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The Emigrant

المهاجر

Youssef Chahine's retelling of the Joseph story set in ancient Egypt; its release sparked a legal battle in Egypt over depicting Qur'anic prophets on screen.

Depth

At a glance

Identifiers
Wikidataimdb
Review
Draft Completeness 2/5 · Help complete it

Contested: This record includes matters on which scholars differ. The speaker's views are labelled as his, and other views are marked where no cited source yet exists.

ProphetsDissent, heresy and freethought

Screening Room

Format
Film · Muslim history or life carries the story
Released
1994 CE · 1415 AH†
Countries
EG · FR
Languages
ar (original)
Approach
historical drama
Depiction of sacred figures
The Prophet: Not applicable · Companions: Not applicable · Imams: Not applicable (The hero is named Ram, not Joseph — the film was made after the Prophet-depiction controversy it generated.)
Titles in other languages
المهاجرL'ÉmigréThe Emigrant

Reception

  • Ban (EG). A court order suspended Egyptian screenings; Chahine contested it, and the ban was later lifted on appeal.Historical

Where to watch officially: No official link recorded. · Listed, not endorsed.

Overview

"Al-Muhajir" is a historical drama film released in 1994, produced in Egypt and France, directed by Youssef Chahine. Its leading performers include Khaled El Nabawy, Michel Piccoli, Mahmoud Hemida, Yousra and Safia El Emary. Youssef Chahine's film inspired by the story of Joseph in ancient Egypt; it provoked a legal and media battle in Egypt over the depiction of the prophets of the Qur'an on screen, and its hero was stripped of his Qur'anic name. 1 2

Context and reception

It was banned in Egypt. 1

Connections

Explore the connections

Features
Khaled El Nabawy· Michel Piccoli· Mahmoud Hemida· Yousra· Safia El Emari
Directed by
Youssef Chahine
Written by
Youssef Chahine· Khaled Youssef

People and things also explored

Destiny· Alexandria· Cairo· Saladin the Victorious· Musaylima's apostasy and claim to prophethood at al-Yamama· Youssef Chahine· Abraham and the one who argued with him about his Lord· al-Amin, the Trustworthy (the Prophet's title before his mission)

Sources

  1. Wikidata
  2. IMDb
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “The Emigrant”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/screen/al-muhajir-1994/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-17.

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Related

Destiny

Youssef Chahine's film about Ibn Rushd in Almohad Cordoba on the eve of the burning of his books — a deliberate parallel with 1990s Egypt and religious militancy.