- Islam has a bad reputation around the world
because it's often linked with extremists and negativity.
But the reality is that it's a religion
of happiness, kindness, and peace.
In this video, I'm going to share with you
the true beauty of Islam that you may have never realized.
(exhilarating music)
What's up everyone, Drew Binsky here,
and I've now spent the past seven days in Mauritania.
It's a country in the Western part of Africa
in the Sahara Desert.
I'm at the tail end of a seven and a half
month trip all around the world.
And I feel like right now is was a wonderful time to
share my feelings with you guys about the religion of Islam.
I've actually spent over a full year of my life
traveling in Muslim majority countries,
especially as of recently, having revisited Turkey, Egypt,
Afghanistan, Iraq, Emirates, Tanzania, and now Mauritania.
In fact, the only Muslim majority country
that I haven't visited is Saudi Arabia,
which I'm hoping to visit soon.
As a Jewish person who grew up
in the United States of America,
I will be the first one to admit
that Islamophobia is a real thing
and I may have suffered from it at a young age.
But once I started traveling and opening my eyes up
to other cultures, beliefs, and ideas,
I realized that Islam is a religion of peace.
You see, there are just about
2 billion Muslims in the world.
- Welcome to Egypt!
- That's about 24% of the world's population.
So why are they poorly represented
by the actions of only a select few?
Most of my favorite countries around the world are Muslim.
And I can honestly say that about
half of my 20 current best friends are Muslim.
So the next time you hear that Jews
and Muslims cannot get along, think again.
In this video I'm going to share with you
a few of the life lessons I've learned from Islam
and traveling extensively through Muslim majority countries.
Number one, give respect to everyone.
Respect is the cornerstone of Islam,
and it's seen everywhere, even among two complete strangers.
People respect the values, religions, and beliefs of others
even if they aren't the same as theirs.
As an openly Jewish person I've received
nothing but kindness and admiration
when I speak about my religion and that's something
that I really enjoy about Islam.
I'm Jewish.
(Interpreter speaking foreign language)
- Ah. (speaking foreign language)
- [Drew] But we're brothers.
(Interpreter speaking foreign language)
(Brother speaking foreign language)
He says he says he wishes peace all around the world.
- [Drew] Me too.
- All the people from all different religion are brothers.
- [Drew] I agree.
Another thing I want to mention is
the hand over heart gesture with a huge smile.
It's commonly used when greeting someone or saying goodbye
and I've only seen it in Muslim majority countries.
If that doesn't show sincerity and respect,
then I don't know what does.
Number two, the home of hospitality.
If there's one thing to take away from watching this video,
let it be that Muslims take hospitality to the next level.
They have shown me time and time again
that they are world class at making guests
feel honored, welcome, and comfortable.
He's still giving us food.
Okay, I'll let you explain what's happening right now.
- I don't even know like,
food keeps on coming and coming from the kitchen.
The women in the house have been
preparing this feast for hours.
- In Mali, I got connected with a local who insisted
that I sleep on his bed and he stays on the floor.
I don't think you can get a nicer host than that.
It's really nice of you.
- Thank you so much.
- Why did you give me your bed?
- Because you are human being.
I knew that maybe one day I can go abroad,
and if I go abroad, maybe somebody else can take care of me.
The same story happened to me again in Syria.
(Drew speaking foreign language)
(Host speaking foreign language)
- She says, "I hopes that the war would end
in Syria and everything would be good.
And then all the people, they would come to Syria,
and we will welcome them and we welcome them in my house.
They will step inside the house,
and me, I will step on the door."
- Oh wow. Thank you. Inshallah.
- Inshallah.
And right here in Mauritania, I'm staying
at a friend's, friend's, family's house,
complete strangers who have never met before,
and they treat me like family.
Every time I try to pay for something, I am shut down.
This is a case all across North Africa,
the Middle East, the Gulf, and Western Asia.
- Libya good. Is good, Libya. Inshallah.
- [Drew] Inshallah.
(Friend speaking foreign language)
I want you to hear me loud and clear.
Muslims are the most welcoming people in the world.
Number three, incredible family values.
Not only do Muslims treat strangers with respect,
but they are very polite to one another,
especially the elderly.
