List of Islam-related films

This is a list of films, television serials and programmes related to Islamic civilization, i.e. Islam, Islamic history and Islamic culture. For ease of classification this article defines the following terms as such:

• "Documentary" refers to educational films and series of an informative nature.
• "Film" refers to dramatic films following a narrative/story.
• "Television" refers to serials, programmes and dramas that consist of more than one episode.

Children's / animated films

Short films

• 1001 Inventions and the Library of Secrets, featuring Ben Kingsley as Al-Jazari.

Religion

General

History

Crusades and Mongol Invasions

Documentary

• The Sultan and the Saint (PBS, 2016) on the meeting of Egyptian Sultan Al-Kamil and St. Francis of Assisi.
• The Crusades, An Arab Perspective (Al Jazeera, 2016) based on the book "The Crusades Through Arab Eyes" by Amin Maalouf.

Film

• Saladin the Victorious (Egypt, 1963) on Saladin, drawing parallels between him and Gamal Abdel Nasser.
• Melikşah (Turkey-Iran, 1969)
• Selahattin Eyyubi (Turkey-Iran, 1970)
• Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Western film on the Crusades, well-received in the Islamic World for its positive representation of Islam and Muslims.
• ' (Turkey, 2018) depicts and Ahi Evren.
• ' based on the Battle of Malazgirt.

Television

• Aakhri Chataan (Urdu: The Last Rock) (Pakistan, 1985), a series based on the historical novel of the same name by Naseem Hijazi depicting the Mongol Invasion of the Khwarazm Sultanate and the subsequent Fall of Baghdad.
• Salah Al-deen Al-Ayyobi (2001), an Arab series on Saladin and the Crusades.
• ' (2005), an Arab series on Mamluk Sultan Baibars.
• ' (2020), a Turkish series on the life of Malik-Shah I and his son Ahmad Sanjar of the Seljuk Empire.
• Mendirman Jaloliddin (Turkey, 2021), a series based on Jalal al-Din Mangburni and Mongol invasions.
• Kudüs Fatihi Selahaddin Eyyubi (2023), a Pakistani-Turkish series on Saladin and the Crusades.
• Muawiya(TV series) (2025), a Saudi-Arabian series on Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, the first Umayyad caliph.

Ottomans

Documentary

• ' (BBC, 2013) on the Ottoman Empire.
• ' (Netflix, 2020)

Film

• Al Hilal (India, 1935) on the Byzantine–Ottoman Wars.
• The Conquest of Constantinople (Turkey, 1951) on the Conquest of Constantinople.
• Fetih 1453 (Turkey, 2012) on the conquest of Constantinople by Sultan Mehmed II.

Television

• Fatih (Turkey, 2013) on the life of the 7th Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed II.
• Muhteşem Yüzyıl (Turkey, 2011) on the life of the 10th Ottoman Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent & ' (Turkey, 2015) on the life of Kösem Sultan.
• ' (Turkey, 2017) on the reign of the 34th Ottoman Sultan, Abdul Hamid II, based on Islamist historical revisionism.
• Kingdoms of Fire (2019), Arab series on the Ottoman Empire and the Mamluk Sultanate.
• ' (2014) and the sequel, ' (2019), Turkish series on Ertuğrul, Osman Gazi, and the founding of the Ottoman Empire.
• ' (Turkey, 2021) on the life of Hayreddin Barbarossa, an Ottoman admiral of the 16th century.

Biopic

Documentary

• Al-Ghazali: The Alchemist of Happiness (2004), on the life of Islamic scholar Al-Ghazali.
• Prince Among Slaves (PBS, 2006) on the life of African Muslim enslaved in Mississippi, Abdul Rahman Ibrahima Sori.
• A Road to Mecca - The Journey of Muhammad Asad (2008) on the life and conversion of Muhammad Asad.
• Journey to Mecca (National Geographic, 2009) on the travels of Ibn Battuta.
• The Man Who Walked Across the World (BBC Four). Series of documentary travelogues following in the footsteps of 14th Century Moroccan scholar Ibn Battuta, who covered 75,000 miles, 40 countries and three continents in a 30-year odyssey.

Film

• Lion of the Desert (Libya, 1981) on the life of Omar Mukhtar.
• Malcolm X (1992), American film on the life, conversion and Hajj of Malcolm X.
• Free Man (Turkey, 2011) on the life of Bediüzzaman Said Nursi.
• Les Hommes libres (Free Men, 2011, France), on the life of Si Kaddour Benghabrit.

Television

• Al-Tabari (Egypt, 1987) on the life of Muslim historian and exegete, Ibn Jarir al-Tabari.
• Roof of the World (Syria, 2007) on the journeys of medieval Arab traveller Ahmad ibn Fadlan.
• The Ladder of the Sky (Iran, 2009) on Persian astronomer Jamshid Kashani.

Sufism

• ' (Turkey, 2015) on Turkish Sufi poet Yunus Emre.
• ' (Turkey, 2021) on the life of Turkish Sufi Ahmad Yasawi.
• ' (2022) a Turkish series on the life of Sufi Haji Bayram Veli.

Culture

General

Documentary

• Nations Cultures - Muslims (Iran, 1994) showcasing the life and cultures of Muslims in various countries.
• On a Tightrope (2007), Uyghur documentary on the experience of Uyghur Muslims in China.
• Veiled Ambition (2007)
• Seven Wonders of the Muslim World (PBS, 2008)
• Müezzin (2009), Turkish documentary about the annual Turkish competition for the best muezzin.
• ' (PBS, 2012) on the development of Islamic art and architecture.

Film

• Semum (Turkey, 2008) horror film dealing with subjects of devils and Exorcism in Islam.
• Munafik (2016) and Munafik 2 (2018), Malaysian horror films dealing with subjects of Jinn and Exorcism in Islam.

Television

• All-American Muslim (TLC, 2011)

Comedy

Documentary

• The Muslims Are Coming! (2013)

Film

• Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2005)
• Mecca I'm Coming (2019)

Television

• Little Mosque on the Prairie (CBC, 2007)
• Citizen Khan (BBC, 2012)

See also

• Muhammad in film
• Maslaha

References