# The Message > 1976 English film about Islam by Moustapha Akkad **Wikidata**: [Q588464](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q588464) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Message_(1976_film)) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-message ## Summary The Message is a 1976 English-language epic biographical film about Islam, directed by Moustapha Akkad. The film depicts the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the early origins of Islam, featuring a cast that includes Syrian actress Muna Wassef and Moroccan actor Mohammed Hassan El Joundi. It was produced with significant involvement from Libya and filmed across multiple North African and Middle Eastern countries including Morocco, Lebanon, and Syria. ## Key Facts - **Title**: The Message (also known as Mohammad, Messenger of God, or simply Message) - **Release Year**: 1976 - **Director**: Moustapha Akkad - **Language**: English - **Subject**: Islam and the life of the Prophet Muhammad - **Film Genres**: Biographical film, drama film, war film, epic film, adventure film - **Production Countries**: Libya (primary funder), United Kingdom, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria - **Key Cast Members**: Muna Wassef (Syrian actress), Mohammed Hassan El Joundi (Moroccan actor) - **Publication/Release Dates**: Multiple release dates spanning 1976-1986, including July 30, 1976; January 31, 1977; March 9, 1977; July 8, 1977; July 14, 1977; September 9, 1977; October 31, 1977; March 20, 1978; March 28, 1978; July 26, 1979; October 1979; June 13, 1986 - **Wikidata Description**: 1976 English film about Islam by Moustapha Akkad - **Sitelink Count**: 37 ## FAQs **What is The Message (1976) about?** The Message is an epic biographical film about Islam, depicting the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the founding of the Islamic faith. It covers the early history of Islam and the significant events that shaped the religion's origins. **Who directed The Message?** The film was directed by Moustapha Akkad, who is known for his work on this significant cinematic portrayal of Islamic history. **Where was The Message filmed?** The film was produced with involvement from multiple countries including Libya, the United Kingdom, Morocco, Lebanon, and Syria. These countries provided production support, filming locations, and cast members. **Who stars in The Message?** The film features notable actors including Muna Wassef, a Syrian actress, and Mohammed Hassan El Joundi, a Moroccan actor. The international cast reflects the film's production across several Middle Eastern and North African nations. **When was The Message released?** The film was initially released in 1976, with multiple subsequent releases through 1986. The first release occurred on July 30, 1976, followed by numerous other dates in 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1986. **What genres does The Message fall under?** The Message is classified as a biographical film, drama film, war film, epic film, and adventure film. Its epic scope and historical subject matter place it within multiple film genre categories. **What is the significance of Libya's involvement in the film?** Libya served as a primary production partner and funder for The Message. The country has historical ties dating back to various periods including the Kingdom of Libya (established December 24, 1951), the Libyan Arab Republic (from September 1, 1969), and the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (from March 2, 1977). ## Why It Matters The Message holds significant importance as one of the first major English-language films to depict the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the origins of Islam on a grand cinematic scale. Directed by Moustapha Akkad, the film represents a rare attempt to bring Islamic history to international audiences through the medium of epic cinema. The production's international scope—with involvement from Libya, the United Kingdom, Morocco, Lebanon, and Syria—demonstrates the cross-cultural collaboration that went into creating a film about a foundational figure in Islamic history. This multinational approach allowed for authentic casting and location filming across regions with deep historical connections to Islamic civilization. The film's release across multiple dates from 1976 through 1986 indicates its sustained relevance and continued distribution in various markets. Its classification across multiple genres—biographical, drama, war, epic, and adventure—reflects its ambitious scope in covering a pivotal period in religious and world history. By featuring actors from Syria (Muna Wassef) and Morocco (Mohammed Hassan El Joundi), the film brought Middle Eastern and North African talent to an international production, contributing to cross-cultural exchange in the film industry during the 1970s. ## Notable For - First major English-language epic film about the life of the Prophet Muhammad - Multinational production involving five countries across North Africa and the Middle East - Directed by Moustapha Akkad, a filmmaker specifically associated with this Islamic historical subject - Extensive international release schedule spanning a decade (1976-1986) - Cast featuring prominent Syrian and Moroccan actors in leading roles - Produced with significant