Islamic Preacher Osama al-Qoussy said that personating the Prophet Mohamed in drama benefits preaching.
In a phone call with a talk show aired on the privately-owned TV channel LTC on Sunday, Qoussy said, “First of all, I present nothing but the science I have. This is my personal science that could be right or wrong.”
“I approve of personating the Prophet in movies and television series. The religious institution does not have evidence of prohibiting the personification,” Qoussy added.
He went on to say that “the benefits of personating the Prophet outweigh the evils. Moreover, personification did not exist during the Prophet's era. Constructive art is development. Movies not bearing offense against the Prophet assist in spreading the prophetic biography.”
Egypt has recently banned Ridley Scott's biblical epic "Exodus: Gods & Kings." A statement issued by the Culture Ministry later explained the decision saying that the film included several fallacies and that it provided a reading of Egypt's history that is at odds with the story of Moses told by the three monotheistic religions. In March, the Hollywood blockbuster “Noah” starring Russell Crowe was banned from screening as the Al-Azhar Institute decided the movie violated Islam by portraying a prophet. In the past, “The Da Vinci Code” starring Tom Hanks was also banned after protests from the Orthodox Coptic Church.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
