If a viewer were to watch this film without prior knowledge of early Islamic history, they would think that Muhammad and the other leaders of Islam took vows of celibacy in a similar vein as Catholicism (Bakker 82). Because of the lack of female Muslim characters, the period spent away from Mecca in the film is completely dominated my male characters. From that point on there are no prominent female Muslim characters in the film. However, Somaya does not play a larger role in the film, as she is murdered a few scenes later as one of the first martyrs of Islam. His parents then convert to Islam in hope for a religion that has more rights for women.
THE MESSAGE 1976 FILM FULL
Somaya explains her family history with female infanticide, recounting that her two older sisters had been buried and not been able to live a full life. It is not until his mother Somaya (Rosalie Crutchley) speaks out saying how cruel to women the religion they currently practice has been does the father begin to open his mind. Nothing he says is persuading his father. Zaid gives an impassioned defense of the message Muhammad is spreading, saying how it really is not as bad or controversial as the others are making it out to be. They question him on where he has been and ridicule him for staying out and listening to Muhammad’s teachings. One of Muhammad’s earlier followers, Zaid (Damien Thomas) comes home late at night to meet his parents waiting up for him. This gender dynamic, limiting the role of women, is most apparent in one scene in particular.
The rare moment women are shown in the film, and are also Muhammad’s followers, stay in the periphery of the scene (Bakker 81). He observes how even Muhammad’s wives, who greatly impacted Islam’s development, have been removed from the film. Bakker touches upon this aspect in his essay on the film. Throughout the film, women are rarely shown on screen with those who do appear have small roles. The same perspective cannot be said for the one used in The Message, as Muslim women have effectively been removed from the story. Thus, much of what is known about Muhammad was originally told through the eyes of a woman. While men authored all of the chronicles on the life Muhammad, the source of their information, most often, was a woman (Roded 335). Not only did they play a direct role in the growth of the religion but also in advancing Muhammad’s profile as the Prophet. According to this biography, Muhammad’s wife Khadija was actually his first follower who, according to the source, assisted Muhammad both by strengthening him and by bringing down those who opposed him (Guillaume 155).
This is evident in the Life of Muhammad, the Messenger of God, a biography of the Prophet that Akkad relied on heavily when filming The Message. Women played an integral part in the beginning of Islam. This decision to adhere to these religious prohibitions had several unintended consequences on the story in the film, one of which was the limitation of the roles women play in The Message. In order to try to avoid this predicament, “Akkad decided to concentrate the film on the person of Muhammad’s Uncle Hamza ” (Bakker 78). The Message was extremely controversial when it was first being made because it was attempting to tell the story of Muhammad on-screen when there were (and still are) religious restrictions on the depiction or portrayal of the Prophet, his family, and many of his closest associates.
THE MESSAGE 1976 FILM MOVIE
Most of the conflict throughout the movie comes from people either giving Islam a chance, similar to the Emperor of Byzantium, or rejecting Islam, similar to the actions of the ruler of Persia. The movie, as a whole, depicts the ascent of Islam, beginning with the growth of Islam within Mecca, the hardships endured during the Muslim exile from Mecca, the establishment of the first mosque in Medina, and the military campaign against the pagans to return to Mecca in the early seventh century. It shows the ruler of Persia tearing the messengers’ note and rejecting the Message, while the Byzantine Emperor is shown giving the Message more consideration, even equating Muhammad to John the Baptist. This opening scene works as a summary of what the movie is all about. It opens with messengers riding through the stark landscape of the desert to bring the word of Muhammad to rulers outside Arabia so that they may ask that these powerful men convert to Islam. The film The Message, directed by Moustapha Akkad and produced by Filmco International Productions, was released in 1976 ().
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