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ISLAMABAD: An acclaimed British-Pakistani filmmaker, Abrar Hussain, who has produced documentaries on the Grand Mosque of Makkah and Al-Aqsa Mosque, has informed Arab Information that his movies purpose to counter anti-Islamic narratives by providing uncommon glimpses into the faith’s cultural heritage.

Born in Islamabad, Hussain moved together with his household to London within the late Nineteen Seventies lower than a yr after his start. Previous to turning into a documentary filmmaker, he labored as a collection producer on the Islam Channel, and directed and produced the favored returning TV reveals “Mannequin Mosque” (2007) and “Religion Off” (2008).

In 2017, Hussain launched his best-known work, “One Day within the Haram.” As solely Muslims are permitted to enter Makkah, Islam’s holiest metropolis, the movie supplied a glimpse contained in the Grand Mosque in Makkah — exhibiting how the world’s largest mosque is run and what the every day routines are like.

“Submit 9/11, there was lot of media backlash towards Muslims, particularly within the UK and in Western nations, and I knew this isn’t the true portrayal of Islam,” Hussain informed Arab Information in an interview.

“I actually felt that I wanted to make use of my artistic expertise to do one thing to fight this. So, I began doing Islamic productions and I had very large success.”

Hussain’s new movie, “One Evening in Al-Aqsa,” premiered in London earlier this month. It reveals Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem throughout Laylat Al-Qadr, a pageant that commemorates the evening when the primary verses of the Qur’an have been revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

“Our movie is all about selling higher and extra tolerant understanding of Islam,” Hussain mentioned.

In a evaluate, the Guardian newspaper wrote that the movie “interweaves awe-inspiring aerial footage of Al-Aqsa with intimate pictures of the trustworthy.”

“Lots of them are Palestinians from the West Financial institution who endure quite a few Israeli safety checkpoints, including excruciatingly lengthy hours to their journey. Certainly, the omnipresence of the Israeli occupation looms massive over the convivial and transferring scenes of worshippers praying or breaking bread on the finish of their quick,” the Guardian mentioned.

“This documentary is a useful window into the lengths that Palestinians should go to easily to rejoice their religion.”

For Hussain, the documentary, shot on a £200,000 ($268,000) funds in about 18 months, was an “unimaginable and phenomenal expertise to protect cultural heritage and Islamic historical past.”

“It is among the most necessary locations (in Islam) and a way of delight for Muslims,” he mentioned, including that the purpose of the movie was to encourage folks to come back to Al-Aqsa for worship and to face in solidarity with the Palestinian folks.

Funds generated from the movie have been donated to Penny Attraction Palestine, the worldwide humanitarian charity, which additionally contributed to its manufacturing.

“By these funds, they may help different initiatives like this one, and supply well being care, meals, and different very important help to the Palestinian folks, principally in Gaza,” Hussain mentioned.

He added that his documentaries had already been watched by thousands and thousands of individuals in cinemas, on airline leisure techniques and video on demand platforms.

“‘One Day within the Haram’ remained on Amazon Prime for 2 years and now it has been transferred to a different platform within the US, referred to as USHUB, which is streaming the movie in over 200 nations worldwide,” the director mentioned.

“One Evening in Al-Aqsa” had already been screened in 12 nations, boasting “large success” in Britain, the US, Canada, South Africa and Australia. It was additionally proven in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey.

“The Muslim viewers has appreciated that somebody went by all of the troubles to make this movie,” Hussain mentioned.

For his subsequent venture, the filmmaker goes to return to Saudi Arabia.

“One other large venture on which we’re working these days is ‘A Day in Madinah’,” he mentioned, including that it’ll function the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, the second-holiest metropolis in Islam.