Abrar Hussain (filmmaker)

Abrar Hussain is a British filmmaker, writer, producer and director. He was raised in London, UK and studied at Kingston University.

Abrar Hussain
Abrar Hussain at a Public Speaking event in London, 2014
Born
Abrar Hussain

(1978-03-19) 19 March 1978
NationalityBritish
Alma materKingston University
OccupationFilmmaker
Years active2006–present
Known forOne Day in the Haram

Career

Model Mosque: (2007–2008)

Hussain began his production career in 2007 by writing, producing, directing and presenting the Model Mosque show on the Islam Channel.

The research for the show consisted of dispatching questionnaires to over 1,000 mosques,[1] followed by telephone interviews, and site visits. In an interview with The Guardian newspaper Hussain said "There is so much disparity between mosque standards, and the show is a way for mosques to see the positive work that is already being done".[2]

The show attracted some criticism from conservative Muslims because of its reality TV format, with some critics comparing it to The X-Factor.[3] Hussain stated that the aim of the show was to show the positive side of mosques,[3] not to criticise them. In an interview with the BBC, Islam Channel CEO Mohammed Ali Harrath said, "We believe in name-and-fame, not name-and-shame.[3]

Participating mosques were located geographically all over the country,[4] and the competition was won by East London Mosque.[5][6][7]

Hussain presented the final of Model Mosque at the Global Peace and Unity (GPU) event in 2007, in-front of a live audience of 30,000 people. Judges on the Model Mosque show included Salma Yaqoob and Iqbal Saccranie. Model Mosque was positively received by the mainstream media, with BBC One,[3] The Guardian[2] and ABC News Australia,[8] reporting positively on the show.

Faith Off (2008)

Hussain produced and directed a 2nd show for the Islam Channel titled "Faith Off". This was a game show format where contestants from different religious backgrounds would compete for prizes. The Guardian newspaper called it "Britain's first interfaith game show”.[2] The show was hosted by Muslim comedian and actor Jeff Mirza.

Hussain stated on the Reuters news channel that he was trying to show that there was "harmony amongst the different faith groups".[9]

The format of the show included a multiple choice current affairs segment, in addition to a home or away round, when contestants could answer questions on their own faith, or the opposing team's for further points.[10]

One of the Jewish contestants on the show, 42-year-old Danny Judelson, said: "A game show is an original idea, to say the least ... I thought it was interesting that the channel were taking seriously the opportunity to educate their audience. There's a very serious purpose behind it.[2]"

The show was well received by interfaith groups, Ethan Cole of the Christian Post wrote, "Faith Off draws contestants with religious backgrounds from Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism, and has them compete for cash prizes by answering questions on both general and religious knowledge.[11]”

Hussain said of the show in an interview with The Guardian "We’re living in a multi-faith, multi-cultural society, so it's about transferring the basic blocks of knowledge. It’s also about learning the similarities between religions, instead of focusing on the differences.[2]"

The Pakistan Floods

In 2011 Hussain wrote, produced and directed "The Pakistan Floods", a TV documentary made in response to the lack of support from western governments to the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan.[12][13]

The film was commissioned by Press TV and broadcast in the UK in 2011.[14][15]

Humanitarian Films

Between the years 2010 and 2014, Hussain produced a number of international documentaries for a host of UK charities such as ActionAid International and Islamic Relief. Hussain travelled to over 30 countries during this period including Lebanon, Mali, Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

He produced the film for the 25th anniversary of Muslim Aid, as well as the film for the 50th anniversary of UKIM. He also produced a film in Mali for Islamic Relief with renowned scholar Imam Zaid Shakur.

In 2008 Hussain was an official media partner for the Islam Expo,[16] an event heralded for its ability to encourage dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims.[17]

One Day in the Haram

In June 2015 Hussain re-located to Saudi Arabia, specifically to film an untitled project about the Haram in Makkah. After spending over a year in research and pre-production the film finally went into production in October 2016.[18] Further filming was carried out in the Haram in February 2017, and the film One Day in the Haram is slated for release in September 2017.[18]

One Day in the Haram is the story of the Haram in Makkah as seen through the eyes of the workers. It is 90 minutes in length and structured around the 5 daily Islamic prayers.

In an interview with Arab News Hussain said "he wanted to show how successfully the Haram is run, how organized its departments are, and how seriously its workers take their jobs".[18]

Filmography

Directorial work
Year Title Also credited as Notes
Director Producer Writer
2007 Model Mosque Yes Yes Yes
2008 Faith Off Yes Yes Yes
2011 The Lack of Western Response to Pakistani Floods Yes Yes Yes
2017 One Day in the Haram Yes Yes Yes |

^ I Credited as cinematographer

gollark: You're just saying that because the DHMO companies pay you to promote it.
gollark: Well, yes, it occurs in nature, but that doesn't make it non-dangerous either.
gollark: Did you know that DHMO actually enables the growth of dangerous bacteria?
gollark: Sure, it's used in industry, but that doesn't make it not a dangerous chemical.
gollark: And it causes soil erosion.

References
  1. "Britain to find its 'Model Mosque' by reality TV show". www.oneindia.com. 6 October 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  2. Butt, Riazat; correspondent, religious affairs (26 May 2008). "Muslim TV channel to stage interfaith game show". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  3. BBC. "Model Mosque". Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  4. "Top of the mosques". Croydon Guardian. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  5. "Britain's Muslims Vote their Best Mosques – IslamOnline.net – European Muslims". 27 November 2008. Archived from the original on 27 November 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  6. "MODEL MOSQUE COMPETITION". 17 July 2011. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  7. "East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre". archive.eastlondonmosque.org.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  8. "Muslim mosques get the 'Idol' treatment". ABC News. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  9. Newyorkermen (31 July 2008), Faith Off" proves hit TV show, retrieved 13 August 2017
  10. "Game Show Newsnet". www.gameshownewsnet.com. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  11. "Britain's First Interfaith Game Show to Air on Muslim TV". www.christianpost.com. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  12. Germany, SPIEGEL ONLINE, Hamburg. "The Problem with Pakistan: Why Europe Has Been Slow to Help Flood Victims – SPIEGEL ONLINE – International". SPIEGEL ONLINE. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  13. Tisdall, Simon; Rahman, Maseeh (10 August 2010). "Pakistan flood toll rises but international aid fails to flow". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  14. PressTV Documentaries (5 October 2012), Documentary: The Lack of Western Response to Pakistani Floods p2, retrieved 13 August 2017
  15. lifeofthisworld (18 February 2014), TV Documentary Trailer – The Pakistan Floods, retrieved 13 August 2017
  16. "IslamExpo – 11–14 July 2008 – Olympia, London". www.islamexpo.com. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  17. "BBC NEWS | UK | Britain, let's talk, say Muslims". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  18. "'One Day in the Haram' documentary to debut soon". Arab News. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
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