The Majlis running for more than 50 years now protecting and promoting the Haqq had released the following volume, 48 years ago in Zhul-Hijjah 1396 (Roughly corresponding to 1976 November) with the headlines titled: Sacrilegious Film BANNED. As oppossed to the current world where scholars sell the Deen for a cheap price, searching for loopholes to bootlick and enjoy moments in bed with the government, this article amplifies the fact that when Muslims, specifically the Ulama oppose baatil together in one loud united voice then baatil suffocates due to oxygen deprivation of the true Muslim Ummah! However when baatil is given a space to breathe and is promoted as part of Deen, the entire creation suffers due to the displeasure of Allah Ta’laa, The All Mighty, The Creator.
Organisation’s in South Africa to campaign their so called ‘100 years’, the real promoters of television going against the principles of their founding forefather’s, present an obscured image, searching for credit to bounce back after hefty criticism was pounded on their necks for breaking the Shari’ah in so many ways, however this brave sacrilegious movie rejection was a worldwide collective effort from the Muslims. Below is the article verbatim for all to see:
THE SACRILEGIOUS FILM ORIGINALLY TITLED: MOHAMMED MESSENGER OF GOD, AND THEN ABORTIVELY CAMOUFLAGED WITH THE TITLE: THE MESSAGE, HAS BEEN BANNED IN SOUTH AFRICA
The film, ever since its intended introduction to South Africa was announced by Sterfilms, has remained the centre of a storm of indignant public (Muslim) outcry. Muslims, not only in South Africa, but the world over protested against the production of the film. Several Muslim states banned the screening of the film. The Ulama of the world unanimously issue Fatwas decrying and banning the film. So strong was the feeling against the Satanic and banning the film that eminent Islamic Authorities like Hazrat Allamah Yusuf Binnuri, Rector of Madrassah Arabiyyah, Karachi, Pakistan called for the sacrifice of life and blood to prevent the screening of the insult to Rasulullahﷺ
At the height of the furious protest campaign conducted by Muslims of South Africa. Sterfilms suggested that Muslim leaders view the film privately in order to give it a “fair” trial. But, the idea of Muslim participation in the film- no matter in which way and in how small a way – was met with a wall of opposition. The Ulama of the country rejected outrightedly any private viewing of the film since the Shariah bans the film in its entirety and not parts of it. (These transformed organisations who dont only permit television but also act in various television shows with strange females, would they have had the same stance should such a crisis occur? So how could they boast about such when they themselves have sold so many principles. Its just another ‘get back the recognition strategy’- Awake O Ummah.) Sterfilms then offered to sell the film to Muslims, but this too was firmly rejected.
Thousands of protest telegrams and letters from all over the Republic were sent to Sterfilms, the Publications Control Board and various other governmental authorities in a desperate bid to obtain a banning order on the film.
At times the adamancy of Sterfilms to introduce the film and screen it in South Africa caused relgious feelings to generate to such an extent that some Muslims even threatened to burn down cinemas screening the film.
Prior to the banning of the film, the Publications Control Board in Cape Town communicated with Sheikh Mohammed Nazeem requesting the Ulama interview the Board with a view to be present at at a preview of the film. Sheikh Nazeem informed the Board that the Ulama of the country will not participate in any preview of the film. The stand of the Ulama was made abundantly clear to the Board by Shiekh Nazeem who told the Board that the Ulama will never assent to be a party to “commercialsation of the Deen” which this film in fact is. Shiekh Nazeem also told the Board that the stand of the Ulama of the Republic is in line with the stand adopted by the Ulama of other Islamic countries.
Sterfilms has already intimated that it intends to appeal against the decision of the Board. However, the decision of the Muslim community will remain unchanged and firm in its rejection of and opposition to the film.
BANNING HEALTHY DECISION
The Jamiatul Ulama of Natal has welcomed the decision of the Publications Control Boards in banning the film based on the life of Rasulullah ﷺ.
Speaking to the Majlis, Moulana Yunus Patel said: “The Jamiatul Ulama Natal welcomes the decision of the Public Control Board banning the film THE MESSAGE as a farsighted and a healthy decision. The film has been rightly condemned by almost every Muslim organisation throughout the world as sacreligious. The pictorial depiction of the Noble companions of the Holy Prophet ﷺ
Mayet Assailed
The undue publicity given to the consensus of opinion over a dinner table of Dr Mayet, Mrs Mayet and some others of their flock that there is nothing objectionable in the film should not be given much attention as they are neither religious leaders nor authorised spokesmen for any responsible Muslim organisation.
Unislamic Opinion
The Muslim public is hereby advised to reject as baseless and false the un-Islamic opinions on the sacrilegious film (‘ The Message’) voiced by Dr. M.G.H. Mayet and Mr. A.K. Rajab of Durban. The opinion of these men is in contradiction to the opinion of Islam. Dr. Mayet and Mr. Rajab have considered it proper to clash with the Shariah of Allah Ta’ala by means of their un-Islamic, unwarranted and unsolicited opinions. The Muslim public must be made aware that Dr Mayet’s civic post and Mr. Rajab’s cinema post do not qualify them to interpret matters concerning the Shariah. These men hold no Islamic qualifications which could justify their passing opinions on the Shariah. The Muslim public must also know that Dr. Mayet and Mr. Rajab despite their lack of Islamic knowledge have considered it within the orbit of wisdom to contradict the unanimous opinion of Islam on the matter of this satanic film. The learned authorities of Islamic Law, the world over have reviled the film and branded it as sacrilegious and mockery of Rasulullah ﷺ.
