Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Friday, 21 August 2009
Thursday, 20 August 2009
My article about Ramadhan for the BBC website
A Personal view of Ramadhan
Let me reach Ramadhan…alive!
I shall wake up on the first day of Ramadhan and sleep not, or little, for 30 days. My stomach may be apprehensive, but my heart is already wide open, ready to enjoy the peace and blessings of this month, the best of the twelve. Whether practising or not practising, whatever the lifestyle, Ramadhan is certainly a very special time for Muslims. From dawn to sunset, no food nor drink go past our throats. Achieving this demands discipline and strength but it is mainly a matter of faith. For us Muslims, Ramadhan is not a time of fatigue, instead it is the time par excellence where we are recharging our batteries. Essentially Ramadhan helps us slow down the motion of our busy lives and reflect. Contemplating on ourselves and our place in the universe, we detach ourselves from the material world. Day after day we calm down and our heads get clearer and clearer, extra lucid about the truth of life. Extra conscious we become and get to spend extra charities for the poor and needy. This is just an intense and deep experience to be able to understand and feel for the people who fast not by choice, but out of poverty. Out of empathy we tend to spend so much more in charity. Ramadhan is the month of liberation. A whole community of believers fast together and whatever the colour or nationality that gives us a sense of unity. Whatever his or her colour or religion let me share some food and some time with my neighbour. Ramadhan is a time where we go back to basics, when we go back to the source. We spend more time with the family. You just cannot eat by yourself! Ramadhan is the month of inner truth. The Noble Qur’an was revealed during this month and for that reason it makes a lot of sense to us. In the most obvious and practical manner, Ramadhan demonstrates the core values of Islam which are the faith in the one true God, and to be compassionate, just and charitable. I shall wake on the first day and remember: “Oh mankind! We created you from a single of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other. Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah (God) is the most righteous of you. And Allah (God) has full knowledge & is well acquainted” (Noble Quran, 49:13).
Let me reach Ramadhan…alive…and if i were to die let it be during Ramadhan.
Yacine Helali is a French Algerian filmmaker living in the West End of Newcastle. He is currently working on grassroots projects with the Islamic Diversity Centre, Newcastle. You can see some of his work at www.helalifilms.tumblr.com .
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/tyne/hi/people_and_places/religion_and_ethics/newsid_8210000/8210064.stm
Let me reach Ramadhan…alive!
I shall wake up on the first day of Ramadhan and sleep not, or little, for 30 days. My stomach may be apprehensive, but my heart is already wide open, ready to enjoy the peace and blessings of this month, the best of the twelve. Whether practising or not practising, whatever the lifestyle, Ramadhan is certainly a very special time for Muslims. From dawn to sunset, no food nor drink go past our throats. Achieving this demands discipline and strength but it is mainly a matter of faith. For us Muslims, Ramadhan is not a time of fatigue, instead it is the time par excellence where we are recharging our batteries. Essentially Ramadhan helps us slow down the motion of our busy lives and reflect. Contemplating on ourselves and our place in the universe, we detach ourselves from the material world. Day after day we calm down and our heads get clearer and clearer, extra lucid about the truth of life. Extra conscious we become and get to spend extra charities for the poor and needy. This is just an intense and deep experience to be able to understand and feel for the people who fast not by choice, but out of poverty. Out of empathy we tend to spend so much more in charity. Ramadhan is the month of liberation. A whole community of believers fast together and whatever the colour or nationality that gives us a sense of unity. Whatever his or her colour or religion let me share some food and some time with my neighbour. Ramadhan is a time where we go back to basics, when we go back to the source. We spend more time with the family. You just cannot eat by yourself! Ramadhan is the month of inner truth. The Noble Qur’an was revealed during this month and for that reason it makes a lot of sense to us. In the most obvious and practical manner, Ramadhan demonstrates the core values of Islam which are the faith in the one true God, and to be compassionate, just and charitable. I shall wake on the first day and remember: “Oh mankind! We created you from a single of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other. Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah (God) is the most righteous of you. And Allah (God) has full knowledge & is well acquainted” (Noble Quran, 49:13).
Let me reach Ramadhan…alive…and if i were to die let it be during Ramadhan.
