THE highest authority in Islam, the Cairo-based Al-Azhar, gave the final go-ahead on Tuesday to an unprecedented film on the life of the Islamic prophet Mohammad. The film, “Mohammad, the Last Prophet,” by former Disney director Richard Rich, was approved in principle on May 16 by Al-Azhar’s Center for Islamic Research provided that an image of the prophet’s paternal uncle is removed. Al-Azhar gave its final approval on Tuesday on the erasing of the uncle’s image from the film. Islam has traditionally frowned on portraying any human form, especially those of the prophet and his family. The 90-minute animated film tells how the prophet more than 1 400 years ago preached in the Arabian holy city of Mecca, the difficulties he found, his departure for Medina and the battles he fought to spread the message of Islam. The producers and directors avoided personifying the prophet, who is represented by a bright light and off-screen voice. – AFP