Lived Islam in Films: Faith-Based Resilient Responses of Syrian Refugees

Abstract

This article provides educators in fields such as Middle Eastern studies, refugee studies, cultural and Islamic studies with a framework from documentaries to challenge stereotypes about Muslim refugees and migrants. Using the framework of lived Islam, the article explores how Syrian Muslim migrants, as seen in documentaries, draw on their faith to build resilience that enables them to continue striving for better lives. Resilience is defined as the ability to overcome challenges and catastrophes, envision solutions, and lead a purposeful life. This article conceptualizes resilience not only as a personal trait but also as a collective tool for survival and empowerment. Drawing on the three documentaries as primary sources: We Walk Together (2015), Meet the Syrians (2018), and Dalya’s Other Country (2017) the study analyzes how lived religion provides coping strategies that are relevant to contemporary crises such as epidemics, natural disasters, and war. The cultural insights gained through analyzing films from a strength-based model contribute to understanding, empathy, and humane thinking and emphasize agency and resilience. The article makes two significant contributions. First, it enriches the underexplored field of lived religion among Muslims, particularly in Western countries, by demonstrating how religion is embodied beyond places of worship and serves as a vital aspect of private life. Second, it offers a constructive teaching approach that uses films to highlight Muslim lived experiences in the diaspora while countering Islamophobia.