author is always somewhere in-between the contemporary world and the ancient history, helping the audience relate to the character easier yet always ready to ruin the illusion, though never breaking the fourth wall and addressing the audience directly. Also, the visual elements of the film, which change from the depictions of the contemporary Muslim society to the ancient artwork that the culture is represented by, have a significant effect on the viewer, tricking the latter into paying attention.
Moreover, the overall tone of the narration, which can be defined as a combination of an educational and a biographic one, serves as the means of keeping the audience’s eyes peeled. The incorporation of interviews does not work to the film’s detriment; instead, it adds objectivity and helps create the necessary environment.
The ideas brought up in the movie also give a lot of food for thoughts. For instance, the concept of equality, which is brought up in the film several times, needs to be discussed closer. The significance of an open conversation, in this case, is predetermined by the fact that the Muslim faith is often viewed as the promotion of inferiority of women and the disruption of gender equity.
Although The Life of Mohammad addresses a large variety of problems related to the Muslim faith and the Muslim community in the contemporary world, its focus stays on where it should be, i.e., the nature of the religion and the role of the prophet in it. While the movie may have some issues, it still represents the current Muslim reality in a very honest and detailed manner. Meaningful and thought-provoking, the first part of the series leaves the audience on a cliff hanger, making them learn more about Islam.
Works Cited
The Life of Mohammad2015. Web.