By Gal Tziperman Lotan
Comedian Preacher Moss paced across the stage gripping the bottom of his microphone. He told the audience he had figured out what the Muslim community’s main problem is: it lacks a theme song.
“When Jumu’ah [Friday prayer] is over, people are just standing around, not knowing what to do,” he said. “Muslims need theme music.”
Moss introduced his song, “Thank You for Coming to the Show,” and enthusiastically convinced the crowd to sing along with him.
Moss is co-founder of the comedy troupe Allah Made Me Funny, which the Islamic Society of Northeastern University (ISNU) brought to West Village F Friday. Troupe co-founders Moss and Azhar Usman, along with Mohammed Amer and special guest Baba Ali, dealt with everyday situations and sensitive issues surrounding Islam in their energetic, straightforward acts.
Some audience members wore colorful Hijab and headscarves, while others wore western clothing. As the comedians talked about their experience with Islam the audience laughed and nodded.
Ali, founder of Internet project Ummah Films, began the evening with his video “Muslim While Flying” and a brief stand-up act. The predominantly-Muslim audience laughed as Ali recounted his experiences of being stopped for random security checks in airports.
“If you thought black while driving was bad, try Muslim while flying,” he said.
Ali introduced Amer, a Palestinian raised in Texas. Amer said his mother was nervous about him doing comedy rather than becoming a doctor or an engineer. Amer slouched and imitated his mother in a high-pitched voice.
“It’s very funny, but no money,” he said, as young audience members and their parents laughed in agreement.
Usman poked fun at his Indian decent and Bollywood movies. He never watches Bollywood movies because they’re all the same, he said.
“There’s a poor girl who falls in love with a rich, handsome guy. Now the mother is not happy with this, so it must be a secret,” he said, while quieting the audience. “So they go dancing in the field, because apparently fields are very secretive.”
Moss said the troupe’s purpose is to present Islam in a positive light.
“We want to introduce the idea of the Muslim community as accepting,” he said.
The troupe recently returned from South Africa and is preparing for a European tour next month.
ISNU president Mouaad Lebeche, said they brought the comedians to campus in order to fight stereotypes and bond with Boston’s Muslim community.
“Bringing comedians who incorporate Islam in their comedy and use stereotypes as humor is great for the Muslim community,” he said. “It gives Muslims the sense of ‘OK, relax. If they can laugh about it than everything is OK.'”
