It never ceases to baffle and infuriate me how television channels air some of the most corrupt and morally degrading television series in the blessed month of Ramadan. Every year, television channels compete with one another in luring people to watch a string of drama series and soap operas. Before Ramadan, we are bombarded with advertisements and sneak previews of the shows that will start with the sighting of the silver crescent announcing Ramadan.
The sheer volume of the television shows and the repulsive content of these shows are very disturbing to anyone who cares about the integrity, social and family ties, and morals of our society. Most of the television shows targeting the Muslim audience in Ramadan revolve around seduction, unfaithfulness, violence, greed, non-conformity, and treachery.
Several years ago, those who disliked the media scene during Ramadan had nothing much to do about it. Families did not have a lot of alternative viewing options; nothing to watch that could actually add any value to our lives, intellect, and faith. There were a few religious programs, but from the perspective of the younger generation, it saddens me to say that these programs were pretty boring.
All we could do was complain, rant on about the harm that the soap operas were creating in the younger generation, turn off the TV, and throw the remote control down in frustration. Scattered journalists here and there wrote about the ludicrous role that media outlets played in the proper welcoming of the holy month, but there was not much else we could accomplish.
Today, it is a whole different story. Today, there is a vast array of fun and interesting programs that can help boost your level of faith rather than shatter it and also educate; you just need to know where to look. I say, this Ramadan, don't turn your TV off. Instead, connect your laptop to the TV with the HDMI cable, and turn the TV on.
The family can gather in front of the TV set and actually learn something about Islam, be inspired, and be sent on the path to discover how we can nurture our hearts and souls.
Below, you will find a list of amazing video series in English that you can find on YouTube to watch with your friends, siblings, and family. Make popcorn or lemonade, or serve the kids hot cocoa and cookies.
You will be surprised by how much you will learn and how much you will enjoy it. If you find a great video series that we have overlooked, please let us know!
People of Qur'an by Omar Suleiman: This is a series of 30 episodes that average about 5 to 7 minutes long; one aired each day of Ramadan. They are short enough so that even the youngsters with short attention spans can watch them and benefit from them.
Often times we read the Holy Qur'an but we have some difficulty relating it to our lives. Each episode of this series brings our attention to a verse or a few verses; giving us insight into the meaning of the verse, the story behind it, and the people that the verses are about. Moreover, this series shows us how our pious predecessors interacted with the Holy Qur'an, how the Qur'an softened their hearts, and changed them for the better from within.
Omar Suleiman commented about his series, “Every day you will learn something new. So when you hear a certain group of verses you will know the story behind it. You can internalize it better and bring it into your own life.”
Amazed by the Qur'an by Nouman Ali Khan: Each episode of this series is no longer than 10 minutes long, and it shares with the viewer what is truly amazing about the Holy Qur'an.
The inspiration to produce this series came from Khan's study of the works of the genius Dr. Fadhil Salih Al-Samarrai, an Iraqi scholar who was a master of the Arabic language and other languages as well. Samarrai took a new and fresh approach to the study of the Holy Qur'an. He conducted a critical study of the language, wording, and grammar of the Holy Qur'an; thus reaching a logical conclusion that the Holy Qur'an is no doubt a Divine Book and could not have been the result of human creativity. In his series, Khan shares with the viewer these gems of the Holy Qur'an. He utilized resources in the Arabic language that explain the meanings and also the miracles of the Holy Qur'an. Khan presents these findings to the viewer in the English language, so that everybody can get a taste of the beauty and the overpowering nature of the Qur'an.
Muslim Spoken Word by Kamal Saleh: These videos are spoken as poetry so they do not sound like a lecture or preaching; they are both entertaining and educational. Kamal Saleh, an Australian Muslim and graduate of media and law from Macquarie University, has always loved to express himself through art. His talents in poetry and speaking have made his series one of the biggest YouTube sensations. His videos project Islam in a positive light and dispel some of the myths and stereotypes surrounding the religion. His videos shed light on the Muslims' belief in Prophet Jesus and on the meaning and purpose of life. He has shown the Muslim community how each person's unique talents can be used to call others to Islam. He has inspired and touched both Muslims and non-Muslims in the millions.
Fattabiouni by Muhammad Al-Saggaf: The name of this series means ‘follow me', and the intended meaning is to follow the way of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This show is fun and educational for viewers of all ages; it has intervals of animation and graphics, and also a short speech by the scholar, Muhammad Al-Saggaf. It was originally produced in Arabic, but has recently become available in English and more than 5 other languages as well.
This series aims at reviving the sunnah, or the Prophetic traditions, and explaining how they can be applied in a way that is relevant to our day and age. In the Muslim world, there exists a large vacuum between the Muslims and their Prophet (peace be upon him), whether in understanding, love, and following his example. Muslims have become distant from his traditions, guidance, worship, dealings with others, and customs. Fattabiouni aspires to revive our love of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the degree to which we follow his example.
The Deen Show: The show's host, Eddie Redzovic, interviews different Muslims who are experts in their own various fields. Viewers learn not only more about their religion or their deen, but each time they learn something new; it could be about dispute reconciliation in faltering marriages, how to deal with troublesome teens, scientific facts mentioned in the Qur'an, or you might listen to a heartwarming story of how someone converted to Islam.
The mission of the team at the Deen Show is to help educate, clear misconceptions, and share the true message of Islam without any political, cultural or nationalistic prejudices against fellow brothers and sisters in humanity.
