- This article emphasises the need for halal entertainment.
- It calls on the Muslim community to leverage their untapped talent and creativity to create authentic halal viewing content.
In the unforgiving heart of the New Mexico desert, where the sun scorches the earth and time itself seems to stand still, ‘Breaking Bad’ ignites with an opening scene where an RV hurtles through the dust storm it creates, careening across the rough terrain like a fugitive fleeing justice. Behind the wheel, a man dressed in a peculiar ensemble which defies convention, drives like a man possessed, as if he’s outrunning not just the law, but his own mundane existence. This isn’t a leisurely road trip; it’s a frenzied escape from the shackles of conformity. Decked out in a gas mask that wouldn’t be out of place in a post-apocalyptic thriller. The RV’s rusty door swings open dramatically, unveiling our meth-cooking maestro, and the tension is thick enough to cut with a knife. It’s a life-and-death chemistry experiment, with the desert winds carrying secrets that could unravel everything.
This isn’t just a TV show; oh no! it’s a heart-pounding plunge into the dark and dangerous world where crime and chemistry collide. It will leave you with your heart racing; palms sweating and hooked from the very first frame. ‘Breaking Bad’ is a cinematic thrill ride that has left Bilal obliged to binge-watch the entire series and wait for ‘next episode’ to appear on his screen, while embraced in his plush slippers that his mum purchased for him from Primark, ‘Netflixing and chilling’, comfortably ensconced on his sofa, he requests for his sustenance, uttering, “Meal number 3 please Bossman,” delivered to his door, desperately trying not to think about Saima, ‘the love of his life’ who has now rejected him for the third time. Bilal is a non-practising’ (whatever this term might mean) brother in his ‘J-days’ (days of Jahiliyah for those of you who may not be as well equipped with the Muslim parlance of our time).
Fast forward to 2023: Bilal grew his beard mashAllah, married his cousin Zainab from Pakistan and no longer ‘Netflix and Chills.’ He always knew Walter White wasn’t a character a Muslim should emulate and that narcotics are haram (always say no to drugs kids!) but these shows were entertaining, they were his downtime and escapism. However, Bilal harbours no inclination for squandering precious moments in life on the indulgence of frivolous entertainment, a choice born from his newfound comprehension of life’s profound purpose and his desire to maintain the purity of his intellect and soul.
So, here’s the pitch for the next captivating practising-Muslim entertainment show. After a long day of crunching numbers at his stressful accounting job, Bilal deserves a replacement that’ll help him unwind and rejuvenate after all. Gather round folks because we’ve got the next best thing in Muslim entertainment. It’s a Box Office Blockbuster! despite its slow burn, at the stroke of 6 o’clock, prepare to be riveted by the sofa chat on Britain’s most popular Muslim channel. Featuring our beloved Boring uncle on a daring quest to bridge the generation gap by interviewing a social media influencer who’s about as intriguing and inspiring as a doorknob. A desperate watch when you’re trying hard not to scratch your eyes out of your head from sheer boredom.
Perhaps the Youtube ‘Dawah beef’ would serve as solid entertainment (it’s halal after all….isn’t it?) It has it all: revenge, dramatic exposés, pride, bravado. Watch as each opponent battles it out, battering one another with response videos until one character in this cinematic masterpiece finally throws in the towel, exhausted.
Are you not entertained?
To the grownups; We have become entertainment junkies! Zombie scrolling because our life’s purpose has been reduced to mere entertainment. TikTok is, in effect, stimulating our dopamine receptors to an excessive degree, contributing significantly to the precipitous decline in our collective attention span, primarily due to its succinct 15-second video format.
Perhaps it’s time to deliberately subject ourselves to monotony and bore ourselves senseless until we unearth what creativity is latent within our minds. Moreover, to do away with all of the noise and vanity metrics, to forge a genuine connection with the very essence of our being.
But this isn’t a solution for the kids….
According to ongoing research, our cognitive processes are undergoing transformation, labelled by some psychologists as ‘the Tiktok brain’ thus contributing to the dwindling of our attention spans. Consequently, consider the ramifications upon teenagers, whom the consumption of a movie, let alone an entire box set, appears to be an insurmountable challenge owing to the erosion of their own attention spans. This, in turn, has undeniably impeded their capacity to engage with getting to the end of a book!
People watching!
