RNA – Grand Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi-Amoli has met with with Dr. Hojjatollah Ayyoubi, the deputy of Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance in Cinema Affairs at Qom’s Esraa International Foundation during which the revered source of emulation stressed, “Art and especially cinema must provide the opportunity to present honesty and truthfulness. Cinema could play a significant role in internalizing divine culture among the society.”
He further said: “Humankind’s common language is one that promotes friendship and fulfills its promise. Cinema has the potential to improve such values in the society, this is something that is accepted by all human beings and there’s no doubt about it, therefore, cinema’s dialogue must be according to human nature then its message could be embraced by everyone.”
Ayatollah Javadi-Amoli then expressed his hope for the production of other films about the life and biography of the Prophet Muhammad in the coming years and said, “The Prophet Muhammad’s teachings are indeed addressed to all nations of the world.”
His Eminence added: “[Majid Majidi’s] ‘Muhammad, the Messenger of God’ film was a great response to the objections and misrepresentations created by people like Salman Rushdie, since art is the only effective means of solving these misrepresentations in the modern world. I hope the casting directors try to narrate and show the Prophet’s youth and the early part of his prophethood in the future.”
Ayatollah Javadi-Amoli gave some advice to all the artists, especially filmmakers, he said, “Art must interact with Islamic jurisprudence and moralities, since artists must get accustomed to great scientific books such as the works of Attar of Nishapur, Rumi, Sanai and others and get inspired by them.”
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