Spiritual Mind » Islam

Islam: Empire of Faith (video)

Alex — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:35:08 +0000

Amazingly beautiful PBS documentary narrated by Ben Kingsley.

A great, quick intro to the history of Islam (as opposed to an intro to the tenets of the religion).

After you’ve had a chance to watch, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the program.

Official Description:

Between the fall of Rome and the European voyages of discovery, few events were more significant than the rise of Islam. Within a few centuries, the Islamic empires blossomed, projecting their power from Africa to the East Indies, and from Spain to India. Inspired by the words of the Prophet Muhammed, and led by caliphs and sultans, this political and religious expansion remains unequaled in speed, geographic size and endurance.

Islam: Empire of Faith is narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Ben Kingsley. The three-hour program tells the spectacular story of the great sweep of Islamic power and faith during its first 1,000 years from the birth of the Prophet Muhammed to the peak of the Ottoman Empire under the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent. Historical re-enactments and a remarkable exposition of Islamic art, artifacts and architecture are combined with interviews of scholars from around the world to recount the rise and importance of early Islamic civilization. Increasingly, scholars and historians are recognizing the profound impact that Islamic civilization has had on Western culture and the course of world history.

Episode 1 – The Messenger (54 minutes)

Episode 2 – The Awakening (52 minutes)

Episode 3 – The Ottomans (52 minutes)

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An Islamic History of Europe | BBC

Alex — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:07:38 +0000

Very cool 90 minute documentary tracing Islam’s presence and influence in Europe.

Official Synopsis:

In this 90-minute documentary, Rageh Omaar uncovers the hidden story of Europe’s Islamic past and looks back to a golden age when European civilisation was enriched by Islamic learning.

Rageh travels across medieval Muslim Europe to reveal the vibrant civilisation that Muslims brought to the West.

This evocative film brings to life a time when emirs and caliphs dominated Spain and Sicily and Islamic scholarship swept into the major cities of Europe.

His journey reveals the debt owed to Islam for its vital contribution to the European Renaissance.

The Muslim Jesus (video)

Alex — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:41:27 +0000

Did you know Jesus is a key figure in Islam? Christians don’t have exclusive use of him.

I’d read little bit about it before, but didn’t really have a full picture. Here’s the story of Jesus as told in the Koran and other Islamic texts. Great documentary. Enjoy!

Here’s an article in the Guardian about the documentary.

Some additional info on Jesus in Islam.

Muhammad Legacy of a Prophet (PBS Documentary)

Alex — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:00:55 +0000

OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION:

Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet tells the story of a seventh century prophet who changed world history in 23 years, and continues to shape the lives of more than 1.2 billion people. Three years in the making, the film takes viewers not only to ancient Middle Eastern sites where Muhammad’s story unfolds, but into the homes, mosques and workplaces of some of America’s estimated seven million Muslims to discover the many ways in which they follow Muhammad’s example.

Secrets of the Quran – Documentary

Alex — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:06:19 +0000

Secrets of the Quran. A great, fairly short documentary/intro into some of the ideas of Islam.

Part 1 – 22:00 min

Part 2 – 23:00 min

Inside Mecca | National Geographic Documentary

Alex — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:31:49 +0000

Great documentary and close-up look into Mecca and the Hajj pilgrimage by National Geographic.