Movie or Mini-series about First Fitna

[Noncommunist]

Over the past couple days, my wikipedia meanderings led me to the early days of Islam as the empire was expanding and the first few Caliphs came along and ruled. It seemed most of the people involved were interesting characters who could definitely be seen in a number of different lights depending on who was writing the story.

So why haven't I seen any movies or mini-series about it? It seems like it could make an interesting plot with compelling characters and an end that starts the first major division in Islam. And in recent years, several other HBO mini-series have come out about the Borgias and the Tudors. Also, in recent years, people have probably learned a little more about Sunni and Shia simply from the news in Iraq and now Syria where those religious tensions have exploded into violence.

Could it be something that has a chance to catch on in the near future, or will it be too esoteric or religiously charged to be viewed by audiences or made by directors and producers?

[The Lurker Below]

There's no such thing as bad publicity - Phineas T. Barnum

frequently untrue.

[johnhughthom]

Who would want to make a mini series that would risk a fatwa being issued for some minor detail in the plot, then you change the detail and some other group issues another fatwa.

[Lazy O]

First fitna meaning the revolt right after the Prophet's death?

[Noncommunist]

First fitna meaning the revolt right after the Prophet's death?

The one that took place about 25-30 years after his death though pretty much everyone had known the Prophet. And it involved several people becoming and ceasing to become the Caliph till the Ummayads finally had a hold on the title.

Who would want to make a mini series that would risk a fatwa being issued for some minor detail in the plot, then you change the detail and some other group issues another fatwa.

I suppose you'd get that, not sure how effective the fatwa would be.

[Lazy O]

The one that took place about 25-30 years after his death though pretty much everyone had known the Prophet. And it involved several people becoming and ceasing to become the Caliph till the Ummayads finally had a hold on the title.




I suppose you'd get that, not sure how effective the fatwa would be.

Now I cannot know which event you are referring to ... Can you be a bit more specific? The Umayyads murdered Ali, the previous caliphs had also been murdered apart from Abu Bakr, thats a very long span of time .

[Mouzafphaerre]

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Who would want to make a mini series that would risk a fatwa being issued for some minor detail in the plot, then you change the detail and some other group issues another fatwa.

Made me chuckle. Bitterly true.
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[Brandy Blue]

Quite apart from the danger of fatwa, wouldn't it be morally irresponsible to stir up contraversy? Like the Middle East isn't stirred up enough already?

[Noncommunist]

Quite apart from the danger of fatwa, wouldn't it be morally irresponsible to stir up contraversy? Like the Middle East isn't stirred up enough already?

The producers, the film company, the actors, and everyone involved would need guards for the rest of their lives, short or long.

Even if you tried to make it sympathetic to both sides some cleric is going to get upset.

It is a no win proposition.

Besides, if you want history you want both sides portrayed as they were, and likely both sides were bad-guys.

You may as well remake a Sinbad the Sailor movie if you are just making pretty stories.

Certainly, Muslims have reacted poorly to some things in the past. However, those things usually were directly insulting. Such as showing a picture of Muhammed with a bomb for a hat, or showing women that suffer under Islam.

And certainly, both sides could be shown to be sympathetic as both sides did have understandable goals. While it's likely that some cleric would get angry, it doesn't seem that large scale violence would break out if efforts were taken not to offend.

[Zim]

I can understand that reasoning but I'm not sure it's reason not to do a film. "Jesus Christ Superstar" was controversial to a far greater extent that most likely movies treating the beginning of the Ummayids would try to be. I bet Hollywood (or "Bollywood" or any number of non-American film companies) could do the story without going to the level of offensiveness of equating Muhammed or Islam with Terrorism. Personally I suspect Ali would be the "good guy" if it were a Hollywood film. Americans always do like their underdogs (A prejudice I'm by no means immune to).

Quite apart from the danger of fatwa, wouldn't it be morally irresponsible to stir up contraversy? Like the Middle East isn't stirred up enough already?