Reality television shows initially drew inspiration from George Orwell’s ‘1984’ with the iconic phrase, ‘Big Brother is watching you.’ However, what unfolded thereafter can be described as a proliferation of what can be termed as ‘Trailer Trash Television,’ including programs such as ‘Big Brother,’ ‘Love Island’ ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians,’ and ‘Real Housewives’. Yet, for most teenagers, the opulent lifestyles of multi-millionaires in Los Angeles, complete with a Maybach and private jets, remained unattainable aspirations.
Instead, these young minds turned to a different facet of reality – the truly real reality, represented by TikTok and YouTube vloggers who showcased everyday experiences, such as going to Nandos with their naani. It was far more attainable to emulate such people. In this process, the act of ‘people watching’ online transformed into replication; the spark of individual creativity has now evidently been stifled. Many replicate the fashion, conduct and ideologies they see online, as many influencers projectile vomit their beliefs of man, life and the universe onto others. Meanwhile within the gaming realm, various ideologies have subtly permeated the vibrant and graphical content in this fantasy world, while on platforms such as Twitch, individuals passionately disseminate their beliefs to the impressionable minds of viewers.
Movies have a profound influence on children. We see here how movies have turned younger viewers into delinquents, with girls becoming promiscuous and boys aggressive (or at least they pretended to be, when playing.) A recent quantitative study (conducted by University Cologne, Germany) examined the correlation between Youtubers becoming role models for young people and the influence that they have on political and societal topics. The study asserts that Youtubers today play a significant role in shaping the minds of young people regarding politics and their perception of society. It also concluded that the status of Youtubers as role models had become on par with popular musicians. Other studies suggest how Youtubers are deemed to be very trustworthy by children and teenagers alike.
Disney’s extraordinary valuation of $49.5 billion has been of much detriment to society. Evidently, we see how young girls with low body-esteem engage more with the Disney Princesses, perhaps seeking out role models of what they consider to be beautiful. This exacerbates their self-confidence.
Netflix with its substantial valuation of $168.06 billion presents a catalogue of LGBTQ movies such as ‘I am Jonas’, ‘The boys in the band’ and ‘The half of it’. Karrar Muhammed of the University of Karbala, asserts in his study The Representation of Homosexuality in Netflix Shows: A Critical Discourse Analysis that the producers of Netflix utilize a variety of archetypal patterns, such as shadows, structures such as transitivity, modality, over-wording, categorization, metaphors, explicit and constitutive intertextualities, all in order to normalise homosexuality. Kararr concludes that Netflix adopts a lucid liberal agenda—that is, it disseminates a persuasive discourse that publicizes a willingness to accept behaviours, opinions, and identities of homosexuals without any questioning.
Social media figures such as Mr Beast are also selling liberalism, feminism, Redpill, the LGBTQ agenda and vanity metrics to our children, all through the tap of a screen. Therefore, we cannot throw down the gauntlet and simply observe from the sidelines. Consequently, merely monitoring a child’s screen time is insufficient.
Muslims who are trying to make a change
Nevertheless, there are Muslims tirelessly working to bring about positive change.
In addition, brother Omar Esa, has launched a channel entitled ‘Alif Baa Taa Kids’, a channel crafted exclusively for children.
Furthermore, in our midst, we have our dear sister Na’ima B Robert, a prolific author renowned for her captivating children’s books as well as spiritual literature for adults. She not only engineers enchanting stories but also generously imparts her wisdom through her training workshops, nurturing aspiring writers with her expertise and passion.
However, there is still much work to do!
What’s the solution?
Our ummah boasts an abundance of untapped talent!
Calling all scriptwriters, media visionaries, visual artists, creatives, cartoonists, and even astute business individuals capable of fostering such ventures. The time has arrived for us to furnish our ummah with authentic halal alternatives.
Initiating change necessitates unwavering commitment, tireless effort, and a lofty vision, exemplified by individuals resolved to effect change, rather than merely whining and lamenting the presence of LGBTQ books placed in children’s libraries. We must counter with superior literature for our youth, animations resonating with the message of Tawhid, documentaries, and films that challenge the prevailing narrative. Though we are contending with a giant, we draw inspiration from the Islamic Golden Age, which encourages us to be polymaths. We must harness the talents bestowed upon us by Allah azza wa Jal for the enhancement of our ummah. We cannot be a generation of moaners and wingers- we have to be a people of action!
Despite the mammoth task ahead of us, I persist in having great optimism. While others may possess more organised and incredibly well-funded institutions, we have Allah!
Change is on the horizon; I feel it in my bones. I hope you do too!
