The Story Behind: “Abdullah” the Puppet
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Bismillah,
(www.abdullahkidshow.com)
A few months ago I was feeling a bit crafty. I hadn’t worked on a project in a long time “just for fun.” So I decided to go to the local arts and craft store to pick up some supplies.
As I was walking past the painting section, strolling past wood arts and gliding past the coloring section I was trying to decided what creative project will I invest the next few hours of my time on. I thought about a project I have been wanting to begin for about a year; an Islamic kids’ show.
“I’ll make a puppet,” I told my husband.
By the time I started, it was pretty late at night. My husband was fast asleep and I was working hard. About three hours past and I was finally done.
I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a creative, artsy person. In fact I’m just downright horrible at it all. And this puppet did not turn out any different.
There comes a time after you start working on something so intently that when you’re done and you sit back and see your final product, you realize the reality of what you just made- good or bad; only this time… it was bad.
So after seriously working on this thing for about three hours, I finally burst at laughing at the thought that I had “wasted my time.” It turned out to be very ghetto.
My husband woke up to my laughing and when he saw my final product he got terrified. “That thing is SCARY!”
I began taunting him and asking him if he’d make a video of my puppet. He finally gave in. We obviously went unscripted just playing around with the thing, and we decided to put it online because we had a lot of fun doing it.
We made two videos:
“Do something productive:”
“Abdullah works on a theme song”
We got people sending us messages and emails asking us to make more videos of “Abdullah.”
After seeing my poorly-made puppet I was not really intending on using him for anything other than scaring my husband from time to time. But after seeing peoples’ responses, we both agreed “It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to get going.”
So that was the starting point for producing our Islamic kids’ show. We are hoping to get a DVD out by the end of the summer.
After six weeks of production and post-production we are happy to present episode 1 of “Abdullah.”
If you would like to see the FULL EPISODE, since it’s not on YouTube (over 10 minutes) go to www.abdullahkidshow.com
Jawaad Ahmad Khan Says: 25.03.10 at 2:42 am
SubhanAllah. Allah’s blessed you and your husband with a great gift, the understanding of that simple phrase: It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to get going.
That’s the one thing that stops most people from doing anything of benefit. And Alhamdulillah, once you have that, I’m sure you’ll go on to making a great and memorable kids show InshaAllah (along with whatever other endeavors you get involved in).
Hasan Abdali Says: 25.03.10 at 6:02 pm
can i b in the next 1
shirien Says: 25.03.10 at 8:27 pm
Yes Hassan! you can! we actually wrote you in the script for the next one already. we just need your parent’s permission.
Farida Says: 25.03.10 at 10:01 pm
Assalamu alaikum warahmatullah,
My girls like your Abdullah. Thanks and congratulation ! I didnot know you got married. I missed your weeding.
Anyway, where are you living now? Baton Rouge? I am in Virginia.
Hope to get more episode of Abdullah. I have already sent this to my friends here in Richmond.
Wendy Diaz Says: 26.03.10 at 8:29 am
As salaamu alaikum,
SubhanAllah… I just wrote your husband an email with constructive criticism of the Abdullah Show, before knowing the history of Ghetto Abdullah!!! Now I understand a little more the concept behind it… But insha’Allah, maybe you can still consider what I had to say. May Allah grant you tawfeeq.
shirien Says: 31.03.10 at 7:21 am
@ Farida, I’m actually in NJ right now.. not to far
Maybe we can come and visit you soon inshaAllah! I miss you and your girls very much!
@Wendy, Barak Allahu feeki, we got the email. and your points were well noted. We really do appreciate your criticisms especially because it’s a learning process.. it’s our first time making a kids show, so inshaAllah it till improve over time.
Adnan Khattak Says: 06.04.10 at 3:01 am
masha’Allah, nice first effort. It was humorous at times, and I enjoyed watching it with my wife and children.
The songs were great, the shift between scenes etc. along with the speaking human parts were very
good.
The only 2 areas I would suggest would perhaps try to make Abdullah the puppet himself a bit more
polished, and some of the humor/statements of Abdullah were a bit over the top for my tastes (bad kitty,
baaaaaaaad etc.) But overall, masha’Allah very cool.
mariam Says: 01.10.10 at 9:58 pm
Assalam Alaikum,
mashaAllah. I am not a kid, but i love Abdullah the puppet. I am already using the theme song as my new ring tone. I love the fact that it has no musical instruments mashaAllah. May Allah put Baraka in it to become the next really big kidz show.
mariam Says: 01.10.10 at 10:02 pm
i also wanted to say: you can not please every one out there. So just take the constructive criticism and do the best that you can. As long as it is pleasing to Allah
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