The Ruling on Depicting the Companions and Prophets in Television Programs

Question:
What is Your Eminence’s view on some television programs that present religious dramas in which they depict the Companions, the Successors, and the Imams?

Answer:
This has been answered before, more than once. It has been established that depicting the Companions or the Prophets is not permissible. This was discussed in the section on the scholars and the founding council of the Association, and the brothers agreed that it is not permissible to depict the Companions, nor to depict the Prophets, anywhere. This leads to many evils; it may lead to lying about them, it may lead to depicting them with voices that are not suitable or befitting for them, and it may lead to mocking them and making fun of them. Therefore, this matter is not permissible, neither regarding the Prophets nor regarding the Companions. As for others, it is a matter for consideration. It may be permissible in some cases if the intention behind it is good and there is a general benefit for the Muslims. However, it is not permissible if it is a lie or a fabrication. So, in summary, the enactment is a matter for consideration and distinction. It may be permissible for some people who consider it permissible and see that there is no harm in it, if it is for a general benefit, such as portraying a person as a reformer, or a person who enjoins good and forbids evil, who speaks on his behalf in enjoining and forbidding and the like, until it is as if he is the one speaking. Some people argue for this by citing the story of the coming of Jibril in various surahs. It came in the surah of the Arab, it came in the surah of 'Urwah ibn al-Mas'ud, it came in the surah of Ibn Khalifah al-Kilabi, and it came in another surah, for reasons I have read, which is the wisdom of Allah the Exalted. This distinction regarding the view of the specialists requires care and direct study. As for photography, if one photographs a person, such as a picture of 'Umar or a picture of so-and-so, this is not permissible. The discussion is about the enactment, because it is an image. So, let a person stand and speak in the name of 'Umar, or in the name of so-and-so, or in the name of so-and-so. As for the image, it is never permissible. So, let him photograph an image of so-and-so or so-and-so or so-and-so, and let him speak thus and thus. All of that is fine, but if a person stands and says, "This is 'Umar speaking," or "This is Malik," or "This is al-Shafi'i," or "This is Ahmad," or "This is al-Azraqi," or "This is Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab," or "This is 'Abd al-Hamid speaking," acting on his behalf, from what image?
This is the matter for consideration: is this permissible or not permissible? As for Jibril, he is by the command of Allah, and others are not compared to him in this regard. The coming of Jibril and Jibril came with the truth, as a messenger from Allah the Exalted, in forms in which Allah’s wisdom is seen, so that people benefit from it and strive, ask, and speak, so that it is of the greatest benefit for them. This is a specific case, and I do not see that others are compared to it regarding Jibril and his coming to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).