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Screw the experts

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts on Aug 21, 2008

A lot of you are asking for my take on this story: Random House New York has shelved plans to publish The Jewel of Medina, an historical novel about the Prophet Muhammad’s second and youngest wife, Aisha. Rest assured that I’m writing a commentary about it and will post the link as soon as it’s printed.

But here’s what I want you to know right away. Before deciding to pull the book, Random House consulted academic “experts.” As if they’re objective. Take it from me: so-called scholars can be petty, politicized and, above all, paranoid.

I know first-hand. PBS, broadcaster of Faith Without Fear, sent a rough cut of my film to “academic advisors.” Here are highlights of their feedback:

* “She permits a man to dress her.”

* “She invites an Imam to her home unaccompanied… This is inappropriate for any ‘Muslim’ woman.”

* “Given the size of the Arab Muslim world, why choose [to go to] Yemen? To mislead.”

* “The deliberate juxtaposition between the unpaved roads in Yemen and the paved streets with yards in America speaks to the lack of cultural information. Are all the people of the world to now have houses like Americans?”

And my conspiratorial favorite:

* “A clear signal of animosity to the Muslim audience.”

Such “expertise” makes me chuckle because Faith Without Fear has been embraced by Muslims far and wide. On the night of its PBS premiere, my assistant flooded me with forwards. They were grateful responses from young Muslims.

I asked him to send me criticisms, too, so that PBS would get a balanced picture. He told me, “The moment you receive a complaint, I’ll make sure to share it. Until then, I’m afraid this is all I can send you.”

Since then, Faith Without Fear has launched the Muslim Film Festival organized by the American Islamic Congress. It won Gold at the New York Television Festival. The film scored an Emmy nomination. It’s even been screened in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country.

With only an honorary doctorate to my name, I claim no expertise. But allow me to offer a bit of advice to budding writers, filmmakers, and public intellectuals: Screw the experts.

Write.

Speak.

Debate.

Develop moral courage.

The critics will howl anyway. Make it worth their while — and yours.