Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH – The International Organization for Islamic Scholars, an affiliate of the Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL), Monday denounced the Iranian filmmakers' move to depict the personality of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The organization urged the Iranian government to urgently intervene to stop shooting of the film and prevent screening any part of it. “It is the responsibility of Tehran to stop such acts, which are contrary to the principles of the Islamic Shariah, occurring in its territory,” the organization said in a statement carried by Saudi Press Agency. According to the statement, portraying the life of the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions is in clear violation of the Islamic principles. “This is the unanimous view adopted by the Islamic scholars, experts in jurisprudence and top bodies representing them. MWL had made authentic studies on the issue of making films on the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions about 40 years ago (in 1391H) and came to the conclusion that this was not permissible,” the statement said. The organization urged the Muslim governments as well as bodies such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Al-Azhar, and the International Islamic Fiqh Academy to mount pressure on Iran to stop screening the film. A few months ago, well-known Iranian director Majeed Majeedi announced that his new movie on the Prophet (pbuh) was almost completed. The movie, costing over $30 million, is a three-part historical epic that narrates the Prophet's childhood and life before the revelation, his life after the revelation and the spread of Islam. The shooting of the film began in south Iran in October 2011. A number of actors including Amin Tarokh, Mehdi Pakdel and Sareh Bayat have joined the cast of the film “Muhammad (S)”. The film has sparked controversy all over the Islamic World. Earlier, Al-Azhar scholars, including the Grand Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, slammed it and demanded its prohibition.
