Fatwa against A.R. Rahman

Objecting to an Iranian film Muhammad: Messenger of God, a Muslim group here has issued a fatwa against all those involved in the project, including renowned Iranian director Majid Majidi and music composer A.R. Rahman.

"We are against the title. People may use it in a bad manner if they don't like the film, which will mean an insult to the Prophet. The actors have charged money to act in the film and they may have dubious character in real life. How can we Muslims allow such things to happen?" asked Saeed Noorie, chief of Raza Academy, which initiated the fatwa that was issued by Muhammad Akhtar - the chief mufti of Mumbai.

The fatwa against Mr. Majidi, Mr. Rahman and other co-workers of this film have asked them to read kalma again and solemnise their marriage once more. "They have erred and they must apologise," he said.

When it was pointed out that most members of the film's crew were Muslim, Mr. Noorie said that it was more important to make them realise their mistake. "We would have been criticised if we had condemned American or Danish filmmakers. If it's an insult, then it is an insult and the person's religion doesn't matter," he said.

Mr. Noorie said the Raza Academy will be meeting Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to demand a ban on this film in India. "We demand that the government file a case against Mr. Rahman for hurting the feelings of Muslims," he said.

The fatwa also asks Muslims to stage protests against the film within the legal' limits and publicly condemn it.

The 56-year-old Majidi, one of Iran's celebrated filmmakers along with Mohsen Makhmalbaf, has directed films like Children of Heaven, which was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the 1998 Academy Awards, The Color of Paradise, and Baran. He is also currently working on a film on Kashmir.

After long time here

Ban or something like that maybe?

Children of heaven was remade by Priyadarshan starring Darsheel Safary, the one about running shoes.

Haven't seen Color of Paradise but I loved Song of Sparrows and Baran. Especially Baran. It was an excellent film. You like watching persian movies? Do you know some good persian movies that you can recommend me?

Fatwa- in gentle form, is a student asking for a guidance to his teacher. Like a cricketer go to his mulla, maulvi, ulema etc.. and asks him he cant do 5 times namaaz. and the cleric will advice him what to do. Thats a fatwa. (guidance)

To its extreme form, its a death threat. Thats what make the news. U challenge our Quran or the words of Allah, ur head will be cut off. So much for religion of peace and tolerance. Indian author Salman Rushdie has fatwa on his head for 25 years for writting a novel "Satanic Verses". Bangladeshi female author has fatwa on her head for pointing out malpractices of Islam and her liberal view. Danish cartoonist is still under protection for sketching muhammad's pic. Some have died for doing that. There r so many died in islamic countries under the name of fatwa.

So much for religion of peace and tolerance which came into existance in 4th century? Where was Allah b4 then? Sleeping?

Do not threaten AR Rahman. He is India's pride. Backlash will be from ppl who blv in all religions or none at all.

If the movie is bad, ppl will call it bad... just like a guy named Muhammad is a bad buy, he will be called asshole.

Irony is, shia and sunnis have diff. types of fatwa.. and fatwa is discussed amongst the so-called clerics, they all have diff verdicts. hahahaha. A sting operation in India busted that fatwa discussions r also bribed. 😆

He didn't make the movie? 😕

While A.R. Rahman is a part of the Bollywood film industry, this Iranian movie and any news associated with it is not relevant to BW. As a result, the BW forum is not an appropriate platform to have said discussion and this thread is being closed.