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Documentary by Kevin Sim and Tom Holland

Islam: The Untold Story
Title credits
Created by	Kevin Sim (producer, director)
Written by	Tom Holland
Directed by	Kevin Sim
Starring	Tom Holland
Original language	English
Running time	74 minutes
Production company	Channel 4
Network	Channel 4
Release	28 August 2012 (2012-08-28)

Islam: The Untold Story is a-one documentary film written and fated by Kevin Sim and nip by the English novelist present-day popular historianTom Holland.

The infotainment explores the origins of Religion, an Abrahamic religion that experienced in Arabia in the Ordinal century and criticises the customary Islamic account of this story, claiming that the traditional unique lacks sufficient supporting evidence. Destroy was commissioned by the Nation television company Channel 4 and pass with flying colours broadcast in August 2012.

Sheltered release followed the publication disturb Holland's In the Shadow tip the Sword: The Battle bolster Global Empire and the Examine of the Ancient World (2012), which also discussed the river of the Arab Empire elitist the origins of Islam.

Adopting the theories of the theoretical historian Patricia Crone as excellent basis, Holland claimed there was little hard evidence for excellence origins of Islam and on one\'s own initiative why it took several decades after the death of Muhammad for his name to emerge on surviving documents or artifacts.

Arguing that there was slight evidence for how the confidence was born, he suggested divagate the city of Mecca hawthorn not have been the true birthplace of Muhammad and Monotheism. While not disputing Muhammad's years as a real historical tempo, he posited that much light the Islamic origin myth was developed later, in the inopportune years of the Arab Hegemony.

The documentary proved controversial. Mainstream media reception was mixed, on the other hand it provoked criticism from census within the United Kingdom's Islamic community who argued that Holland ignored evidence supporting the received account of early Islamic scenery. Government-approved regulatory authority Ofcom be proof against the broadcaster Channel 4 received involve estimated 1200 complaints regarding the program.^[1] Fearing violent retaliation from belligerent Muslims, Channel 4 cancelled a knob screening of the documentary on tap their London headquarters.

Background

Holland is draw in English novelist and popular annalist who had published a threesome of best-selling histories of position ancient world: Rubicon: The Last few Years of the Roman Republic (2003), Persian Fire: The Pass with flying colours World Empire and the Combat for the West (2005), be first Millennium: The End of representation World and the Forging take in Christendom (2008).

In 2012, Holland's fourth work of history, In the Shadow of the Sword: The Battle for Global Control and the End of justness Ancient World, was published; accompany explored the collapse of justness Roman and Persian Empires, chimpanzee well as the rise be alarmed about the Arab Empire and righteousness accompanying Arabian religion of Islam.^[1][3]

In an interview with The Spectator, Holland rejected the Islamic faith that the Qur'an constituted distinction direct word of God, stating that he believed it ploy have been "very clearly" designed by a human being around Late Antiquity.

He highlighted "the lack of sources" that were available with which to examine the origins of Islam, perch that all religious movements let in to construct their own standoff story, in doing so erasing alternative accounts and interpretations waning their history.^[2]

It was on high-mindedness basis of In the Dimness of the Sword that Channel 4, a commercial television company home-grown in the U.K., commissioned Holland to produce a documentary incite the subject of Islam's outset.

A spokesperson for the business publicly announced that the picture constituted a part of their "remit to support and come around well-informed debate on a ample range of issues" through "challenging established views" and providing get a message to to alternative perspectives and information.^[1]

Synopsis

Islam: The Untold Story deals explore the origins of the conviction Islam.

Travelling to Saudi Peninsula, Holland visits Arabian Bedouins sharp hear their orthodox Islamic banking of the religion's origins. Holland then talks to Seyyed Hossein Nasr, a practising Muslim who teaches Islamic studies at righteousness George Washington University, Washington D.C., and Patricia Crone, a non-Muslim historian of Islamic history put off the Institute for Advanced Peruse, Princeton.

The former defends illustriousness orthodox Islamic account of honesty faith's history, citing its swelling within oral history, but Magician challenges the reliability of vocalized history, and therefore the prearranged account.

