CAIRO, March 22, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – An intended attempt to produce a movie on the life of Jesus Christ (peace and blessings be upon him) has stirred a hot debate between Al-Azhar scholars who vehemently oppose the depiction of any Prophet and Christian activists who considered the rejection an interference in their private affairs.

"Al-Azhar (the Cairo-based oldest seat of learning in Sunni Islam) rejects the depiction of Christ in a film because he is not only the prophet of the Christians but also Muslims believe in him and all other prophets," Abdel Mooti Bayumi, a professor in Al-Azhar University, told IOL.

Islamic Researches Academy (IRA) of Al-Azhar had issued a fatwa, or religious edict, against any "depiction of Allah's prophets" including Jesus, secretary-general of the IRA Sheikh Ibrahim Attah Al-Fayoumi told IOL Tuesday, March 21.

"Prophets, chosen by Allah to deliver His message to mankind, should remain away from any disgrace. Accordingly, we should steer clear of depicting them," Dr. Mohamed Raafat Osman, an IRA member, agreed.

Sheikh Mohammed Al-Jazzar, former secretary-general of the Fatwa Committee in Al-Azhar, echoed a similar stance.

"We have not seen the prophets. They are sacred and respected figures. And since they are sacred, their depiction is rejected regardless of reasons of freedom of expression," he said.

The movie of Jesus Christ would open the door for similar movies of other prophets which will cause a big strife, Al-Jazzar added.

"If the movie aims at reminding the audience of Jesus Christ merits and characteristics, we can do that through the movie dialogue without depicting him," he noted.

"The ban on depicting prophets and companions is clear. As Muslims, we believe the religions and prophets are sacred," said Dr. Jamaludeen Mahmoud, a member of the IRA.

Depicting prophets is subject to flaws in scriptwriting, selection of cast and presenting historical facts which makes it a trade aimed at making profits, Mahmoud added.

Sheikh Massoud Sabri, researcher at the Shari'ah Section at IslamOnline.net, explained that acting is a form of art that was not contemporary to Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessing be upon him) and his companions.

"Accordingly, it is a modern issue that needs ijtihad (personal reasoning), especially there is no clear statement from the Noble Qur'an or Sunna (Prophetic tradition) to prohibit it and there is no analogy (qiyas)."

"Contemporary scholars agree that depicting prophets is haram (prohibited by Allah) since it would not be real and accordingly negatively affects their image. The rule says preventing harm has a priority over achieving gains," he said.

But IRA members denied that the academy officially rejected the movie of Jesus Christ, saying that it had not been forwarded for scrutiny.

"The academy does not scrutinize any drama or literary work until asked to do so by a specific party," said Al-Fayoumi.

Al-Azhar gives recommendations for such works and not binding decrees, he said, adding that it is the justice system that makes verdicts.

"Banning drama, art or literature works is the responsibility of censorship. It is not Al-Azhar business," he said.

Muslims believe that Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) was not crucified  and that God saved and raised him as someone else was crucified in his place.

Christian activists, however, hit back, saying making a movie on the life of Jesus Christ is not prohibited by the Christian dogma.

"Producing a movie on the life and pains of the Christ is not the first of its kind but would be the 30th on the international level," Coptic political activist Jamal Asaad told London-based ASharq Al-Awsat daily Monday, March 20.

The move is significant since it is the first Egyptian-Arab movie on Jesus Christ, he added.

The movie scriptwriter has a similar stance.

"Christian dogma does not prohibit the depiction of Christ, so what gives Al-Azhar the right to intervene?" charged Fayez Ghali, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Some churches in Egypt stage plays and screen movies on the life of Jesus Christ, activists said.

The film's producer, Mohammed Ashub, said it was not the business of Al-Azhar, which has not issued an official protest, to interfere in the making of the movie.

"Al-Azhar does not have the right to intervene in something which concerns the Christians, otherwise it would have to tear down the icons of Christ and the Virgin Mary from churches," he told AFP.

Ashub pointed out that several films on Jesus, including Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of The Christ', had been screened in Egyptian cinemas without any objection.

Ghali said the church would have a say in the choice of actors for the film, which has yet to start shooting.

But Asaad objected that the movie should be approved first by the Coptic Church before public screening, stressing that an artwork should not be censored.

Ashub said that actors selected for the movie, which narrates the journey of Jesus Christ in Egypt, would be first-timers and banned from playing in any future film.

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