This article is based on
a letter that Dr. Al-Mutawa wrote to his five sons.
2010 is around the corner,
and if global statistics are correct, I have already lived
the first half of my life. Life is short. That is why it
pains me when I am away from my children. Few things are
as important to me as their future, but their future is
tied to that of every other young child. I am writing with
the hope that one day you they forgive me for leaving them
as often as I do.
When Hamad was born in 1997, I wrote the third book in a
series that was recognised by Unesco. The series was about
reconciling tradition with modernity. Those who were threatened
by it banned it. I quit writing at the age of 27.
When Faisal was born in 2000,
I was treating survivors of political torture. I worked
with disappointed children trapped in the minds of men who
grew up to idolise a leader, to see that leader as a hero
and then be tortured by him. I started to think very seriously
about whom hisheroes were going to be.
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By the time Khalid was born
in New York City, shortly after 9/11, I had already made
a decision that I needed to find a way to take back Islam
from its hostage takers, but I did not known how. The answer
was staring me in the face. It was a simple, and as difficult,
as the multiplication of 9 by 11 : 99.
So, at the age of 32, I uncapped
my pen to create a concept that could be popular in the
East and the West. I would go back to the very sources from
which others took violent and hateful messages and offer
messages of tolerance and peace in their place. I would
give my heroes a Trojan horse in the form of THE 99. Islam
was my Helen and I wanted her back.
THE
99 references the 99 attributes of Allah - generosity, mercy,
wisdom and dozens of others not used to describe Islam in
the media when you were growing up. But if I am successful,
by the time my children read this, they will not believe
that such an era could have ever existed.
Knowing that children will
learn vicariously from THE 99 to be tolerant of all who
believe in doing unto others as we would have them do unto
us, makes me very proud The powers of THE 99 come from the
books of the great Dar al-Hikma library of Baghdad, which
was sacked in 1258. The books were from all the world's
cultures and religions. A secret plan leads to saving that
knowledge onto 99 gemstones that are later scattered throughout
the world. These stones fuel THE 99 heroes who are boys
and girls from 99 countries.
Rayan was born in January
2006 in the midst of the Danish Cartoon Controversy, which
coincided with a positive review of THE 99 in the New York
Times. The timing was fateful. Eighteen months earlier,
54 investors from eight countries, representing various
religions, committed to invest in THE 99. Their support
was humbling. That same year, THE 99 stories appeared as
a comic in the Middle East, which led to its being licensed
into several languages as far and wide as North Africa,
France, Indonesia, South Asia, Spain and the UK.
When Rakan was born in 2009,
a lot had changed. By seeking the blessing of an Islamic
Investment Bank, we were allowed into the most conservative
places on the planet. Places that were resistant to THE
99 opened up their markets to them and supported our work.
And THE 99 has spread like wildfire.
The year 2009 also witnessed
the launch of THE 99 village Theme Park in Kuwait. Seeing
my children on rides that bear THE 99 artwork brought tears
to my eyes. It has been hard work but knowing that children
will learn vicariously from THE 99 to be tolerant of all
who believe in doing unto others as we would have them do
unto us, that, makes me very proud.
In 2010 the world will witness
THE 99 animated series. Achieving that milestone means that
we have achieved our mission of creating globally resonant
characters and storylines. In so doing, THE 99 has become
the first licensed entertainment property from the Islamic
World.
I told the writers of the
animation that only when Jewish kids think that THE 99 characters
are Jewish, and Christian kids think they're Christian,
and Muslim kids think they're Muslim, and Hindu kids think
they're Hindu, that I will consider my vision as having
been fully executed.
But, perhaps the most valuable
lesson that I want to pass on is that THE 99 is only as
successful as its partnerships. Without them, we will only
be as loud as the sound of one hand clapping. We are off
to a good start, but this is just the beginning and I hope
that my absences from my children's lives to spread my message
continue to glean great results.
So again, I apologise, but
know this: Only a father's love could have created THE 99.
This article contains excerpts of an article published on
the BBC News website.
