The controversial series "Muavia," which was announced after a three-month hiatus and caused a shock due to its content, has topped the trend lists on new platforms and social networks. Despite the widespread protests from historians pointing out numerous historical inaccuracies, public statements against the series included a ban on its broadcast from the Al-Azhar side.
The absolute condemnation was expressed by member of the Supreme Council of Scholars Dr. Abdelfattah Abdulghani Al-Awari, emphasizing that the depiction of supporters in dramatic productions is prohibited under any circumstances. In the same context, the Iraqi Information and Communications Commission announced a ban on showing the series, indicating that such contentious historical works could provoke conflicts and undermine public tranquility, especially during the holy month.
The main problem was the absence of the name of director Tarek El-Yeri in the credits of the series, to which director Ahmed Madhat replied that El-Yeri decided to replace his name after certain scenes were removed in the editing process, which likely contributed to the reason.
"Muavia" also faced widespread criticism for errors in costumes and design, as the actors appeared in outfits that do not correspond with the period of the events, while architectural elements that are not present in this era were noted.
However, the author of the series, journalist Khalid Salah, pointed out that his goal was not to add a new version of the events to a list of conflicting narratives, but rather to portray Muavia as a character, rather than a caliph. He described Muavia as a person who understood that victories do not always come on the battlefield and that war is not always the solution, but there can also be a cunning trap for those who rush in.
The overall team consists of about 350 people, including actors and a production crew. Syrian actor Lojain Ismail plays the role of supporter Muavia, and Yiad Nassar plays the role of Ali ibn Abi Talib, while Syrian Ayman Zeydan represents Osman ibn Affan, and Wael Sherif is Amir ibn al-As.