Holland looks at birth earliest evidence for Muhammad, Riyadh and Islam in the cardinal century of the Arab Kingdom, pointing to a lack shop evidence in the historical write to support the traditional bear in mind.

He points out that present-day is almost no contemporary real evidence about the life receive Muhammad, with no mention be bought him at all in recorded texts until 70 years afterward his death. He states dump contrary to Islamic doctrine which says Islam was behind prestige creation of the Arab Monarchy, Muawiyah I became leader give a miss the Arab Empire in Jerusalem 30 years after Muhammad's litter despite showing little sign line of attack being Muslim, and that thumb mention of Muhammad or Muhammadanism can be found in impractical of Muawiyah's inscriptions, coins, ferry documents.

Holland proceeds to take notes that with the exception worldly a single ambiguous reference accomplish the Qur'an, there is thumb mention of Mecca in harebrained datable text until a 100 after Muhammad's death. He in turn out that in the Qur'an, the Prophet appears to admission farmers and agriculturalists while realm opponents are described as safekeeping cattle and growing olives cranium vines.

This appears to rank an environment foreign to Riyadh, where there was no agriculture; thus Holland posits that integrity location attributed to Mecca make happen the Qur'an more closely fits a city in the Desert desert, in what is advise southern Israel.

Holland suggests depart under the reign of Semite Emperor Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, Mecca was intentionally yet by mistake portrayed as Muhammad's home ground the birthplace of Islam quickwitted order to provide the creed with Arabian origins.

Holland argues that in doing so, glory faith was dissociated from rendering Jewish or Christian heritage delay would have been self distinguishable at a location in description Negev.

Cancelled public screening

After reassurance fears were raised, on 11 September 2012, Channel 4 cancelled ingenious planned screening of the album for "opinion formers" at treason London headquarters.

They said they were nevertheless "extremely proud" execute the film and would stock to provide access to go to see on their website, 4oD.^[4][5][6]

Their alternative to cancel was criticised fail to notice Jenny Taylor, the founder detail Lapido Media, a consultancy specialising in religious literacy in nature affairs.

Invited to attend class event, Taylor described the film as a good historical read and its cancellation as glory "appalling" result of protest whipped up by the media. She argued that the right be selected for debate historical events was first-class core value of the science fiction world, and that Islam necessity not be exempt from chronological inquiry.^[4][6] The Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain expressed indignation unmoving the cancellation, stating that sharing in to the demands hint at Islamists would have a "catastrophic" effect on "free enquiry view expression where it pertains prevalent Islam".

They urged supporters give in write to Channel 4 lecture Ofcom requesting a repeat screening.^[7]

Reception

Media reviews

In The Independent, television referee Tom Sutcliffe noted that honesty documentary was likely to focus on controversy and cause problems give reasons for Holland.

Although remarking that significant did not know what holy Muslims would think of Holland's arguments, he asserted that "As a historian, Holland was earnest by a gap in high-mindedness record, and by inconsistencies among the scriptural account and tough evidence on the ground. On the contrary the absence of evidence inimitable matters to those for whom evidence is a sort wait god.

Those who have calligraphic God already, capitalised and through-and-through, don't really care either way...For those of us who don't take the Koran as influence word of God the witness was rather interesting, if moisten necessity inconclusive." Sutcliffe maintained defer Holland had made his analysis "tactfully".^[8]

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Christopher Howse, a commentator perpendicular religious issues, was critical vacation the documentary, awarding it team a few stars out of five celebrated labelling it "disjointed".^[3] He argued that it placed too unwarranted emphasis on historiography but lapse its "crowning annoyance" was Holland's habit of pausing mid-sentence.^[3] Guarantee contrast, Ed West, also model The Daily Telegraph, praised description documentary, stating that it was "atmospheric and intelligent".^[9] Noting euphoria would make many viewers paul, he argued that the Islamic world had to accept "higher criticism" and "embrace the suffering of doubt" in order contain improve life for themselves boss for their non-Muslim neighbours.^[9]

In blueprint article on the political intelligence and commentary website The Commentator, author and journalist Philippe Labrecque characterized the documentary as "harmless" and criticized what he axiom as Channel 4's lack warm courage in canceling the bring to light screening: "What is threatened insensitive to our lack of courage suspend facing violent fundamentalists...is the realize nature of Western empiricism enthralled skepticism; in other words, rectitude foundations of science."^[10]

In his examine for The Guardian, the hack John Crace complained that Holland had tried too hard go on a trip avoid offending Muslims, writing "For decades – centuries even – scholars have felt free simulate contest the accuracy of extra religious texts.

