The General Authority of Senior Scholars at Al-Azhar University in Egypt has issued a fatwa banning the viewing of the historical drama Muawiya, which is set to air during this year’s Ramadan TV season after being delayed for two years.
The prohibition is due to the series’ portrayal of the Muslim prophet’s companions, a matter which the authority deems religiously inappropriate.
Al-Azhar is the top Sunni Muslim religious authority in the world.
Abdel Fattah Abdel Ghani Al-Awari, a member of the General Authority of Senior Scholars, tod local Egyptian media that depicting the character of Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan – one of the Prophet Muhammad’s scribes and the fifth caliph – is “religiously unacceptable.” He emphasised that the companions of the Prophet should not be depicted in any form of dramatic production.
Al-Awari explained that “historical disagreements concerning leadership and the caliphate are divine matters and should not be turned into a drama open to differing interpretations.”
He also raised concerns about the direction of future productions, questioning: “What will the actors do next? Will they portray other figures and events that contradict Islamic law?”
The General Authority of Senior Scholars has yet to issue an official statement on the series via its social media channels.
The decision to air Muawiya has sparked a wave of debate online, particularly due to the portrayal of several key historical figures, including three of the ten companions promised paradise in the Islamic tradition, two members of the Prophet’s family and wives, and the daughters of the Prophet. Al-Azhar has consistently opposed the depiction of these groups in cinema and television.
On Tuesday, the Saudi MBC Group, responsible for the production of the series, released a promotional trailer titled The Historical Epic (Muawiya): The Story of the Empire That Wrote an Unforgettable History from East to West, which was also shared on the Shahid streaming platform.
The trailer provides insight into the series, describing an era that “historians have disagreed upon, an empire stretching from east to west, a reign combining cunning and strength, and a political epic that shaped unforgettable history.” It also hints at Muawiya’s transformation from a scribe of the revelation to the first king of Islam.
The Shahid platform, part of the MBC Group, released of the first teaser trailer for Muawiya, which is slated to air during Ramadan 2025, which begins on Saturday in most Muslim countries.
The series was delayed due to the historical controversy surrounding its events. With a production budget of $100 million, Muawiya is one of the largest Arab drama productions to date. The series stars Lujain Ismail as Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, alongside Eyad Nassar, Ayman Zidan, Wael Sharaf, Samer Al-Masri, and Sawsan Badr.
Filming took place in Tunisia at locations designed to resemble the early Islamic eras. Despite its historical significance, the series has stirred considerable controversy due to its depiction of the Great Fitna (the first civil war in Islam).
Originally planned for release in Ramadan 2023, the series, presented in Modern Standard Arabic, is estimated to have cost around $100 million.
The roles of the second and third caliphs, Umar ibn al-Khattab and Uthman ibn Affan, along with Amr ibn al-As and Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, are played by Syrians Samer Al-Masri, Ayman Zidan, Wael Sharaf, and Fadi Sabih, with Saudi Naif Al-Dhafiri portraying Al-Hasan ibn Ali. Tunisian Suhair Bin Amara takes the role of Hind bint Utbah, while Egyptian Asmaa Galal plays Muawiya’s wife.
Other cast members include Jordanian Saba Mubarak, Egyptian Ahmed Bedeir, Syrian Yazan Khalil, and Tunisians Aisha Bin Ahmed, Jamila Al-Shayhi, Mohamed Quraish, Hakim Belkahla, Yassine Ben Qamra, and Ghanem Al-Zarli.
The holy Muslim month of Ramadan is when most Arabic tv series are aired and is the most coveted prime time for networks across the region.
