You can watch the movie online in the Muslim Times

Presented by Zia H Shah MD with the help ChatGPT

The Message (Arabic title Al-Risalah), released in 1976, is a historical epic directed by Moustapha Akkad that chronicles the life of Prophet Muhammad and the birth of Islam. Notably, the film was made in two separate versions (Arabic and English) with an international cast – the English version stars Anthony Quinn as Hamza (the Prophet’s uncle) and Irene Papas as Hind, while the Arabic version features Egyptian actor Abdullah Gheith and Syrian actress Mouna Wasef qz.com. From its inception, The Message was envisioned as a bridge between cultures; as Akkad – a Syrian-American Muslim – explained, “being a Muslim myself who lived in the West, I felt that it was my obligation, my duty, to tell the truth about Islam… [about] a religion that has a 700 million following, yet it’s so little known”, hoping the film could help “bring this bridge, this gap to the West” theguardian.com.

Despite (or perhaps because of) its ambitious subject, The Message sparked intense debate and faced significant hurdles upon release. Over time, however, it has come to be regarded as a cultural landmark in the Muslim world – a film that, four decades later, is widely celebrated for its respectful portrayal of Islamic history and its impact on Muslim audiences, even as it retains a unique place in global cinema.

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