Yacine Helali is a French Algerian filmmaker living in the West End of Newcastle. He is currently working on grassroots projects with the Islamic Diversity Centre, Newcastle. You can see some of his work at www.helalifilms.tumblr.com .
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/tyne/hi/people_and_places/religion_and_ethics/newsid_8210000/8210064.stm
Saturday, 4 October 2008
Friday, 3 October 2008
"Down the Road" the short film
Down the Road the short film from yacine helali on Vimeo.
Excerpt from the press release - 23rd September 2008
"Yacine Helali, 30, is a French-Algerian filmmaker who created a film about the West End of Newcastle that he hopes will challenge people’s perceptions of Islam and the Muslim community.
He said: “I have the same concerns that the Muslim community as a whole has about how the media misrepresents us. I just wanted to show that the reality is different. It is a social responsibility for Muslims to interact and benefit the society they live in to keep the youth off the streets and engage with them.
“Through this short film I wanted to show that we can coexist. People on the street find a way to meet and explore each other. Individuals and groups are doing things to improve cohesion in the community. This film demonstrates that people have plenty in common, contrary to what we often hear. We have the same concerns, the same hopes.”
Yacine, who lives with wife Zofta and 17-month-old daughter Nusaybah, in Fenham, works for IDC - a charity that raises awareness about Islam and helps young people avoid the dangers of gang culture and anti-social behaviour.
He said: “I’ve come to the UK during a time when people feel invaded by foreigners so there has been a mixed response. I like living in Newcastle.
“I like Geordie people, I appreciate them, Newcastle is a city where people are approachable. But the reality is you will find a mixture of feelings from local people.
“But I believe that even though there is an economic crisis we can still promote cohesion among the communities. Through my work with IDC, we get a fantastic response and can see the changes in people’s thoughts about Islam as they learn more.”
"Yacine Helali, 30, is a French-Algerian filmmaker who created a film about the West End of Newcastle that he hopes will challenge people’s perceptions of Islam and the Muslim community.
He said: “I have the same concerns that the Muslim community as a whole has about how the media misrepresents us. I just wanted to show that the reality is different. It is a social responsibility for Muslims to interact and benefit the society they live in to keep the youth off the streets and engage with them.
“Through this short film I wanted to show that we can coexist. People on the street find a way to meet and explore each other. Individuals and groups are doing things to improve cohesion in the community. This film demonstrates that people have plenty in common, contrary to what we often hear. We have the same concerns, the same hopes.”
Yacine, who lives with wife Zofta and 17-month-old daughter Nusaybah, in Fenham, works for IDC - a charity that raises awareness about Islam and helps young people avoid the dangers of gang culture and anti-social behaviour.
He said: “I’ve come to the UK during a time when people feel invaded by foreigners so there has been a mixed response. I like living in Newcastle.
“I like Geordie people, I appreciate them, Newcastle is a city where people are approachable. But the reality is you will find a mixture of feelings from local people.
“But I believe that even though there is an economic crisis we can still promote cohesion among the communities. Through my work with IDC, we get a fantastic response and can see the changes in people’s thoughts about Islam as they learn more.”
Help us make it happen
A note from the Filmmaker
Whether you are a Muslim and want to invest in your Hereafter or a brother or a sister in Humanity and believe in what we are trying to create, we need your help to make things happen.
Whatever your contribution, even a few words of encouragement, we would appreciate it. Support our up and coming productions, including a series of short documentaries and fascinating stories about people who have chosen Islam as a way of life. We also want to produce a road-movie documentary exploring the real thoughts and feelings of the Muslim community in the UK.
We plan to create a training course, (don't worry it's fun!!) to help the wider community understand what Islam really is about beyond the spins, the twists and the common misconceptions.
Finally, we've been working in partnership with an orphanage the Maygoma, in Khartoum, Sudan, and want to highlight the critical situation these Sudanese kids are living in due to the devastating effects of the conflict in Darfur.
Supporters will receive special access to early shots of the films and documentaries, and in addition, behind the scenes information, (just like DVD extras, but frequently updated).
If you want to help or want to get in touch, please contact me by email at yacine.helali@gmail.com.
Kind regards
Yacine Helali
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
My most recent piece of work
September 2008.
An insight on what I've been working on in the last two years.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)