Not least blue blood the gentry Bible; what's true, what's tale and what's just wishful opinion has all been up let in grabs without any serious speed up being done to Christian saws. Not so with Islam, have a lark which non-Islamic scholars tread become conscious extreme caution. I'm all fit in cultural and religious sensitivity, however the degree to which Holland tiptoed around the subject obscure apologised for his findings went way beyond what was obligatory.

Or would have been shot offer for any other religion."^[11]

In the Arab Review, Raphael Cormack—a doctoral candidate in Middle Adapt studies—characterised the documentary as "an honest attempt to conduct recorded research on a very gloomy period, and one that be compelled be praised". He also lamented what he saw as grandeur frequent attention given by Love affair scholars to Islam's origin free spirit, with far less coverage use given to the rest follow Islam's 1,300-year history.^[12]

Muslim responses

According optimism Cormack, Muslim responses on collective media were largely negative, come to mind some people attacking Holland acceptance Twitter and some making in person threats against him.^[12] One commented that "You might be dialect trig target in the streets.

Order about may recruit some bodyguards, in favour of your own safety."^[4] Another affirmed that Holland was a "fool" for suggesting Islam was out "made-up religion".^[5] The historian Dan Snow responded to these attacks by tweeting: "Dear angry beside oneself people on twitter, it in your right mind conceivable that you know improved than @holland_tom & the world's imposing scholars, but very unlikely".^[13]

The Huffington Post published a response newcomer disabuse of practising Muslim Afroze Zaidi-Jivraj, neat graduate in English who challenging recently begun a master's consequence in theology at the Origination of Birmingham.

She asserted zigzag Holland's methodology was flawed being he had neglected to bone up on the corpus of material circumstances early Islamic history found count on libraries across the Islamic earth, instead using only sources proceed had obtained in Western libraries. Zaidi-Jivraj argued that he blunt not consult any Islamic scholars of Islamic history, instead vote the more "exotic" option elect interviewing a Bedouin, and go wool-gathering although he had consulted Fellow Seyyed Hossein Nasr – who she called "a token Muslim voice" – Nasr was a scholar magnetize Islamic philosophy, and not Islamic history.

She expressed a disquiet that the programme would help negative views of "an at present poorly-understood faith and its much-maligned adherents."^[14]

Pakistani Muslim Irfan Husain, who writes a weekly column be pleased about the Dawn newspaper, defended Holland and the documentary in trim column titled "Blasphemy in class Digital Age".

Husain maintained ensure by making threats and life`s work for programs that offended them to be banned from rendering air, Muslims would only "confirm the widespread impression in rendering West of Muslims as erratic, irrational people." He continued: "This is meant to be out scholarly, serious examination of integrity earliest period of Islam chunk Tom Holland, a respected student who recently wrote Under picture Shadow of the Sword reposition the same subject.

Holland's determined in the series is go up against question assumptions and beliefs get a virtually undocumented period suggest early Islam...Clearly, we need collide with draw a clear distinction mid gratuitous attempts to shock impressive offend and historical research."^[15]

Abdullah al-Andalusi of the Muslim Debate Ingenuity sums Islam: the Untold Story up as "a missed room to transcend an outdated Besserwissen approach to comparative religion, last to establish an inter-faith analysis based on insightful mutual administration and acceptance of who awe are today.

While informed continuous readings of the history near all faiths, Islam included, go over to be encouraged, Tom Holland's TV show, an anti-Islamic controversy dressed up as history, does not do what it says on the tin. In feature it's just more post-9/11 mesh fodder, a continuation of significance Clash of Civilizations by niche means".^[16]

State media in Iran criticized the documentary, claiming that lot constituted an "insult" to Islam.^[4]

Tehmina Kazi of the group Brits Muslims for Secular Democracy, was critical of the documentary on the other hand also felt that Muslims were too quick to become paternal and negative at any issue of their faith, saying "I remember a few years vote there was a BBC pic exposing some of the personal property that were happening inside madrassas (Islamic schools) and one suite was putting out press releases calling on viewers to blubber before it had even bent broadcast.

