Prostrate and Draw Near

Prostrate and Draw Near is an animated short by Suraya AlShehry and Nabila Abuljadayel based on Nabila Abuljadayel’s painting of the same name.

Prostrate and Draw Near is the story of a lone janitor cleaning an almost empty Holy Mosque of Makkah at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Filmmakers AlShehry and Abuljadayel capture the poignant moment when the once-crowded mosque is empty except for the janitor and a pigeon.

Using 2D animation, the janitor, in a way, takes us on a tour of the Mosque, which is accompanied by the vision of those who were once there to worship and praise their god. The filmmakers note that outside of its home in Saudi Arabia, no one on this side of the world knows or understands this important location.

“Captures one of the most populous sites in the world, the Holy Mosque of Makkah, empty of pilgrims for the first time.”

AlShehry says, “Throughout the history of cinema, there has been a noticeable scarcity of films addressing the subject matter of Makkah and the Holy Mosque of Makkah. This is especially true of animation. It, therefore, brings me great joy and a sense of deep fulfillment to have had the opportunity to collaborate with my daughter, the artist Nabila Abuljadayel, on our short animated film, Prostrate and Draw Near. This animation documents a significant chapter in both global and Islamic history as it captures one of the most populous sites in the world, the Holy Mosque of Makkah, empty of pilgrims for the first time. The exception being the unseen cleaners of the Holy Mosque who had the privilege of praying there during the pandemic when no one else could.”

Prostrate and Draw Near is a deeply moving exploration of faith, history, and solitude. Through its elegant 2D animation and heartfelt storytelling, AlShehry and Abuljadayel bring a profound moment of Islamic life, capturing the poignancy of emptiness and resilience during the pandemic. This short is not just a visual homage but a spiritual one, evoking both reflection and reverence.