The film “Ketika Cinta Bertasbih” and not hurting the feelings of religious minorities.

In the wake of the success of the Islamic film Ayat Ayat Cinta SinemArt Pictures will shortly produce a screen version of another of Habiburrahman El-Shirazy’s novels, this time Ketika Cinta Bertasbih (When Love is Blessed by God).

Ketika Cinta Bertasbih, book.

The producers of the film are currently going about to important Muslim organisations like Muhammadiyah and others seeking advice on how to handle the Islamic aspects of the film.

On 1st April they met with Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) leader Umar Shihab, who advised producer Heru Hendriyanto and director Chaerul Umam to avoid SARA issues, things that might upset minorities in Indonesia or cause division.

Another MUI official present, Anwar Abbas, said the example of Ayat Ayat Cinta should be followed. When the character of Maria (Carissa Putri) converts from Christianity to Islam the saying by her of the Muslim profession of faith (syahadat) was not shown in the film - if it had been this would likely have hurt the feelings of Christian Indonesians, he said.