Libyan funding and support during the era of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya - Classification as five distinct film genres (biographical, drama, war, epic, adventure), indicating broad appeal and versatile storytelling ## Body ### Production Background The Message was conceived and produced as an ambitious cinematic undertaking to bring the story of Islam's origins to international audiences. Director Moustapha Akkad specifically chose to tackle this subject matter, resulting in one of the most significant films about Islamic history ever produced in the English language. The production involved a unique collaboration between multiple nations, each contributing different resources to the project. Libya served as the primary financial backer and production partner, with the country being governed during this period by the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (established March 2, 1977). The United Kingdom provided production infrastructure and served as the base for the English-language production. Morocco, Lebanon, and Syria contributed cast members, filming locations, and cultural authenticity to the project. ### Cast and Crew The film features notable talent from across the Middle East and North Africa. Muna Wassef, a Syrian actress, brings her acting expertise to the production. Syria, a country with deep historical roots dating back to March 8, 1920, has a rich cultural heritage that informed the film's authentic representation of the region. Mohammed Hassan El Joundi, a Moroccan actor, also appears in the film. Morocco's history as a sovereign state dates back to the Idrisid dynasty around 789 CE, with subsequent dynasties including the Saadi dynasty (1549) and the 'Alawi dynasty (1631). The country gained independence from French and Spanish protectorates in 1956, and this modern-era Morocco provided significant talent to the production. ### Release and Distribution The Message was released multiple times over nearly a decade, indicating its commercial viability and ongoing relevance. The initial release occurred on July 30, 1976, with subsequent releases on January 31, 1977; March 9, 1977; July 8, 1977; July 14, 1977; September 9, 1977; October 31, 1977; March 20, 1978; March 28, 1978; July 26, 1979; October 1979; and June 13, 1986. This extensive release schedule across ten years demonstrates the film's sustained appeal in various markets and its importance to distributors. The multiple release dates may reflect different distribution agreements in various countries or re-releases for anniversary screenings. ### Genre Classification The film is uniquely classified under five distinct genres: biographical film, drama film, war film, epic film, and adventure film. This multifaceted classification reflects the film's complex narrative that covers biographical elements of the Prophet's life, dramatic storytelling, war sequences depicting early Islamic conflicts, epic-scale production values, and adventure elements inherent in the historical narrative. The epic film classification is particularly significant, as the genre typically encompasses large-scale productions with sweeping scope and spectacle—appropriate for depicting the founding of a major world religion. ### Historical and Cultural Context The production of The Message in the 1970s occurred during a period of significant political development in the Middle East and North Africa. Libya, the primary production partner, had undergone recent transformation from the Kingdom of Libya (established December 24, 1951) to the Libyan Arab Republic in 1969, and finally to the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in 1977. The involvement of Lebanon—a country with modern independence dating to November 22, 1943—and Syria (independence from 1920) in the production reflects the interconnected nature of the Arab world during this period and the shared interest in presenting Islamic history to international audiences. ### Legacy and Significance The Message remains notable for its pioneering approach to depicting Islamic history on film. Its sitelink count of 37 indicates ongoing digital presence and relevance in online knowledge repositories. The film's title variations (The Message, Mohammad, Messenger of God, Message) reflect its multiple identities in different markets and its attempt to reach diverse audiences with varying levels of familiarity with the subject matter. By producing an English-language film about Islam's origins, Moustapha Akkad created a work that bridged cultural and religious divides, making the history of Islam accessible to international audiences who might not otherwise engage with the subject through traditional means. ## References 1. Letterboxd 2. [Source](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074896/releaseinfo) 3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 4. [Source](https://msry3net.com/%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AA%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%B5%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A9/) 5. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074896/parentalguide) 6. Kinopoisk 7. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020 8. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/47405) 9. The Movie Database 10. Trakt.tv 11. FilmVandaag.nl