Depicting the Companions and the Successors
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Fatwa number ( 4723 ):
Q: What is the ruling on depicting the Prophets (peace and blessings be upon them), the Companions, and the Successors (may Allah be pleased with them)? And what about depicting the Prophets and their followers on one side, and the disbelievers on the other?
A: First: What is seen in the theatrical performances that are staged, which are characterized by amusement, embellishment of speech, and artificiality in movements and the like, all of which attracts attention, inclines the hearts of the audience, and seizes their emotions, even if this leads to twisting the words of the person being depicted, or distorting them, or adding to them. This is not fitting in itself, let alone when it involves a person or a group depicting the Prophets, their Companions, and their followers in what they utter in calling and conveying the message, and in the worship and jihad they perform to fulfill the obligation and support Islam. Second: Those who engage in acting are generally not careful about truthfulness and do not adorn themselves with noble Islamic morals. They have boldness in taking risks and do not care about slipping into what is not fitting, as long as it achieves their purpose of captivating people, gaining material wealth, and appearing successful in the eyes of the vast majority of spectators. If they depict the Companions and the like, this leads to mocking and ridiculing them, attacking their honor, diminishing their status, and destroying the awe and dignity they hold in the hearts of Muslims.
Third: If it is assumed that the performance is for two sides, the side of the disbelievers, such as Pharaoh and Abu Jahl and those of their ilk, and the side of the believers, such as Musa and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them) and their followers, then the one who depicts the disbelievers will take their place and speak with their tongues, uttering words of disbelief, directing insults and curses at the Prophets, and accusing them of lying, sorcery, and madness, etc. He will belittle the dreams of the Prophets and their followers and slander them with every evil and slander that his soul suggests, just as Pharaoh and Abu Jahl and their like did with the Prophets and their followers. This is not in the form of narrating their stories, but in the form of uttering the very words of disbelief and misguidance they spoke. This is if they do not add from themselves what makes the scene more horrific and increases its ugliness and slander; otherwise, the crime of the depiction would be more severe and its harm greater. This leads to consequences that are not to be praised, such as disbelief, corruption in society, and disparaging the Prophets and the righteous. Fourth: The claim that this theatrical presentation of what happened between the Muslims and the disbelievers is a successful means of conveying the message, an effective call, and a lesson from history is a claim refuted by reality. And even if it were true, its evil would outweigh its good, and its harm would exceed its benefit. What is such must be prohibited and the thinking behind it must be eradicated. Fifth: The means of conveying the message and calling to Islam and spreading it among people are many, and the Prophets have outlined them for their nations, and they have borne ripe fruit: support for
Islam, and honor for the Muslims. The reality of history has proven this. So let us follow that straight path, the path of those upon whom Allah has bestowed favor, from among the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. And let us be content with that, rather than what is closer to play and satisfying desire and whim than to seriousness and high ambition. To Allah belongs the command, before and after, and He is the best of judges. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: What is the ruling on depicting the Prophets (peace and blessings be upon them), the Companions, and the Successors (may Allah be pleased with them)? And what about depicting the Prophets and their followers on one side, and the disbelievers on the other?
A: First: What is seen in the theatrical performances that are staged, which are characterized by amusement, embellishment of speech, and artificiality in movements and the like, all of which attracts attention, inclines the hearts of the audience, and seizes their emotions, even if this leads to twisting the words of the person being depicted, or distorting them, or adding to them. This is not fitting in itself, let alone when it involves a person or a group depicting the Prophets, their Companions, and their followers in what they utter in calling and conveying the message, and in the worship and jihad they perform to fulfill the obligation and support Islam. Second: Those who engage in acting are generally not careful about truthfulness and do not adorn themselves with noble Islamic morals. They have boldness in taking risks and do not care about slipping into what is not fitting, as long as it achieves their purpose of captivating people, gaining material wealth, and appearing successful in the eyes of the vast majority of spectators. If they depict the Companions and the like, this leads to mocking and ridiculing them, attacking their honor, diminishing their status, and destroying the awe and dignity they hold in the hearts of Muslims.
Third: If it is assumed that the performance is for two sides, the side of the disbelievers, such as Pharaoh and Abu Jahl and those of their ilk, and the side of the believers, such as Musa and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them) and their followers, then the one who depicts the disbelievers will take their place and speak with their tongues, uttering words of disbelief, directing insults and curses at the Prophets, and accusing them of lying, sorcery, and madness, etc. He will belittle the dreams of the Prophets and their followers and slander them with every evil and slander that his soul suggests, just as Pharaoh and Abu Jahl and their like did with the Prophets and their followers. This is not in the form of narrating their stories, but in the form of uttering the very words of disbelief and misguidance they spoke. This is if they do not add from themselves what makes the scene more horrific and increases its ugliness and slander; otherwise, the crime of the depiction would be more severe and its harm greater. This leads to consequences that are not to be praised, such as disbelief, corruption in society, and disparaging the Prophets and the righteous. Fourth: The claim that this theatrical presentation of what happened between the Muslims and the disbelievers is a successful means of conveying the message, an effective call, and a lesson from history is a claim refuted by reality. And even if it were true, its evil would outweigh its good, and its harm would exceed its benefit. What is such must be prohibited and the thinking behind it must be eradicated. Fifth: The means of conveying the message and calling to Islam and spreading it among people are many, and the Prophets have outlined them for their nations, and they have borne ripe fruit: support for
Islam, and honor for the Muslims. The reality of history has proven this. So let us follow that straight path, the path of those upon whom Allah has bestowed favor, from among the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. And let us be content with that, rather than what is closer to play and satisfying desire and whim than to seriousness and high ambition. To Allah belongs the command, before and after, and He is the best of judges. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.