BBC2 is launching a new three-part series called The Retreat in which volunteers will live in a remote Islamic study centre to learn about and practise Islam.
Six people will spend a month at the Alqueria de Rosales retreat in Spain where they will pray daily, study the religion and even fast for the holy month of Ramadan.
The show – from the team that produced The Monastery and The Convent – aims to shed light on the religion and broader questions of faith today.
And TV bosses will also be hoping for some lively debates between their hand-picked group.
Muslim Aisha Alvi is a 31-year-old single law graduate from Cheshire whose work specialises in Islamic law. At 14 she campaigned successfully for the right to wear the hijab at school.
Khadejah Begag is a 32-year-old married mum-of-one. Formerly Claire Sullivan, she converted to Islam 10 years ago and married an Algerian man. But she worries she is losing her faith and is fed up with abuse since 9/11 and 7/7.
Sarah "Pom" Jenkins is 28 and single. She is a psychotherapist in London, was brought up a Christian but is still seeking a faith, having tried alternatives including Kabbalah.
The group will be led by scholar Abdullah Trevathan. He lives in Spain but also works as a lecturer at the University of Roehampton in Twickenham.
Azim "Han" Ziaee is 34, single and an advertising salesman from Birmingham. He was born into a Muslim family but rebelled from an early age.
Muddassar Ahmed is 23, single and from East London. He leads a hectic life running various businesses and is rarely off his mobile. He sees Islam as a chore rather than a conviction.
Divorcee Simon Yarrow, 36 is a scuba diving instructor. He describes himself as a "questioning agnostic". He beat cancer in his twenties and prefers rationalism to religion.
The series will air from the end of February.
Six people will spend a month at the Alqueria de Rosales retreat in Spain where they will pray daily, study the religion and even fast for the holy month of Ramadan.
The show – from the team that produced The Monastery and The Convent – aims to shed light on the religion and broader questions of faith today.
And TV bosses will also be hoping for some lively debates between their hand-picked group.
Muslim Aisha Alvi is a 31-year-old single law graduate from Cheshire whose work specialises in Islamic law. At 14 she campaigned successfully for the right to wear the hijab at school.
Khadejah Begag is a 32-year-old married mum-of-one. Formerly Claire Sullivan, she converted to Islam 10 years ago and married an Algerian man. But she worries she is losing her faith and is fed up with abuse since 9/11 and 7/7.
Sarah "Pom" Jenkins is 28 and single. She is a psychotherapist in London, was brought up a Christian but is still seeking a faith, having tried alternatives including Kabbalah.
The group will be led by scholar Abdullah Trevathan. He lives in Spain but also works as a lecturer at the University of Roehampton in Twickenham.
Azim "Han" Ziaee is 34, single and an advertising salesman from Birmingham. He was born into a Muslim family but rebelled from an early age.
Muddassar Ahmed is 23, single and from East London. He leads a hectic life running various businesses and is rarely off his mobile. He sees Islam as a chore rather than a conviction.
Divorcee Simon Yarrow, 36 is a scuba diving instructor. He describes himself as a "questioning agnostic". He beat cancer in his twenties and prefers rationalism to religion.
The series will air from the end of February.
1 comment:
now wouldn't it be nice if they took 6 Muslims and had them live in a monastery where they could learn about Christianity?
will the folks in this idiocy learn about all the really strange rules of Islam such as wudu, or how the feet are to be displayed during prayers
Post a Comment