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Wednesday, September 12, 2012


The Message - 1976 - Full Movie - HD








Published on Aug 29, 2012 by 
Muhammad, Messenger of God (in Arabic: ??????? Ar-Risalah; U.S. title: The Message) is a 1976 film directed by Moustapha Akkad chronicling the life and times of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. Released in both Arabic and English, Mohammad, Messenger of God serves as an introduction to early Islamic history.


The film follows Muhammad starting with Islam's beginnings in Mecca in which the Muslims are persecuted, the exodus to Medina, and ending with the Muslims' triumphant return to Mecca. A number of crucial events, such as the Battle of Badr and Battle of Uhud are depicted, and the majority of the story is told from the point-of-view of peripheral individuals such as Hamza ibn `Abd al-Muttalib (Muhammad's uncle), Abu Sufyan (the leader of Mecca) and his wife Hind bint Utbah (enemies of Islam who later become Muslims themselves).


Depiction of Muhammad

In accordance with Muslim beliefs regarding depictions of Muhammad, he was not depicted on-screen nor was his voice heard. At the beginning of the film, a statement is displayed, "The makers of this film honour the Islamic tradition which holds that the impersonation of the Prophet offends against the spirituality of his message. Therefore, the person of Mohammad will not be shown."

This rule extended to his wives, his daughters, his sons-in-law, and the first caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali). This left Muhammad's uncle Hamza (Anthony Quinn) and his adopted son Zayd (Damien Thomas) as the central characters. During the battles of Badr and Uhud depicted in the movie, Hamza was in nominal command, even though the actual fighting was led by Muhammad.

Whenever Muhammad was present or very close by, his presence was indicated by light organ music. His words, as he spoke them, were repeated by someone else such as Hamza, Zayd and Bilal. When a scene called for him to be present, the action was filmed from his point of view. Others in the scene nodded to the unheard dialogue.

The closest the film comes to a depiction of Muhammad or his immediate family are the view of Ali's famous two-pronged sword Zulfiqar during the battle scenes, a glimpse of a staff in the scenes at the Kaaba or in Medina, and Muhammad's camel, Qaswa.

The 1977 Hanafi Siege demands included destruction of the film. It is not clear the hostage takers understood the film did not attempt to depict Mohammad.



Anthony Quinn as Hamza
Irene Papas as Hind
Garrick Hagon as Ammar ibn Yasir
Michael Ansara as Abu-Sofyan
Johnny Sekka as Bilal al-Habashi
Michael Forest as Khalid
Andr? Morell as Abu-Talib
Robert Brown as Utba
Rosalie Crutchley as Sumayyah
Damien Thomas as Zayd
Bruno Barnabe as Umayyah
Martin Benson as Abu-Jahl
Neville Jason as Ja`far
John Bennett as ibn-Salool
George Camiller as Al-Waleed
Donald Burton as `Amr
Nicolas Amer as Suhayl
Earl Cameron as al-Najashi
Ronald Chenery as Mus`ab
Michael Godfrey as Barra
Habib Ageli as Hudhayfah
John Humphry as Ubayda
Peter Madden as Toothless Man
Ewen Solon as Yasir
Hassan Jundi as Kisra
Wolfe Morris as Abu-Lahab
Abdullah Lamrani as Ikrimah
Ronald Leigh-Hunt as Heraclius
Elaine Ives-Cameron as Arwa
Leonard Trolley as Silk Merchant
Mohammad Al Gaddary as Money Lender
Gerard Hely as Poet Sinan.

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