The Message (Story Of Islam)

The Message (1976)
Director: Mustapha AQAD
Runtime: 02:51:00


* Cast :

* Anthony Quinn - Hamza
* Irene Papas - Hind
* Michael Ansara - Abu Sufyan
* Michael Forest - Khalid
* Johnny Sekka - Bilal
* Donald Burton - Ammar
* Ewen Solon - Yasir
* André Morell - Abu-Talib
* Wolfe Morris - Abu-Lahab
* Rosalie Crutchley - Sumayyah
* Damien Thomas - Zayd




The Message is a 1976 film directed by Moustapha Akkad, chronicling the life and times of the prophet of Islam, Muhammad. Released in both Arabic and English, Mohammad, Messenger of God serves as an introduction to early Islamic history.


Director Akkad faced resistance from Hollywood to making a film about the origins of Islam and had to go outside the United States to raise the production money for the film. Lack of financing nearly shut down the film as the initial backers pulled out, financing was finally provided by Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi. The film was shot in Libya and Morocco, with production taking four and a half months to build the cities of Mecca and Medina as they looked in Muhammad's time.


The film follows Muhammad's first years as a prophet starting with the Islam's beginnings in Mecca in which the Muslims are persecuted, the exodus to Medina, and ending with the Muslims' triumphant return to Mecca. A number of crucial events, such as the Battle of Badr and Battle of Uhud are depicted, and the majority of the story is told from the point-of-view of peripheral individuals such as Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib (Muhammad's uncle), Abu Sufyan (the leader of Mecca) and his wife Hind bint Utbah (enemies of Islam who later become Muslims themselves).


The film was nominated for an Oscar in 1977 for Best Music, Original Score for the music by Maurice Jarre.


In October 2008, producer Oscar Zoghbi revealed plans to "revamp the 1976 movie and give it a modern twist," according to IMDB and the World Entertainment News Network. He hopes to shoot the remake, tentatively titled The Messenger of Peace, in the cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.