A Road to Mecca -The Journey of Muhammad Asad (2008)
At the offset, I thought it would be another West-bashing documentary Muslim documentary. It started with the introduction of another attack by the Israelites on the Palestinians in 2006 and how pork was fed to the refugees with the ulterior intention of starving the Muslim refugees.
The credits started with the caption - for people who think. So I thought, since I think a lot, it was only wise for me to watch.
At the offset, I thought it would be another West-bashing documentary Muslim documentary. It started with the introduction of another attack by the Israelites on the Palestinians in 2006 and how pork was fed to the refugees with the ulterior intention of starving the Muslim refugees.
In essence, the story tracks the life and times of a Jew who became a Muslim and changed his name from Leopold Weiss to Muhammad Asad. (Asad and Leopold both mean Lion). He is credited for the formation of Pakistan, the English translation of the Koran, the author of the book 'Road to Mecca and was a critical modern thinker who dared to question the age-old practice of doing things based on what a small group of intellectuals decided.
The documentary starts from Asad's birthplace, Lviv, present-day Ukraine, in the Eastern part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Being exposed to the Jewish scriptures at an early age, in early adulthood, he became confused and did not have a solid footing in life. He headed east in search of 'the truth'. This is the time of fascination of Europe with psychology and the human mind. He worked as a journalist, and his work took him to Palestine. He lived amongst the Bedouins and eventually became a Moslem.
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| Muhammad Asad (1900 - 1992) |
Swiftly, he climbed the ladder of spiritualism and became an advisor to the Saudi royalty. He was invited to establish Pakistan and was given Honorary citizenship of Pakistan.
In Pakistan, during the film shooting, it was Independence Day. The Asadians (followers of Asad's thinking) were discussing the state of their country. One chap who had migrated to the USA lamented that the people of Pakistan had disappointed Asad in his vision of an independent Muslim state. An elderly dweller refuted, claiming that his country had actually prospered, being one of the only 19 countries in the world with nuclear capabilities and having improved crop productions by 5 folds since 1947. Like clockwork, there was a massive power outage in the whole town just then!
In Pakistan, during the film shooting, it was Independence Day. The Asadians (followers of Asad's thinking) were discussing the state of their country. One chap who had migrated to the USA lamented that the people of Pakistan had disappointed Asad in his vision of an independent Muslim state. An elderly dweller refuted, claiming that his country had actually prospered, being one of the only 19 countries in the world with nuclear capabilities and having improved crop productions by 5 folds since 1947. Like clockwork, there was a massive power outage in the whole town just then!
Asad was appointed Pakistan's ambassador to the UN but resigned after being played out by his fellow countrymen. He then migrated to the US. He became prolific with his critical thinking books about religion, including his autobiography (A Road to Mecca) and his Magnus opus, the English translation of the Koran.
Feeling homesick, he wanted to be nearer home, but he chose Morocco to continue working. Meeting hostility and book burning to his modern progressive way of thinking, he just had to move again, feeling drained physically and financially, this time to Spain. He died at the age of 92.
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