The dialogue is relatable and raw, with one contributor saying “the traditional Muslim community didn’t invite me or my heroes.”
“I hope the people who have that power, have the integrity to speak up against injustice and not be afraid of the consequences,” he noted.Įqually, the film looks inward and examines how conflicting views on Islamic issues have forged significant divisions between traditional, moderate and liberal Muslims. The filmmaker added: “It’s nice to people at the top of their field and still speaking about Islamic issues,” citing Bella Hadid as a prime example. We want to entertain but we also want to educate,” Hussain told Arab News. “In my personal view, I do think we have this innate responsibility. The contributors certainly appreciate the significance of their role, which raises the ethical question: do Muslim entertainers have a responsibility to use their platform for the good of their community? While captivating art as a teaching mechanism for the modern mind, the film emphasizes the importance of Islamic entertainment as a vehicle for cultural self-expression and combating the virulent anti-Islam narrative that spread following 9/11.Ĭomedy has proven to be most successful in allowing entertainers to tackle social issues in a more palatable way. The segment on the film industry best reflected this, with one contributor describing “the use of (a) visual aid to teach as sunnah.”Īlthough the film largely focuses on the Islamic entertainment industry in the West, its discussion of contemporary issues is far from limited. The most striking parallelism at the heart of the film is that of storytelling in the Qur’an and storytelling in entertainment. Using a variety of archival footage to track the progression of time, the film captures the parallelisms of past and present, from VHS to mobile screens, from iconic boxer Mohammad Ali to Egyptian footballer Mohammad Salah. Nasheed artist Zain Bhika performing at a huge Islamic event in Sierra Leone in March 2020. The film captures this collective consciousness beautifully as the contributors share similar childhood anecdotes, demonstrating how closely connected the global Muslim community is. So I thought, if this was my lived experience then there would be many Muslims around the West who felt the same” “The way we grew up, there were so few influences, so all the influences were the same. Hussain recalled how watching “The Message” as a child inspired him to become a filmmaker after seeing how Islam could be represented in that format. “I distinctly remember my parents having Ahmed Deedat on VHS, I think I was around 5 at the time, and the sense of pride he instilled in that generation." Hussain told Arab News that this selection was influenced in part by extensive research, but more importantly by his personal experiences. The film highlights the key historical moments in the development of this scene, placing Ahmed Deedat, Mohammad Ali, and 1976 film “The Message” center stage.
Viewers transcend from behind the screen and experience the industry “behind the scenes” as the film’s contributors get personal with the ups and downs of entertainment.
The story is told through the eyes of some of the most prominent Muslim figures, including Outlandish, Imam Omar Sulaiman, Brother Ali and Mariah Idrissi. Hussain and intellectual leader Imam Zaid Shakur behind the scenes of filming “The Balance”. The fascinating film tracks the historical evolution of Islamic entertainment, tracing its influences throughout society.įrom politics to pop culture, from comedy to music, the film assesses the impact of these developments on Islam. “The Balance” delves into the untold story behind the rise and success of the billion-dollar Islamic entertainment industry. LONDON: Filmmaker Abrar Hussain, best known for producing “One Day in the Haram” and “One Night in Al Aqsa,” is breaking barriers with his latest film.
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