Interview with author and playwright Farzana Datta Moon

American author and playwright Farzana Datta Moon has tasked herself with a mission to create work that not only educates the world about Islamic history but also entertain and inspire. As an author, playwright and poet, her most famous work focuses on the Moghul Empire via a collection of books that are to be developed as a series of docudramas. However her new book No Islam But Islam has been written as a means to help reclaim Islam back from the extremists who have distorted it, with a focus on the core elements of the Faith, which is peace love and tolerance.

What are your current projects?

Re-editing my book No Islam But Islam that is to be published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing this year in December. Also writing a new book about Sharia since the name Sharia itself has become a weapon of violence in the hands of the extremists who use this term as a legitimate reason to murder and tyrannize and to oppress women. No valid definition of Sharia exists even to this age and day and a potpourri of those that are being tossed around are countless, concocted by clerics, historians and theologians. Such definitions written and rewritten by so-called scholars several years after the death of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) with interpretations to suit their own ways of thinking permitted no room for the proof of validity, criticism or discussion. Origin of Sharia, even the most orthodox of theologians would agree is based on traditions gathered from the sayings and lifestyle of the Prophet and from the wealth of revelations compiled as the holy book of Quran. Starting with Sunna—exemplary life of Prophet Muhammad, if Muslims were to follow in his footsteps, there would be left not even a trace of cruelty, hatred, bigotry or violence in Islam.

What do you think the modern Muslim world, and the world in general can learn from your works?

Striving toward clearing the cobwebs of lies and distortions, invented and reinvented by Muslims throughout the centuries and paraded as truths which are destroying the very foundations of Islam amidst a pandemonium of hatred, cruelty and destruction. Hoping that my books would benefit both Muslims and non-Muslims to distinguish between facts and distortions in understanding the true precepts of Islam so that warring, hate-mongering hordes of zealots could be restrained from teaching innocent, young Muslims the evil practices of murdering, suicide bombing, destroying holy shrines and disrupting peace on earth.

What are your expectations for your latest book?

Hoping that even extremists would read No Islam But Islam and be filled with the light of God’s Grace to shun hatred and violence. And that young Muslim students would read the book with interest along with the resolve of promoting love, harmony and tolerance. And finally the victims of zealots—the young jihadists if they could be lured into study and reason so that they could escape evil fate of would-be murderers and vile temptations of would-be suicide bombers.

Have you learned anything from writing your books and what is it?

A merciful cloud of constant realization hovers above me while I write and research that guidance comes from God and learning is an ongoing process till death. The very essence of Islam lies in attaining knowledge and striving toward disseminating its import, so that goodness could be the only criteria to benefit oneself and mankind. The first challenge for Muhammad the man to become Prophet began with the advent of gaining knowledge and understanding its divine power in order to stay afloat in the ocean of love, empathy, kindness and compassion. Noble in character and loving by nature, when he became the recipient of holy revelations, his virtues of humility, justice and harmony were honed to such pure brilliance that he could not harm anyone even in his thoughts. Staunch proponent of peace and equality, he made the acquisition of knowledge a priority that could bestow upon his followers the gold of reason to distinguish between right and wrong. Prophet Muhammad would be a modern day activist if he were alive since he made the acquisition of knowledge incumbent for every Muslim male and female.

While you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters?

While writing Moghul sequels I felt at times that I lived in that era, not associated with any character, but a part of that culture. 

What were the challenges in bringing your works to life, especially with your dramatization of the history of the Moghul Empire?

To find good, authentic books is the greatest of challenges. Then comes the hard work to glean facts from fabrication. The most challenging of all is to present it in a way to honor all viewpoints, but try one’s best to endorse only what seems right and reasonable.

Is there a message in your novels that you want readers to grasp? 

Just one line: If you love God, love God’s creatures first. Prophet Muhammad.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

I seek advice, but rarely give any. If any I can think of is to explore the depths of one’s own heart and soul and to write with passion, not what sells or what is popular.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Read with an open mind, for pleasure and knowledge. Intuition and judgment is an innate gift we all possess and it unwraps itself if our intentions are pure and noble.

Farzana Moon's works are available here on Amazon.

courtesy:

http://www.1971-reviewae.com/2014/08/interview-with-author-and-playwright.html