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Featuring the role of non-Muslims in an Islamic movie

Question

Salaam alaikum, We are a group of youngsters, who are actively involved in Da'wah. So for the means of Da'wah, we've planned for making a Short-Movie based on a real incident. In the film, we show a Muslim acting as Christian without uttering their words of belief, but appearing like them wearing Cross. In the later part of the film, he is shown to be impressed by Muslims' character and accepting Islam. In this context, is it allowed to make such film where a Muslim acts like Christian? Please guide us.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

We have already issued Fatwa 87330 clarifying that it is a condition in featuring (a film) that it should be free from any religious prohibitions. Among these prohibitions is for a Muslim to play the role of a non-Muslim, as this is not permissible.

The decision of the Islamic Fiqh (Jurisprudence) Academy about featuring the Companions  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them reads, “This may include some actors featuring the role of non-Muslims who fought against the Companions or who tortured some of them. It may also include uttering words of disbelief that take a person out of the fold of Islam, like swearing by the idols Al-Laat and Al-‘Uzza, or words that belittle or defame the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) and what he came with; these words are not permissible to utter or to confirm by any Muslim.

Also, the Permanent Committee for Scientific Research and Iftaa’ (Islamic rulings) in Saudi Arabia issued the same Fatwa. Their statement reads, "If these plays that represent a conference or a Masonic and Zionist forum whose owner plots against Islam and such plays include what has been mentioned, such as someone who represents them speaking words of disbelief or similar evil things in order to portray the reality of the conference or forum, as if one is seeing it with his own eyes, in order to expose its reality to the audience, then the play in this manner is impermissible. Rather, it is evil even if it is intended to achieve the desired goal of this play. Indeed, clarifying the truth and exposing the conspiracies of the conference organizers and their goal and their plots against Islam and the Muslims do not depend on this play or drama."

Nonetheless, you should continue to call people to Islam, as this is one of the great means of drawing closer to Allaah. In doing so, you should make use of permissible means as they are so many, and all perfect praise be to Allaah.

For more, please refer to Fatwa 88555.

Allaah Knows best.

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