Al-Hassan Wa Al-Hussein Serial Aims to Prove Abdulah ibn Saba Existed

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - One of main objectives of the sacrilegious TV series, Al-Hassan Wa Al-Hussein, is to prove that Abdulah ibn Saba was a real figure in history, a religious expert said.  Speaking at a session to review the series, Hojat-ol-Islam Rezaee said by claiming that Abdulah ibn Saba existed in history, producers of the series seek to question many of the measures taken by Imam Ali (AS) in different periods of his life including when he was the Caliph.  The session was held Monday, September 19, in Qom with the presence of Iranian and foreign students of Al-Mustafa International University.  He added that the serial also seeks to claim that Biya’at (pledge of allegiance) with Yazid was legitimate because it took place at the time of Muawiyah.  According to Hojat-ol-Islam Rezaee, producers of the series have been very careful in portraying the insulting scenes in the series.  “They have made sure that the cast are selected from different Arab countries and the filming locations have also been in different countries. Except for Egypt, all Arab countries have had a role in production of the series.”  He said a media campaign has been formed to spread word about the series on the one hand, and to undermine criticisms about it on the other.  He also noted that a number of currents have been formed against the serial including one in the Shi’ite world initiated by Shia scholars from Iran, Egypt, Iraq and other countries.  Directed by Syrian filmmaker Abd al-Bari Abu al-Khair, “Al Hassan Wa Al Hussein”shows Imam Hassan (AS) and Imam Hussein (AS) as having good relations with Muawiyah, the founder of the Umayyad dynasty.  The Egyptian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs Al-Azhar strongly opposed the series stressing that it is against Islamic beliefs to portray prophets and their companions in a television drama or film./129