The words 'Islam' and 'Shakespeare' are rarely uttered in the same breath, but there is actually much in common between the religion and the playwright. This commonality is explored by two of the foremost scholars of Islam - Hamza Yusuf and the late Dr. Martin Lings - at the historic Shakespeare's Globe Theater in London in November 2004.
This DVD set includes 3 profound talks about the universal truths found in classical literature.
- In Disc 1 Hamza Yusuf delivers a riveting talk on the concept of evil as personified by the character Iago in Othello.
- Disc 2 contains an insightful commentary on he Shakespeare's Sonnets, focusing particulary on Sonnet 129, which illuminates the darkest sins that flow from the extremes of human love.
- Disc 3 is sadly one of the last public appearances of Dr. Martin Lings. He gives an enlightening talk on the mysteries and essence of Shakespeare's works. He elaborates on his analysis that Shakespeare's artistry centers on the theme of human salvation. That all of his characters are imbued with both virtue and vice, then have to face their own trials and tribulations. He relates how closely this is to the notion of greater jihad in Islam, which is the ongoing war we all face within ourselves.