At a glance

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Images of Islam Images and figural art

Screening Room

Format: Film · About Islam
Released: 1976 CE · 1396 AH†
Countries: LB · LY · KW · MA · GB
Languages: ar (original) · en (original) · tr (dubbed)
Approach: historical drama
Depiction of sacred figures: The Prophet: Not shown · Companions: Some shown · Imams: Not applicable (Scenes addressing the Prophet are filmed from his point of view.)
Titles in other languages: الرسالةThe MessageÇağrı

Reception

Approval — al-Azhar, as stated in the film's opening title, 1976 CE · 1396 AH†. Later reported as withdrawn. Both statements are to be recorded with sources.Debated
Objection — Muslim World League
Ban (SA, EG, KW). Bans in several countries are reported; their dates and lifting are to be sourced.
Protest. The 1977 Hanafi siege in Washington D.C. — 149 hostages taken partly in protest at the film, wrongly believed to depict the Prophet.
Other. Retrospective assessments: NPR's 40-year reappraisal calls the once-controversial film a classic; the NYT's 1977 review was hostile.
Other. Announced 2008: a Hollywood remake ('The Messenger of Peace') was scripted; it never materialised.

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

Check it against the record:Muhammad · The Hijra · The Battle of Badr · The Battle of Uhud

Summary

The Message (al-Risala) is a historical drama film released in 1976, produced by Lebanon, Libya, Kuwait and Morocco, directed by Moustapha Akkad and Andrew Marton. Its leading actors include Anthony Quinn, Irene Papas, Michael Ansara, Johnny Sekka and Michael Forest. It is an epic film about the birth of Islam. It was shot in two versions, Arabic and English, with different actors, and the Prophet is neither seen nor heard in it ¹ ².

Context and reception

The work deals with Muhammad, the Hijra, the Battle of Badr, the Battle of Uhud, the Prophetic era and Mecca. The Prophet does not appear in person. al-Azhar endorsed it, as stated in the film's opening title ¹. The Muslim World League objected to it ¹. It was banned from screening in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Kuwait ¹. It drew documented protests ³ ⁴.

Connections

Explore the connections

About: Muhammad· The Hijra· The Battle of Badr· The Battle of Uhud
Set in: The Prophetic Era· Mecca· Medina
Features: Anthony Quinn· Irene Papas· Michael Ansara· Johnny Sekka· Michael Forest· Richard Johnson· André Morell· Robert Brown
Directed by: Moustapha Akkad· Andrew Marton
Written by: H.A.L. Craig· Tawfiq al-Hakim· Abdel Hamid Gouda al-Sahhar· Abdurrahman Ahmed Şerkavi

People and things also explored

Umar ibn al-Khattab· The Hijra· Muhammad· The Pledges of Aqaba· The early Muslim community· Abdullah ibn Mas'ud· Aisha bint Abi Bakr· Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas

Sources

Wikidata
IMDb
The Atlantic: 'The Message': The Movie About Islam That Sparked a Hostage
The Telegraph: The director who dared to make a film about the Prophet Moha

elCinema

Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “The Message”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/screen/al-risala-1976/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-22.

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Umar ibn al-Khattab

Second caliph (634–644); under his rule the early community conquered Syria, Egypt and much of the Sasanian Empire. Remembered in Sunni tradition as al-Faruq, the model of just rule. ومن مناقبه في الصحيح القصر الذي رآه له النبي في الجنة فأخلى النظر إليه حياءً لغيرته ، ولبن الرؤيا الذي أوله النبي بالعلم فناوله إياه. ويروي هو صعوده إلى مشربة النبي حين اعتزل أزواجه فرأى أثر الحصير في جنبه فبكى فقال له «أما ترضى أن تكون لهم الدنيا ولنا الآخرة». ورأى حلة سيراء عند باب المسجد فعرضها على النبي ليلبسها يوم الجمعة وللوفد فقال «إنما يلبسها من لا خلاق له في الآخرة» ثم أهداها إليه بعد فكساها أخاً له مشركاً بمكة.