Film Series: Exploring Islam through Movies
Nasruddin Nazerali
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
A weekly series of films portraying various aspects of Islam and Muslim history, followed by discussion. (Note: film lengths vary as shown below. Film screening, in each case, to be followed by discussion.)
Tentative schedule is below.
Contact: Nasruddin Nazerali, nazerali@mit.edu
Inside Mecca (National Geographic) (0:45)
Nasruddin Nazerali
One of religion's most spiritual locations, the city of Mecca has been the epicenter for Islam since the beginning of time. This insightful documentary explains the history behind the legendary pilgrimage to the holy city, showcasing a group of individuals whose lives are forever changed by the indescribably powerful experience.
Tue Jan 4, 06-07:30pm, 2-139
Muhammad : Legacy of a Prophet (PBS) (1:54)
Nasruddin Nazerali
This film examines the impact of the Muslim prophet from his own life in the seventh century to contemporary times. In his life, Muhammad was both a religious and political leader who shaped Islam. Today more than a billion people all over the world follow in his footsteps, and this documentary features interviews with several American Muslims.
Tue Jan 11, 06-08:15pm, 2-139
Al-Ghazali: Alchemist of Happiness (1:19)
Nasruddin Nazerali
Al-Ghazali was a great spiritual and legal philosopher in Islamic history. This film examines Ghazali's existential crisis of faith that arose from his rejection of religious dogmatism, and reveals profound parallels with our own times. Ghazali's path of love and spiritual excellence overcame the pitfalls of the organised religion of his day. This film argues that Ghazali's Islam is the antidote for today's terror.
Tue Jan 25, 06-07:45pm, 2-139
Prince Among Slaves (UPF) (1:00)
Nasruddin Nazerali
In 1788 a ship set sail from West Africa, its berth laden with a profitable but fragile cargo: hundreds of men, women and children headed for American shores. Eight months later the survivors were sold in Natchez, Mississippi. Among them was the heir to the throne of one of the largest kingdoms in Africa. After 40 years of enslavement, a chance encounter finally led to a breakthrough, but a bittersweet one ....
Thu Jan 27, 06-07:30pm, 2-139
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Islam 101
Suheil Laher, Ahmed Rashed
Thu Jan 6, 06-07:30pm, 1-134
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
- Is Islam a religion of peace, as former-President Bush declared after 9/11?
- What is the Muslims' concept of God? The afterlife?
- Who was the Prophet Muhammad?
- What do Muslims say about Moses? Jesus?
- What are the 5 pillars of Islamic practice (devotion)?
- What is the Shariah?
An opportunity to see beyond common misconceptions and negative media coverage.and to learn first hand about the beliefs and practices that characterize the vibrant, fourteen-century-old faith professed by over a billion people worldwide.
Bring all your questions, there will be time for discussion!
Contact: Suheil Laher, msa_imam@mit.edu
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Islamic Theology
Suheil Laher
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Why do we exist? What happens after death?
A theology is a worldview that answers these questions. This series (3 lectures with Q&A) explains the core concepts of Muslim theology: Belief in God, Revelation and Afterlife. It is suitable both for non-Muslims, who seek insight into this, and Muslims, who want a more detailed understanding or review. Other topics include: Reason and Faith, Resurrection, Destiny & Free Will.
Contact: Suheil Laher, W11, (617) 448-6361, msa_imam@mit.edu
Concept of God
Suheil Laher
This session focuses on the first and most important core belief: belief in God (Allah). We will start with an overview of Islam, and some other preliminaries, including the role of reason in Islam, then move on to talk about the existence of God and God's attributes.
Thu Jan 13, 06-07:30pm, 1-246
Scripture and Prophethood
Suheil Laher
This session discusses the Attributes of God, and also touches on the concept of human free will. We then go on to the second core belief of Islam: the belief in prophets as mortal human beings who conveyed God's guidance to mankind. We also talk about books (scriptures) which some of these prophets received from God.
Tue Jan 18, 06-07:30pm, 1-246
Eternity
Suheil Laher
The final session in the series wraps up the belief in Prophethood and Scripture, then turns to explore Muslim belief in the life after death, including concepts of the soul, human responsibility, and judgment.
Thu Jan 20, 06-07:30pm, 1-246
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