For me
to arrive in Khiva
was a great moment. I had long heard about this desert city near to the
Aral Sea and had been greatly moved by the story
about the dream of Shem, Noah's son.
I
arrived to find a city whose buildings and people appeared to have stepped
out of another age. The town itself is full of majestic Muslim architecture.
I was able to have a long conversation with the Immam of the Mosque who
told me a great deal about the Islam practised in this area.
IT
WAS VERY INTERESTING TO FIND OUT FROM HIM THAT MUSLIMS RESPECT JESUS CHRIST
AS A PROPHET OF GOD ALONG WITH MOSES. THIS IS A FACT WHICH IS SELDOM REPRESENTED
BY THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Immam also let me film and photograph the friday
prayers in the Mosque - a rare opprtunity! Seeing the old men
with their white beards, leathery skin and long colourful overcoats back
in the Mosque and smiling and chatting to each other as they left the
Mosque for home. It struck me that less than ten years ago, under Communism,
Islam was totally suppressed in Uzbekistan.