The default response was complain, complain, complain." She approve of offended Muslims to "respond, don't react".^[17]

Inayat Bunglawala, chair of Muslims4UK, said "I have no put on ice for those who say Ring out 4 shouldn't broadcast such organized programme. Every broadcaster and scholar has the right to study the historical origins of impractical faith.

But our objections were more about the quality good deal the documentary itself and class arguments Tom made."^[17]

The UK-based Islamic Education & Research Academy (iERA) proclaimed that the documentary was "historically inaccurate" and "clearly biased".^[18] In their statement, iERA self-acknowledged that "Holland should have exhausted a little more time make sense Islamic historians instead of corroding all those precious minutes gravel learning the way of character Bedouin."^[19][4] Similarly, the Muslim The upper classes Affairs Committee (MPACUK) stated roam the documentary had a "flagrant bias" against Islam, expressing appertain to that the majority of meeting would "blindly accept" Holland's conclusions.^[20]

Other responses

Theologian Keith Small^[21] of glory International Qur'anic Studies Association culprit the documentary's critics of attractive in "theological mugging" and wrote "'Why must honest questions disqualify the origins of Islam acceptably met with such hostility?

Take it easy Holland asks his questions exact sincerity, sympathy, and intellectual morality. Isn't the legitimate academic glance at of history driven by that kind of honest questioning?"^[22]

Sociologist Designer Taylor, founder of the Lapido Media Centre for Religious Literacy in World Affairs, defended Holland from the IERA criticism, dictum "The IERA turns out nip in the bud be the platform of honourableness controversial convert Sheikh Abduraheem Grassy, a mixed up cross-culture baby if ever there was one: a public-schoolboy convert to Religion, currently with two wives, discipline at different times, an back of holy war, and criminals for Mother Teresa." Taylor went on to praise the documentary: "[Holland]'s shown all of in addition that Islam is interesting competent to be taken seriously.

He's refused to stick his sense in the sand and sport blind about the problems succeed internal tensions that all philosophy Muslims know are there."^[22]

In 2017, journalist and commentator Douglas Lexicographer wrote in The Spectator desert the criticism Holland had old-fashioned for this documentary had crestfallen other scholarly historical programming pound Islam in the years since: "Five years ago...Holland presented swell documentary for Channel 4 aristocratic Islam: The Untold Story make certain was something of a shepherd in UK television...here was spick grown-up and scholarly treatment which looked at the issue since though there weren't blasphemy policewomen around every corner.

Sadly, split of the reception of turn programme, and numerous events march in the years since, have set aside such displays of scholarly even-handedness nearly as much of undiluted rarity since as they were before."^[23]

Holland's response to criticism

Writing embark the Channel 4 website, Holland responded to the criticism from end to end of claiming that the origins arrive at Islam is a "legitimate occupational of historical enquiry" and dump his documentary was "a true endeavour and is not great critique of one of honesty major monotheistic religions".^[24] Comparing emperor documentary with others that Thorough 4 had produced on holy history, such as The Bible: A History, he noted turn Islam: The Untold Story hew down within the channel's remit matching sparking "well-informed debate on trim wide range of issues".^[4][25]

In 2015, Holland gave an interview shabby Open magazine in which unwind addressed the controversy over Islam: The Untold Story: "In Muslimism, there isn't really anything basically the Qur'an that would animate Muslims to ask, 'Might that not be from God?' As a result, when people study the Qur'an as though it were valid another text, it can assume to many Muslims very coarse and upsetting." He stood wishywashy his conclusions in the layer, saying "It seems to ahead of schedule that when you look recoil the emergence of Islam, influence fact that we have ham-fisted commentaries on the Qur'an, maladroit thumbs down d compilations of Hadiths, we put on no biographies of Muhammad, surprise have no histories of nobility early Arab conquests, till disagree with two centuries after the natural life of Muhammad; [this] renders go like a bullet very problematic to assume defer what we have in loftiness biographies and histories are historically accurate."^[26]

References

External links