Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi and the Oscar-winning Indian composer A.R. Rahman have been issued with a fatwa over the depiction of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in 'Muhammad (PBUH): The Messenger of God' a new Iranian film.
The Raza Academy, an Indian Islamic group based in Mumbai, claims that the film makes a mockery of Islam by physical depictions of the Prophet’s back, hands and legs. It demanded a ban on the film.
Majidi’s film is the first to visually depict the Prophet (PBUH), and sequels are expected to cover the Prophet's (PBUH) adolescence and adulthood through to his death. The film premiered at the Montreal Film Festival to mixed reviews, with The Guardian giving it four out of five stars. Egypt and Saudi Arabia joined the chorus of critics denouncing the film.
Rahman has composed music for over 130 Indian films, and has won multiple awards worldwide, including a Golden Globe, BAFTA, and two Academy Award nominations as well as won Oscars for Best Original Song for 'Jai Ho' and Best Original Soundtrack for Slumdog Millionaire.
He posted his response to the fatwa on his Facebook page:
“This letter is for all those people who have been aware of the recent events concerning me. I’m not a scholar of Islam. I follow the middle path and am part traditionalist and part rationalist.
I live in the Western and Eastern worlds and try to love all people for what they are, without judging them
I didn’t direct or produce the movie Muhammad (PBUH): Messenger of God. I just did the music. My spiritual experiences of working on the film are very personal and I would prefer not to share these.
Mr Noori, a member of the Raza Academy, has said in an interview featured in The Bayside Journal, why he believes it is important to voice a complaint:
Mr Noori: ‘See, as Muslims we have to do something about it since it is against our religion so that tomorrow, if and when we face Allah he doesn’t say that you didn’t do anything to stop this from happening. So we have to try’.
My decision to compose the music for this film was made in good faith and with no intention of causing offence.
In fact, the decision was based on a similar point of view as expressed by Mr Noori. What, and if, I had the good fortune of facing Allah (Sbt), and He were to ask me on Judgement Day: ‘I gave you faith, talent, money, fame and health... why did you not do music for my Beloved Mohammad (PBUH) film? A film whose intention is to unite humanity, clear misconceptions and spread my message that life is about kindness, about uplifting the poor, and living in the service of humanity and not mercilessly killing innocent in my name”.Today there is a blur between the real world and the virtual world and I have been taken aback to see that, for some years now, unethical, unacceptable and unkind remarks are made online concerning the Holy Prophet (PBUH). These abhorrent comments are no doubt due to the lack of understanding. I have always felt that we must counter this reaction with love and kindness, and through the audio-visual media reach out to people who wish to broaden their understanding.
We are indeed fortunate and blessed to live in a country like India where religious freedom is practiced and where the aim of all communities is to live in peace and harmony sans confusion and violence.
Let us set a precedent in clearing conflict with grace and dignity and not trigger violence in words or actions
Let us pray for forgiveness, and from our hearts bless those who suffer in the world and bless the country that we live in. To so pray is to reflect the noble and enlightened nature of our Beloved Mohammad (PBUH).”
