The Story of Islam: A History of the World's Most Misunderstood Faith

Chronicling the rise of the Islamic faith from its seventh century birth when the Word of God was revealed to the prophet Muhammad through "today," The Story of Islam is a new-to-DVD program that actually hails from 1983 (more than evident from the film's dirt and scratches). Released in the wake of overwhelming interest in the Islamic faith following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the so-called contemporary views of the “modern” Islamic states presented here are as outdated as those of “modern” America from twenty years ago. Of more interest here is the bonus program The Hajj, a 1997 ABC News presentation examining the required pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. A much better choice would be the new PBS production of Islam: Empire of Faith (VL-11/01); still, given the dearth of similar materials and heavy interest in the subject matter, larger collections will want to consider this title. Aud: C, P. (R. Reagan)