CAIRO: A number of satellite channels began airing the controversial television series “al-Hassan and al-Hussein” amid criticism from many Islamic organization across the region for its personalization of “Ahl al-Beit,” or family of the Prophet Mohamed and some of al-Sahaba, or Companions of the Prophet. The series is to be aired over 7 channels, including four Egyptian channels, despite the complete refusal of al-Azhar of airing the show. Al-Azhar, the leading Sunni organization in the Islamic world, issued a statement warning TV channels from airing the series. The institution said it refuses the personalization of leading Islamic figures, especially the family and close followers of the Prophet. Minister of Information Osama Heikel issued an order of not airing the series on any national TV channels and asked other private ones that purchased the rights to follow suit and keep the program off air. The series, a joint Moroccan, Lebanese, Jordanian and Tunisian production, tells the story of a critical time in Islamic history dubbed “al-Fetna al-Kobra,” or the “big divide,” which saw the killing of al-Hussein and the beginning of the Shi'ite schism. The series says in the credits that it obtained content approval from leading Islamic scholars, such as Youssif al-Qaradawi and others, to avoid the growing criticism it is facing. Leading Saudi Arabian Islamic committees have expressed their anger at the series and denied giving any approval to the makers of the show and asked channels to stop airing it. The showing of Prophet Mohamed or his family and followers is strictly forbidden in arts. The series is the first ever to show actors playing family members of the Prophet in the Arab world. BM
