Filming The Message was a monumental logistical challenge. Akkad had to manage two distinct casts, switching between English and Arabic takes for almost every scene. While the English version was designed to introduce the history of early Islam to the Western world, the Arabic version was crafted for audiences intimately familiar with the cultural and linguistic nuances of the region.
Overview
Akkad brilliantly bypassed this restriction by using first-person camera angles. Characters speak directly to the camera, and the audience sees the world through the eyes of the historical figures. This stylistic choice feels incredibly natural in the Arabic version, where the surrounding dialogue flows seamlessly around these silent, unseen presences. A Lasting Legacy of Cultural Bridge-Building the message arabic version english subtitles
Akkad filmed both the English and Arabic versions simultaneously , shot-for-shot, using the same sets and camera setups but entirely different casts. This was done to bridge the gap between the Western and Islamic worlds, making the story of Islam’s origins accessible to global audiences.
Because of its educational and cultural value, various cultural institutions and authorized distributors have uploaded the film with hardcoded or closed-captioned English subtitles on video-sharing platforms. Filming The Message was a monumental logistical challenge
In 1976, Syrian-American director Moustapha Akkad accomplished an unprecedented feat in cinematic history. He produced and directed two entirely separate, full-length feature films simultaneously to tell the story of the birth of Islam. One was filmed in English ( The Message , starring Anthony Quinn) and the other in Arabic ( Al-Risalah , starring Abdullah Gheith).
Akkad’s lifelong mission was to build a bridge of understanding between the East and the West. Watching the version intended for the Arab world with Western textual translation fulfills this vision perfectly, allowing external audiences to view the story through a native lens. Where to Find the Film Today A Lasting Legacy of Cultural Bridge-Building Akkad filmed
From the outset, Akkad insisted on filming two completely separate versions: one in English for international audiences and one in Arabic for the Arab and Muslim world. The same crew built the same sets in Morocco and later Libya. Once a scene had been established, the English-speaking cast would perform it, then the Arabic-speaking cast would step onto the same set and perform it again. Almost every role was double-cast, with two different actors playing the same character in two different languages. The single exception was André Morell, who appears as Abu Talib in both versions.
Syrian actress Muna Wassef portrayed Hind bint Utbah, one of the film's most complex and formidable antagonists. Her fierce expressions, vocal range, and commanding presence in the Arabic version outshone her Western counterpart, making her performance legendary in Arab cinema.
The Cinematic Bridge: Why You Must Watch the Arabic Version of The Message Moustapha Akkad’s 1976 epic, The Message
