Mohammad, Messenger of God – The Message (Film)

Mohammad, Messenger of God (retitled The Message for U.S. release) (1976) is a film directed by Moustapha Akkad, chronicling the life and times of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad. Released in both the Arabic language and the English language (Arabic name is الرسالة–English: Ar Risalah), Mohammad, Messenger of God serves as an introduction to early Islamic history. Although the movie revolves around Muhammad, his image is not depicted in any way throughout the movie, out of respect for Muslim aniconist traditions. Instead actors were left to talk to the camera.

Production

Akkad faced resistance from Hollywood to making a film about the origins of Islam and had to go outside the United States to raise the production money for the film. It was shot in Libya and Morocco. While creating Mohammad, Messenger of God, he consulted Islamic clerics and tried to be respectful toward Islam and its views on portraying the life of the prophet of islam, Mohammed. He saw the film as a way to bridge the gap between the Western and Islamic world, stating in a 1976 interview:

“I did the film because it is a personal thing for me. Besides its production values as a film, it has its story, its intrigue, its drama. Beside all this I think there was something personal, being Muslim myself who lived in the west I felt that it was my obligation my duty to tell the truth about Islam. It is a religion that has a 700 million following, yet it’s so little known about it which surprised me. I thought I should tell the story that will bring this bridge, this gap to the west.”

Director: Mustafa Akkad

Starring:

Anthony Quinn – Hamzah
Irene Papas – Hind
Michael Ansara – Abu Sufyan

Supported by:

Johnny Sekka- Bilal ibn Ribah
André Morell – Abu-Talib
Wolfe Morris – Abu-Lahab
Rosalie Crutchley – Somaya
Damien Thomas – Zaid

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