National Geographic follows three pilgrims from Malaysia, South Africa, and the United States as the travel to Mecca for the hajj.National Geographic follows three pilgrims from Malaysia, South Africa, and the United States as the travel to Mecca for the hajj.National Geographic follows three pilgrims from Malaysia, South Africa, and the United States as the travel to Mecca for the hajj.
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Film review REL 110
This documentary shot by National Geographic, titled "Inside Mecca" is mainly about the hajj - how and why pilgrims go to Mecca to commit hajj. This film does not only demonstrate how this is completed but also uses 3 people as main characters through whom it reveals both explicit and implicit values of Islam. In addition, it examines these three individuals coming from absolutely different regions (the US, South Africa, and Malaysia) and their diverse experiences both positive and negative. Although there are some technical issues with this filming, the documentary succeeds in a way that it gives good insight into the Muslim world.
First of all, the documentary demonstrates the history of kaaba, the sacred space, and here we see professors talking about facts and events from the past to support what is shown visually. In addition, it shows the steps/acts and requirements that should be done in Mecca to complete the full hajj. Starting from clothes(principle of modesty) and to avoid doing forbidden things in the state of ihram like grooming, sex and arguing. We also get clear understanding of the steps of hajj since it includes a set of rituals: a day of reckoning on Arafat plain, ritual stoning of satan, circling kaaba for 7 days, and sacrifice. Even though such information can be found in written form in the internet watching this documentary would be more helpful since we see actual process of people doing them. In addition we see the story behind each ritual, like in stoning satan that it is coming from the times of Adam or an act of sacrificing a ram, which was based at the time of Abraham that was first commanded to sacrifice his son, but then given a ram to sacrifice.
Apart from important rituals and their historical background the documentary touches important themes. One of such themes touched by this film is how the country of origin, ethnic being may play a role in being Muslim. For example, Fidelma O'Leary, a US citizen, shares her experience about becoming a Muslim woman and the difficulties she has undergone in this path. More precisely, she encountered disagreements from her Catholic parents and siblings; she was questioned whether she was really a Muslim and prove her 'muslimness' when she wanted to visit Mecca because of her name/origin. But she needed to do the necessary things due to her love for God and to do hajj. Another Muslim from South Africa had to tolerate lookings of people from his own country at him because of his black skin and again he was silent for the love of God.
Another key topic mentioned in the film was equality, meaning that how Allah sees treated equally. All three characters shown in the film confirmed how hajj journey demonstrates everyone equally. South African guy mentions that this modest clothing does not show one's social status and that we all are in Mecca completing hajj: black, white, wealthy and poor in same position and manner. He claims that Islam is about brotherhood and sisterhood not enemies and God evaluates people's heart not people's body or face. So then we may imply that this film is showing one of the key values of Islam demonstrated though hajj, which is respecting and treating all races and nationalities.
Next, the documentary film wants to convey how big role hajj plays in Muslim people's lives. They show it as the time of rebirth that hajis and hajas' lives will not be same prior to coming to this sacred space. We even see that men shave their heads as a sign of rebirth as did prophet Muhammad. These people come here to worship to get rid of their sins (asking God to forgive) and ask God their wishes about themselves, their families and died ancestors and they also appeal to God to show them solution for their problems to cure their parents and close people.
In addition, we should not miss how hajj journey have distinct differences in them mentally. In fact, these people face many difficulties during hajj. Hajj seems to be a test of their patience and love for God because it is dissimilar to other trips and actually it is not a trip. These people walk many miles around millions of people,each willing to touch Hajar al- Aswad or willing to stone satan and there are several cases of death in such crowded place. These people are also will be living with and sleeping with other different people and we can imagine how hard it is. If to compare this type of 'living' for several days to contemporary way of life we may remember people having problem to stay even with their big family at one home and thus this is much more demanding in a way it influences all Muslims and even those who watch this documentary.
First of all, the documentary demonstrates the history of kaaba, the sacred space, and here we see professors talking about facts and events from the past to support what is shown visually. In addition, it shows the steps/acts and requirements that should be done in Mecca to complete the full hajj. Starting from clothes(principle of modesty) and to avoid doing forbidden things in the state of ihram like grooming, sex and arguing. We also get clear understanding of the steps of hajj since it includes a set of rituals: a day of reckoning on Arafat plain, ritual stoning of satan, circling kaaba for 7 days, and sacrifice. Even though such information can be found in written form in the internet watching this documentary would be more helpful since we see actual process of people doing them. In addition we see the story behind each ritual, like in stoning satan that it is coming from the times of Adam or an act of sacrificing a ram, which was based at the time of Abraham that was first commanded to sacrifice his son, but then given a ram to sacrifice.
Apart from important rituals and their historical background the documentary touches important themes. One of such themes touched by this film is how the country of origin, ethnic being may play a role in being Muslim. For example, Fidelma O'Leary, a US citizen, shares her experience about becoming a Muslim woman and the difficulties she has undergone in this path. More precisely, she encountered disagreements from her Catholic parents and siblings; she was questioned whether she was really a Muslim and prove her 'muslimness' when she wanted to visit Mecca because of her name/origin. But she needed to do the necessary things due to her love for God and to do hajj. Another Muslim from South Africa had to tolerate lookings of people from his own country at him because of his black skin and again he was silent for the love of God.
Another key topic mentioned in the film was equality, meaning that how Allah sees treated equally. All three characters shown in the film confirmed how hajj journey demonstrates everyone equally. South African guy mentions that this modest clothing does not show one's social status and that we all are in Mecca completing hajj: black, white, wealthy and poor in same position and manner. He claims that Islam is about brotherhood and sisterhood not enemies and God evaluates people's heart not people's body or face. So then we may imply that this film is showing one of the key values of Islam demonstrated though hajj, which is respecting and treating all races and nationalities.
Next, the documentary film wants to convey how big role hajj plays in Muslim people's lives. They show it as the time of rebirth that hajis and hajas' lives will not be same prior to coming to this sacred space. We even see that men shave their heads as a sign of rebirth as did prophet Muhammad. These people come here to worship to get rid of their sins (asking God to forgive) and ask God their wishes about themselves, their families and died ancestors and they also appeal to God to show them solution for their problems to cure their parents and close people.
In addition, we should not miss how hajj journey have distinct differences in them mentally. In fact, these people face many difficulties during hajj. Hajj seems to be a test of their patience and love for God because it is dissimilar to other trips and actually it is not a trip. These people walk many miles around millions of people,each willing to touch Hajar al- Aswad or willing to stone satan and there are several cases of death in such crowded place. These people are also will be living with and sleeping with other different people and we can imagine how hard it is. If to compare this type of 'living' for several days to contemporary way of life we may remember people having problem to stay even with their big family at one home and thus this is much more demanding in a way it influences all Muslims and even those who watch this documentary.
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- mukaddamkhanaliyeva
- Apr 4, 2021
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- Budget
- $1,000,000 (estimated)
- Runtime56 minutes
- Color
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