Part of the problem is that this is a Shi’ite production, and so Sunnis are enraged. But what is ironic about this accusation of blasphemy charge is that the film is a sanitized, whitewashed version of Muhammad’s life, produced for the purpose of proselytizing. But even that isn’t good enough: now filmmaker Majid Majidi and composer AR Rahman must live in fear for their lives — and live with accusations that their marriages are invalid, as a Muslim cannot be married to a blasphemer: “The fatwa further added all the Muslims involved in the making of the film, especially Rahman and Majidi have committed blasphemy and are required to recite kalma and solemnise their marriage again.” “Recite kalma” refers to the six kalimas, prayers that include the Islamic profession of faith and other statements embodying the core tenets of Islam.
“Fatwa issued against AR Rahman for film on Prophet Muhammad (pbuh),” Express Tribune, September 11, 2015:
A Mumbai-based Sunni Muslim group has accused Oscar-winning music composer AR Rahman and Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi of blasphemy for their upcoming film Muhammad: Messenger of God.
The group of Raza Academy has issued a fatwa demanding Muslims to reject the first film of the trilogy on the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as no visual or picture of him can be created or kept, reports Indian Express.
The fatwa further added all the Muslims involved in the making of the film, especially Rahman and Majidi have committed blasphemy and are required to recite kalma and solemnise their marriage again.
The group has written to the Home Minister and Maharashtra Chief Minister to seek a ban on Majidi’s film as it is a mockery of Islam and has casted non-Muslim actors in key roles….