TV Inggris Tayangkan Serial "The Seven Wonders Of The Muslim World"

Stasiun televisi Channel 4 Inggris menayangkan acara serial baru bertajuk "The Seven Wonders of the Muslim World". Acara ini menampilkan kisah tentang pengalaman rohani enam Muslim dari berbagai negara saat menunaikan ibadah haji ke Tanah Suci.

Serial ini mulai disiarkan hari Senin kemarin dengan masa tayang dua minggu. Serial yang setiap episodenya berdurasi 90 menit itu, adalah kombinasi antara film dokumenter dengan cerita pengalaman berhaji enam orang Muslim yang ditampilkan di serial tersebut. Channel 4 merekam perjalan enam orang Muslim itu mulai dari negaranya masing-masing sampai ke kota suci Makkah di Arab Saudi untuk menunaikan ibadah haji. Ibadah yang menjadi impian semua umat Islam. Keenam Muslim itu berasal dari Spanyol, Paletina, Pakistan, Turki, Mali dan Iran.

Sutradara "The Seven Wonders of the Muslim World" Faris Kermani pada surat kabar Telegraph mengungkapkan, pihaknya ingin membuat sebuah serial tentang salat dan ibadah haji bagi warga Muslim pada umumnya. "Apa yang menarik dari keenam orang itu adalah, mereka orang-orang Muslim biasa, bukan orang yang merasa perlu mengatakan bahwa mereka salat lima waktu sehari semalam dan harus berjanggut, " kata Kermani.

"Mereka berada di pertengah jalan, dan ketika emosi keagamaan mereka muncul, sebagai seorang manusia normal hal itu membuat mereka lebih tegar, " sambungnya.

Tim yang membuat serial ini berharap, "The Seven Wonders of the Muslim World" mampu memberikan pemahaman tentang pengalaman spiritual berhaji baik bagi warga Muslim maupun non-Muslim.

"Selama ini, Anda mungkin hanya memiliki gambaran tentang Ka'bah. Sampai Anda berada di Makkah, gambaran itu seketika menjadi kenyataan. Anda akan merasakan perasaan relijius ketika menyadari betapa kecilnya Anda, di tengah jutaan orang. Harapan saya, para pemirsa juga merasakan perasaan yang sama, " papar Aaqil Ahmed, salah seorang editor di Channel 4.

Tim pembuat serial ini juga berharap tayangan "The Seven Wonders of the Muslim World" bisa sedikit demi sedikit mengikis steretipe terhadap Islam dan Muslim. Kermani mengungkapkan, ia berusaha menampilkan potret Islam secara global lewat kisah-kisah dan pengalaman pribadi para Muslim yang pernah melaksanakan ibadah haji.

"Setiap saat kita selalu mendengar ekstrim Muslim. Padahal, telah jelas bahwa 99, 9 persen Muslim tidak ada yang melakukan aktivitas terorisme, " tandas Kermani. (ln/iol/eramuslim)

The seven wonders

1. The Grand Mosque in Mecca is the largest mosque in the world. At its centre is the Kaaba, a cubic building covered in a gold-embroidered black cloth towards which Muslims turn as they pray. Every year, millions of people perform the Hajj – the pilgrimage during the 12th month of the Islamic year – and many others make the pilgrimage at other times of year, which is called the Umrah.

2. The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Islam’s third holiest city is situated next to the Dome of the Rock. This iconic golden dome can be seen from all over Jerusalem. Al-Aqsa, dates from the late 7th century, making it one of the oldest mosques in the world.

3. The Alhambra in Granada, Spain, which dates from the 13th century, was designed by Muslim architects and built by the Muslim rulers of El Andaluz, or Andalucia. It was inspired by Qur’anic descriptions of paradise as an oasis, with trees, fountains and buildings.

4. The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, lined with blue tiles and reflecting the Byzantine church architecture of 400 years ago, expresses the sumptuousness of the Ottoman Empire and represents the zenith of Muslim architecture.

5. The Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali is the tallest mud-built mosque in the world. Its thick walls and many roof supports make it dark and simple inside. Every Friday, people in this huge but poor country come into the city to pray here.

6. The Imam Mosque in Esfahan, Iran, is magnificent in its design and decoration. Built in the 16th and 17th centuries, it was a stunning statement of Persian imperial power, and incorporates a pool, colleges and communal space, as well as the mosque itself.

7. The Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan was built in 1673 and is a wonderful example of Mughal architecture. The building’s openness is in line with the Islam of the Indian subcontinent, which has traditionally been accommodating to all sects.

Journeys of faith to the centre of the Islamic world

Pilgrimage: Nooreen Saleem, Amadou Thaim, Isa Lopez and Eraahan Yukselc are followed to Mecca by Channel 4