Word: propheteer
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Producer-Director Moustapha Akkad was confronted by a unique problem: the strict Muslim prohibition against representing the Prophet's face or form, or even his voice-in any medium. A wiser or less determined man might have bailed out right there, but Akkad, 43, a Syrian-born American who studied film making at U.C.L.A., pressed on, raising $17 million from Arab sources to make two versions of the story, one in English, the other in Arabic. His actors constantly address an empty space where the audience must imagine a silent Prophet to be standing...
Most of the film's three-hour length is taken up with a camel's-pace exposition of the troubles encountered by the Prophet's disciples when their monotheism threatened the economic health of Mecca, which in the 7th century A.D. was in the graven-image business-attracting pilgrims to the shrines of some 300 local gods. The tortures, exiles and triumphs of the Prophet's followers are accompanied by much pacifistic blather-at least in the version for infidels. The intent is to counteract the Western belief that Islam is a faith that comes bearing...
...also lies at the heart of Arab protests. Grand Sheik Abdel Halim Mahmoud of Al Azhar University in Cairo, has said: "The Koran is revelation, and the life of the Prophet is a divine commentary on that revelation. The idea of them being portrayed by others is particularly offensive." American viewers may find the theological objections of the faithful difficult to fathom. But they will have to accord them high marks as movie critics...
...throng at Chicago's gold-domed central mosque on Survival Day weekend. No longer is Fard to be considered divine, according to Wallace, for "God does not eat, he does not drink." Nor is Elijah Muhammad to be considered the "Messenger of God." Wallace's view: "The Prophet Mohammed is the seal of the prophets, and the Koran is the last book." The soft-spoken Wallace Muhammad, who had originally wanted to be an electronics technician, privately questioned Fard's divinity as early as 1955. Twice his father expelled him from the sect for this heresy...
...little like Sunday morning. The choir sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Bishop William Cannon delivered some Methodist thunder. There was wisdom from the prophet Micah. Jimmy led the discussion about hope, humility and sacrifice. Archbishop John Roach closed the service with a touch of Roman Catholic poetry. Then Jimmy and Rosalynn walked hand in hand back home down the avenue...