Last week, an Indian-Islamic organization called Raza Academy initiated a fatwa against Oscar-award winning music composer AR Rahman and an Iranian filmmaker for the movie Muhammad: Messenger of God, for which Rahman had composed music.
Raza Academy’s complaint was that with the title of the movie being that of the prophet, it would be disrespectful if people take the name of the movie in vain.
We know AR Rahman to be a classy, calm and fantastic music composer.
His response to Raza Academy’s fatwa is the same - classy, calm and simply fantastic.
He starts by saying, “I am not a scholar of Islam. I follow the middle path and am part traditionalist and part rationalist. I live in the Western and Eastern worlds and try to love all people for what they are, without judging them. “
He then explains that he didn’t direct or produce the movie, he just did the music.
And then, he begins responding to Mr. Noori, a member of Raza Academy.
In response to Mr Noori saying that all Muslims have to do something about the movie because if and when they meet Allah and he asks them what they did to stop the movie, they will not have an answer, Rahman says, “My decision to compose the music for this film was made in good faith and with no intention of causing offence. In fact the decision was based on a similar point of view as expressed by Mr Noori. What, and if, I had the good fortune of facing Allah and he were to ask me on judgment day. 'I gave you faith, talent, money, fame and health... why did you not do music for my beloved Muhammad (sals) film? A film whose intention is to unite humanity, clear misconceptions and spread my message that life is about kindness...”
He further explains that it is his duty to dispel notions about Muhammad which exist in the world today, and that is why he was a part of the movie.
Stating that we are blessed to live in a country like India where religious freedom is practiced, he says, “Let us set a precedent in clearing conflict with grace and dignity and not trigger violence in words or actions.”
Truly classy Rahman.
You can read the full statement here.