In America, we have nursing homes,
but in the world of Islam, the grandparents are mostly
taken care of by their sons, daughters, and loved ones.
Inside of a Muslim household is something very special.
They usually prefer to eat on the floor
and with their hands, sharing stories, laughter,
and always enjoying a hot cup of tea at the end.
(Host speaking foreign language)
She's still making more tea for us, it never ends.
Some people are surprised when they hear
that Muslims don't drink alcohol,
but if you really get down to it, I don't see a need for it.
Number four, they have immense discipline.
Praying is one of the five pillars of Islam
and it forms a core of daily religious observance.
It is obligatory for Muslims to pray five times a day
at certain times and in a certain way.
Most prayers are happening inside of mosques,
and I am obsessed with visiting them around the world.
So we're driving in the middle of Iran
and we pulled over to make a pit stop
at this beautiful shrine.
And I can not tell you guys how incredible
the architecture is here.
We are standing outside of
the Blue Mosque in Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan.
- Yeah.
- There are beautiful places where time stands still
and you can feel an overwhelming presence inside.
Right now, I'm inside the brand new mosque in Dakar
which is the biggest mosque in Sub Saharan Africa.
And it is just stunning in here.
Muslims are also some of the cleanest people
you will ever meet.
They wash their hands and feet every time before praying.
They always take off their shoes indoors.
They clean up after themselves
and always strive to make the world a better place.
On a final note, it takes some serious discipline
to fast during the daylight hours of Ramadan,
the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
So in conclusion, I urge you not to judge
an entire religion based off of the headlines
of what you hear on the news around the world.
I encourage you to travel to Muslim majority countries,
get inside their homes, speak to them,
eat with your hands on the floor.
That's exactly what I've been doing here in Mauritania
and it has been absolutely incredible.
- And this is (speaks foreign language).
- Very good.
And after you do all of that,
then you can form your own opinions
and make your own judgments on the religion.
And I can pretty much guarantee you
that they will be positive.
Salam alaikum to all of my Muslim friends
around the world, watching this.
In fact, I would love to hear from you right now.
Please comment below. Let me know where you're from.
I really, really appreciate all of you
out there watching this, Muslim or not.
It doesn't even matter what your religion is.
As I sit here on my very final sunset
in Mauritania on this long trip,
I just want to say thank you guys
for tuning into my stories.
It's been really fun over the last few months
to document from Venezuela to Iraq,
to Afghanistan and everything in between.
So hopefully I can finish my final three countries.
That's all it comes down to at the moment.
All right guys, cameras going off.
I gotta continue enjoying until it gets pitch black.
See you later, peace and love.
(calming music)
This is a great moment.
I just arrived in Mauritania for the second time
and Hamood just recognized me.
I can't speak to my host so he's translating
and offering to come over tonight,
eat dinner with us and hang out.
What's he saying? Translate.
(Host speaking foreign language)
- So he was saying that,
he was just explaining to me what you're doing,
- Oh, okay.
- I guess that he doesn't know that
like I watched your videos.
- [Drew] Oh yeah, he thinks that we're like other friends?
Did you tell him that you found my video?
- Yeah. (speaking foreign language)
- Now he said that he will take you to his house,
- Perfect. - in Luxor.
- Okay.
- I live just like next door.
- [Drew] Great. - That's...
- [Drew] Dude, what are the odds of this?
(Hamood laughing)
Okay, so we call you 'cause I would love
to speak to him but I can't.
- Sure, no problem, so I'll be there like by,
let's say two hours.
- [Drew] Okay.
- 'Cause I have to pick up my brother.
- [Drew] Thank you, man.
- No worries. - Bro.
- I was watching your videos, man, and like,
- Dude this is crazy what's happening.
Okay, okay.
These bags are too heavy, let me take off my bag.
- Okay. Sure, sure.
- Yo, so wait. Do you?
Here, let me give you my WhatsApp so you can text me.
'Cause I can't speak to him.
(Host and Hamood speaking foreign language)
I'm Drew Binsky, and if you like my travel videos,
please click subscribe and ring that little bell
so you can get notified on all my upcoming videos
as I take you to every, single country in the world.