The Saudi government that normally doesn't support video clips has implicitly supported the first music clip the country now sends out to the world. “You Only Have God to Count on” tries to show its listening and viewing public how faith and cool can go together. And last month a single was published, in which a gathering of Pakistan's most popular singers have worked together to sing a message to the world: “We are not this”, meaning, we Muslims are not the militant and Islamic extremism you see in the media.

In Saudi music is banned in public spaces as Saudi's leading clerics consider it to be un-Islamic and a possible source of moral corruption. Yet now the first video clip that is fully produced in Saudi Arabia even features a women, though unlike female stars in other Arabic countries, covered according to the dress code the kingdom.

The clip was first shown in a popular mall in Jeddah, a seaport in the West, attracting hundreds of interested viewers who gave it applause and praise.

“You only have God to count on” is an upbeat song about a previously drinking, smoking and flirting man who, after an accident, starts to lead a proper Muslim life and finds a fulfilled life after all.

AP reported that the clip had the help of the Information Ministry and is expected to air on more than 30 music TV channels that are available in the Middle East.

A month earlier on the 16th of July, in the wake of the clash at the Lal Masjid, the movement “Yeh hum naheen” (“This is not us”) made its theme song available for download on all major single providers on the net. Before it had already topped the charts in Pakistan and India.

The objective of movement according to their site is “to build on the essence of Islam as a faith that promotes tolerance, peace and harmony removing prejudices within the community and amongst non-Muslims around the world.” The song, in line with this goal, was conceived by Waseem Mahmood whose children asked him to get a message to the world that young Pakistanis actually do not want to be associated with all that was happening around them in the name of Islam.

The song gathers the most famous singers of Pakistan singing “this is not us” in a true “We are the world” or “Band aid” style. The clip, showing both the singers and images of Muslims all over Pakistan singing along with the refrain, can be found on you tube and has got a lot of support.

Award winning director Waseem said the respons to the video was amazing. “I have been inundated with messages of support and congratulations from young Pakistanis around the world who have thanked me for standing up and giving voice to their sentiments. The response from the international music industry has been equally humbling - major stars, many of whom I have idolized myself have contacted me to say how much they loved the song and video and would like to collaborate with us on an English version... I guess that we must have done something right!”

Source: Yunus News
http://www.yunusnews.com

Quotes taken from http://www.yehhumnaheen.org/