At a glance
- Identifiers
- Wikidataimdbelcinema
- Review
- Draft Completeness 2/5 · Help complete it
Figurative depictions of prophets are never shown in this museum.
Screening Room
- Format
- Series · About Islam
- Countries
- SA
- Languages
- ar (original) · fa (dubbed) · tr (dubbed) · ur (dubbed) · id (dubbed)
- Approach
- historical drama
- Depiction of sacred figures
- The Prophet: Not shown · Companions: Shown · Imams: Shown (The Prophet is never shown; Companions including Ali are played by actors — a depiction Sunni religious authorities have often objected to.)
- Titles in other languages
- عمرOmarFarouk Omar
Reception
- Fatwa. Al-Azhar's Islamic Research Academy and Saudi Dar al-Ifta opposed the series for depicting the Companions; other scholars including Salman al-Ouda and Yusuf al-Qaradawi approved it.
- Protest. Pre-broadcast campaign against the series ('No to showing Farouk Omar'); defenders argued dramatising the Companions has precedent.
Where to watch officially: No official link recorded. · Listed, not endorsed.
Check it against the record:Umar ibn al-Khattab · Muhammad
Overview
"Omar" is a historical drama series released in 2012, produced in Saudi Arabia, directed by Hatem Ali. Its leading performers include Samer Ismail, Ghassan Massoud, Ghanem Zrelli, Qasim Melho and Fethi Haddaoui. An MBC historical series following the life of Umar ibn al-Khattab from the pre-Islamic period to his martyrdom as caliph; the Prophet does not appear on screen and his voice is not heard. 1 2
Context and reception
This work deals with Umar ibn al-Khattab, Muhammad, the Prophetic era, the era of the rightly guided caliphs, Mecca, and Medina. It does not show the Prophet in person. It provoked documented protests. 3 4
Connections
- About
- Umar ibn al-Khattab· Muhammad
- Set in
- The Prophetic Era· The Rashidun Caliphate· Mecca· Medina
- Features
- Samer Ismail· Ghassan Massoud· Ghanem Zrelli· Qasim Melho· Fethi Haddaoui· Mohammed Hassan El Joundi· May Skaf· Muna Wassef
- Directed by
- Hatem Ali
- Written by
- Walid Saif
- Broadcast by
- MBC 1· Qatar TV
People and things also explored
The Hijra· The Conquest of Mecca (Fath Makka)· The death of Abdullah ibn Ubayy and the Prophet's prayer over him· The death of the Prophet· The Life of Muhammad· Muhammad: The Last Prophet· The Battle of Uhud· The Pledge of the Tree (Bay'at al-Ridwan)
Sources
- Wikidata
- IMDb
- Egypt Independent: Omar ibn al-Khattab TV series raises controversy
- Al Arabiya English: Saudi scholar slams critics of MBC's Omar ibn al-Khattab TV
- elCinema
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Omar”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/screen/umar-2012/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-17.