November 27, 2002

The Public Broadcasting System (PBS) of the United States is planning to broadcast a two-hour documentary on the life of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, on December 18 and a day later rebroadcast a two-hour documentary on the diverse interpretations of Islam around the world, according to a PBS press release.

In a related step to promote dialogue about Islam, community based organizations around the United States are organizing group discussions based on the two documentaries, "Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet," and "Muslims."

The documentary about Muhammad recounts the story of the prophet's life and also conveys what many American Muslims believe Islam teaches, and how their beliefs shape their lives, PBS said.

"The documentary takes viewers into the homes, mosques and workplaces of some of America's Muslims to discover the many ways in which they follow Muhammad's example and interpret his life and his message today," PBS said.

The documentary on the life of Muhammad was made by Unity Productions Foundation, a nonprofit production company whose mission is to develop balanced, fair and accurate journalistic material concerning the world's cultural and spiritual traditions in order to help increase understanding and tolerance, according to the press release.