Wednesday 12 August 2015

H.A..L.A.L.W.O.O.D: Creating A Lawful-Certified Muslim Film Industry



IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL


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“Today, many Muslim youths, even non-Muslims have continued to learn great lessons from the story of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the life of his companions through The Message, the first major film about Islam, released on January 1, 1976, by Mustafa Akkad (1935-2005).

Documentary films about Islam such as Islam: Empire of Faith, Inside Mecca, The Trouble With Atheism, An Islamic History of Europe, Real Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People, ‘Ardul il Quran’ (interpreted in Yoruba), American Jihad among others have gone a long way in reshaping the orientation of Muslims and some non-Muslims as well.”

 

I am among the few Muslims that advocated Muslim movies industry (halalwood). I strongly believe that if there exist a sophisticated film industry for Muslims, such movies will not only educate the Muslims, but also slam western propaganda machines such as Hollywood, Bollywood, Nollywood, e.t.c, by releasing some movies or animation about Iraqi war, Palestinian crises where the heroes would be the Muslim fighters against American and zionist oppression.

For instance, we can have a movie where you will see a just Muslim whose wife, daughter, and son are murdered by Israeli and American terrorist soldiers who are stealing their oil. The Muslim would have to fight his way through many lawful ways even with difficulties. At the end of the movie, the relentless Muslim man will defeat the imperialists.

Also, we can have a record of over 50 episodes of soul inspiring short sitcoms for television, that would teach young Muslims morality and instill in them correct perception of Islam and the Muslims in a multi-religious environment like Nigeria, where the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram has been terrorizing both the young and the old Muslims and non-Muslims.

2015 edition
Obviously, whether conscious or unconscious, there are Muslims in the industry who can act wonderfully. But many of them are not representing Islam. Those few ones have limitations. Sometimes, they play good roles while at other times they play bad roles. Some play the roles of idolaters, Shaytaan (Devil), e.t.c. 

Meanwhile, there are Islamic rules on this issue. Sheikh Abdullah ibn Humayd said it is not permissible under any circumstances for Muslims playing the roles of unbelievers. Muslims should not make themselves resemble a Kaafir or Mushrik, who is an enemy of Allah (SWT) and His messenger, and of the Islamic religion. Neither should he make himself resemble the Shaytan (Iblees), who is the enemy of mankind. It is not permissible for a Muslim to do such thing and speak the words of Kufr by playing the role of Abu Jahl or Utban ibn Rabee’ah or any such person.

The reason behind this restriction, according to Al-Lajnah Al-Daa’imah is that such Muslim who plays those terrible characters may have to utter words insulting the companions, Allah (S W T), His Messenger and the message of Islam that he brought. Undoubtedly, this is a great evil (Al-Lajnah Al-Daa’imah, in Majallah AL-Buhooth AL-Islamiyyah Vol. 1/223)

Besides, the movie industry is saturated with all forms of indecency. In Islam there is no controversy concerning the impermissibility of movies that involve promiscuity, mixing of opposite sex and other vices. They are all prohibited for Muslims. It is even a great sin for Muslims to patronize such movies.

However, contemporary scholars, among them Sheikh Muhammad ibn Saalih ibn Uthaymeen, differ on the kind of movies or acting, which is done by two or more people in front of a group of others, using actions and dialogue, in other to teach Muslims and non-Muslims about Islamic worship and morals, or to help them understand reality and corruption, or to teach them the glories of the past, or for the purposes of entertainment- in which they may represent themselves in a way that differ from the way they really are, while some condemn it outrightly.

To learn and follow the guidelines - especially for Muslims who intend to go into movie production, grab a copy of MUSLIMS AND THE THREATS OF MEDIA, available at major Islamic bookshops nationwide.


Title: Muslims and the Threats of the Media 
Author: Rasheed Abubakar 
Price: N350 only 
Publisher: Salsabil Associates 
Year of Publication: 2015 
No of pages: 110 
Reviewer: Mahfouz A. Adedimeji, Ph.D. 
Foreword: Zafaran O. Adeniyi, Ph. D. 

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