In August of 2025, Islam’s Greatest Stories of Love premiered nationwide on PBS. Produced by Unity Productions Foundation (UPF)—the award-winning team behind The Sultan and the Saint, Lamya’s Poem, Prince Among Slaves, and The Great Muslim American Road Trip—the documentary explores how love, in its many forms, has shaped Islamic tradition, culture, and history. With support from AVDF, the film offers educators, faith leaders, and the broader public a powerful resource to foster dialogue, deepen understanding, and promote interfaith literacy.
At the heart of the documentary is Ariella Gayotto Hohl, a Muslim scholar at Harvard Divinity School preparing for the chaplaincy. Her personal journey of grief and renewal frames the narrative, inviting viewers into five timeless tales from the Islamic tradition. Each story expands conventional ideas of love, resilience, and devotion, highlighting how deeply this theme has influenced Islamic thought and practice.
The film revisits stories both familiar and lesser-known. It recounts the grief of Emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It introduces audiences to Layla and Majnun, the tragic lovers immortalized in Arabic and Persian poetry centuries before Shakespeare penned Romeo and Juliet. It also foregrounds non-romantic love, such as the enduring bond between Malcolm X and his half-sister Ella Collins, who supported and shaped his spiritual journey. The documentary further explores the mystical dimensions of love through the writings of Rumi, the thirteenth-century Persian poet whose works continue to inspire across cultures and religions.
Through these stories, Islam’s Greatest Stories of Love underscores love’s capacity to heal, transform, and connect across generations. By interweaving personal narrative, historical analysis, and scholarship, the documentary continues UPF’s mission to use storytelling as a bridge for peace and mutual understanding.
In addition to the film, UPF is developing educational resources to extend its reach. These include an interfaith dialogue guide, classroom lesson plans, and a dedicated website hosted on PBS Learning Media. Academic advisors from Duke, Georgetown, and Yale are guiding the creation of these materials, ensuring their accuracy, accessibility, and usefulness for educators and community leaders.
The project represents a strategic investment in religious literacy and interfaith understanding. By highlighting stories that are both deeply Islamic and universally human, the film challenges stereotypes and broadens public awareness of a tradition too often misrepresented in American discourse. The project exemplifies the power of narrative to build bridges. By presenting stories that resonate across cultures, Islam’s Greatest Stories of Love not only deepens understanding of Islam but also affirms love as a universal force for human flourishing.
With its blend of scholarship, storytelling, and accessible educational tools, Islam’s Greatest Stories of Love offers universities, interfaith organizations, and communities a meaningful platform for dialogue about faith, culture, and the enduring power of love. To learn more about the film, click here.
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