Antony Thomas
First Run Features
R1 DVD
Reviewer: Bob Estreich
For around a decade or so
now most people’s exposure to the Koran has been in the form of Moslem
terrorists using it to justify acts of cruelty, both to Westerners and to other
Moslems. The documentary opens with a suicide bomber boasting of his coming
martyrdom. What is the Koran about? Some say it is a book about forgiveness and
getting on with your neighbours. Just as many use it as justification for
terror, religious intolerance, repression of women and genocide. This
documentary sets out to explain the Koran and the variations in its teachings,
to discuss its history, and to show something of the ways in which it affects
the lives of its followers.
First the documentary
examines the history of the Koran. With around a billion followers it is a
powerful book, but its history is later than either the Torah of the Jewish
faith or the New Testament of the Christians. Indeed it draws on both and
acknowledges many Biblical people like Abraham and Jesus as prophets. Unlike
the Torah - Old Testament, which is a history of what became of the Jewish
people, or the New Testament which chronicles the times and words of Jesus, the
Koran details the words of God to man as dictated by Allah himself to the prophet
Mohammed.
The Koran should be a
definitive work, clear and untouchable. Historical Koran research and archaeological finds have,
however, shown a history of doubtful or careless translation, alterations (some
as early as sixty years after the Koran was written) and additions, and
commentaries written by people with their own agendas to push. The commentaries
are often regarded as being as important as the Koran itself even though many
conflict with the book’s basic teachings. This has led to divisions among its
followers, not unlike those in
Christianity. Currently the two most powerful Moslem countries, Iran and Saudi
Arabia, follow completely different interpretations of the Koran. The rise of
an intermediary class of Imams and Ayatollahs, each claiming their own place in
the holy hierarchy, has not helped. Like the early days of the Catholic church
they have set themselves up to be the intermediaries between God and man,
although the Koran teaches that man can talk to God directly. From the interviews
in the documentary it is these parasitic people who seem to be the most
dangerous to world peace as their version of the Koran is taken from the most
savage and unforgiving interpretations. A number of scholars note in interviews
in the DVD that the Koran has verses that can be used to justify almost any
opinion. They find this aspect the most disappointing part of the Koran.
The documentary goes on to
examine a number of the features of the religion that cause confusion. The
first is the role of women in the segment called “Living With The Veil”. The
wearing of head coverings is discussed, as is a woman’s role in Moslem society
in the next segment, “Man and Woman”. Once again verses in the Koran or
commentaries are quoted by different scholars to justify oppression of women in
some countries, particularly Pakistan, where men are firmly and cruelly in
control of the religion and its interpretation.
Female genital mutilation,
a controversial area, seems to be allowable in some countries on “religious
grounds” according to some Koran interpreters. It is not mentioned at all in
the book – it is a much earlier pagan practice from pre-Koran times. Other
examples are given where pre-Koran punishments and mutilations are justified on
religious grounds, even though the Koran does not cover them. Stoning is one
such example.
In another segment the
savage treatment of criminals in some countries (amputation, stoning, beheading
and hanging) is examined in detail. Once
again the Koran is used to justify harsh treatment of lawbreakers. Scholars
point out that the Koran preaches forgiveness if the lawbreaker is genuinely
penitent but this is irrelevant to the hardliners. The documentary points out
that Iran’s religion-based courts have killed more people than China. To show
how it should work, The film takes us to a Shariya court in the Gaza
strip where Koran teachings and rulings are applied to domestic matters,
personal problems and care of those in unfortunate circumstances such as the
mentally deficient. The Koran scholars who staff these courts show compassion
and a care for the truth that is missing in their brethren further east.
“The Golden Age” casts a
look back to the great days of the religion. The Koran was used to teach a level of tolerance that
led Islam to become the great center of learning and thought. During this time
Europe was bogged down in the cultural wasteland of its feudal Dark Ages, when
the Christian religion had degenerated to
superstition and new thought was actively discouraged.
“Tolerance and
Intolerance” covers many of the areas where the three religions are interwoven.
The Koran includes large parts of the Christian religion – Jesus is mentioned
more times than Mohammed, as a prophet rather than the son of God.
Unfortunately the conflicting verses in the Koran can also be used to justify
intolerance. The interviews show a level of intolerance in the Moslem clergy
that is at odds with the teachings of the Koran. Another source of trouble is
in Jerusalem where a Christian church and a Moslem church occupy the site of
the old Jewish Temple. All three religions regard Jerusalem as holy but the
relationship is very strained. Much of this conflict was caused by the
attitudes of the European colonial powers during the 20th century,
who simply carved up the Middle East between them. This has led to a strong
residual distrust of Western countries.
Nor is the intolerance
reserved for the West. In a number of examples and interviews the documentary
shows the outright hatred felt between the various branches of Islam and their
differing interpretations of the Koran, just as with the Bible. The most
intolerant group, one of the smallest, seems to be the Wahabi of Saudi Arabia.
Although a minority group their oil money gives them influence and power beyond
their numbers. It is hard not to compare these problems with those of Northern
Ireland.
What do the ordinary
people think of the Koran? Particularly in the educated countries like Egypt
there seems to be a move back to the true teachings of the Koran. Followers
find genuine moral support in their belief. This seems to be parallel to the
rise in simplistic Christianity in the south of the United States. In the
undereducated countries like Pakistan, where the “religious leaders” have
control, the opposite is true. Their interpretation of the Koran is
unchallenged and conflicting opinions are not tolerated. Although the worship
of Allah in these countries may seem just as fervent as elsewhere, it seems to
be more organised and imposed than spontaneous. The Koran’s interpretation is
strictly up to the clergy and their prejudices.
So where does that leave
our would-be suicide martyr from the opening of the documentary? He is following doubtful interpretations of
commentaries that conflict with his Koran. Suicide is specifically forbidden in
the Koran but he has been taught that this is war, not suicide. He is under the
influence of politically-motivated Moslem groups who can selectively quote the Koran to justify any course of action to the weak-minded and undereducated. Due to a likely mistranslation, he will
probably not end up in Paradise with seventy-two virgins to attend to his needs,
but with a refreshing bunch of grapes and a long and happy life with his wife
instead. He has simply been conned.
Is he so different to the fundamentalist deep-south U.S.
Christians, or the hawks in the Jewish religion? Although the documentary does not
go this far it is a comparison that can’t be avoided. For this reason the film
should be compulsory viewing for all schoolchildren old enough to critically
examine its message. Perhaps the Koran can best be seen as a guide to living a
rich, full life just like the Bible, but it is in the hands of extremists who
have given Islam and the Koran a bad name.
Reviews
appear on the Synergy website with a single cover image. In the digital and
print edition, reviews appear with multiple images and with expanded content.
We recommend you download the free digital edition (or
buy the print edition) to get the most from Synergy
Magazine.
This
review will appear in Volume 2 No.6
(2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.
If
you came to this page directly (and missed our menu), click here
to go to the front page of Synergy Magazine Website or click the following
link: http://www.synergy-magazine.com