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 TitleYearTypeCountryBased OnChannelDescriptionKhalid ibn Al Walid (TV Series)1958FilmEgyptEarly history - -Yusuf ile Züleykha1970FilmTurkey-IranJosephBased on the Islamic account of JosephThe Message1976FilmLibyaLife of MuhammadA film on the life of Muhammad.Shaheen1980TV SeriesPakistanEarly history -Based on the historical novel by Naseem Hijazi depicting the Muslims in Spain and the Fall of GranadaA Door to the Sky1982FilmMoroccoSufismAbout a woman who opens a Sufi shelter for women.The Noon of the 10th Day1988DocumentaryIranEarly history -Shia Muslim practice of Mourning on the 10th of MuharramThe Sword of Tipu Sultan1990TV SeriesIndiaEarly historyDD NationalPortrayal of Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore.Ali (Tv Series)1992TV SeriesIranEarly history -Life of Ali from becoming the Caliph to his assassination.Ayyub e Payambar1993FilmIranJobBased on the Islamic account of JobThe Fateful Day1994FilmIranEarly history - -Loneliest Leader 1997TV SeriesIranEarly history -Last part of Hasan ibn Ali's lifeThe Men of Angelos1997TelevisionIranPeople of CaveBased on the Islamic tradition of the Sleepers in the Cave described in Surah Al-Kahf.Islam: Empire of Faith 2000DocumentaryUnited StatesLife of MuhammadPBSOn the life of Muhammad, spread of Islam, and the rise and fall of Islamic civilizations.Islam: Empire of Faith 2000DocumentaryUnited StatesEarly historyPBSHistory of Islam narrated by Sir Ben Kingsley.Velayate eshgh2000TV SeriesIranEarly history -Life of Ali al-Ridha, the 8th Imam of Twelver Shi'ism.Inside Islam 2002DocumentaryUnited StatesGeneralHistory ChannelCovers various aspects of Islam.Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet2002DocumentaryUnited StatesLife of MuhammadPBSA documentary on Muhammad as seen by Muslims.Saint Mary 2002FilmIranMaryBased on the Islamic account of Mary, mother of Jesus.Saqr Qoraish2002TV Series -Early history -Abd al-Rahman I and the founding of the Emirate of CordobaAl Hajjaj2003TV Series -Early history -Series on Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf.Inside Mecca 2003DocumentaryUnited StatesHajjNational GeographicOn the Hajj.Rabee' Qortoba2003TV Series -Early history -Muslims living in Cordoba in Al-AndalusAn Islamic History of Europe2005DocumentaryUKEarly historyBBCHistory of Islam in Europe, presented by Rageh OmaarMulouk Al-Tawa'ef2005TV SeriesSyriaEarly history - -What the Ancients Did for Us 2005DocumentaryUKEarly historyBBCEpisode 1: The Islamic World.When the Moors Ruled in Europe2005DocumentaryUKEarly historyChannel 4History of Islamic Spain.Khalid ibn al-Walid(TV series)2006TV Series -Early history -Life of Khalid ibn Walid.Cities of Light: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain2007Documentary -Early history -Civilization of Islamic Spain.Ten Days2007DocumentaryPakistanAshuraAn ethnomusicological film about the Ashura festival in Pakistan.The Caravan of the Andalusian Manuscripts2007DocumentarySpainEarly history -Tracing scientific manuscripts in Andalusia.The Messiah 2007FilmIranJesusBased on the Islamic account of Jesus ChristThe Muslim Jesus 2007DocumentaryUKJesusITVOn the Islamic view of Jesus.Abraham: The Friend of God2008FilmIranAbrahamBased on the Islamic account of Abraham.Muhammad: The Final Legacy2008TelevisionArabLife of MuhammadAn Arab series also known as Qamar Bani Hashim.Prophet Joseph2008TelevisionIranJosephBased on the Islamic account of JosephScience and Islam2009DocumentaryUKEarly historyBBCScience in the medieval Islamic world featuring Jim Al-KhaliliBohlol Dana - A Sage of Baghdad2010FilmIndiaEarly history -About Bahlool, a companion of Imam Musa al-KadhimMokhtarnameh 2010TV SeriesIranEarly history -Life of Mukhtar al-Thaqafi, the Battle of Karbala, and Hasan and Husayn.The Kingdom of Solomon 2010FilmIranSolomonBased on the Islamic account of the Israelite prophet-king Solomon.If he were among us2011TelevisionUnknownDetails not provided.Koran by Heart2011DocumentaryUnited StatesQuranHBOOn the annual children's Quran recitation contest held in Cairo.Muawiya, Hassan and Hussein 2011TV Series -Early history -Events during the lives of Hasan ibn Ali and Husayn ibn Ali.Ramadan Roundup2011TelevisionUnknownDetails not provided.The Life of Muhammad2011DocumentaryUKLife of MuhammadBBCA documentary on the life of Muhammad.Understanding Islam2011TelevisionUnknownDetails not provided.Omar2012TV Series -Early history -Life of the Second Rashidun Caliph, Umar ibn KhattabJodha Akbar2013TV SeriesIndiaEarly history -Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Akbar and his wife Mariam-uz-Zamani.Khaybar2013TelevisionArabLife of MuhammadAn Arab series on the events of the Battle of Khaybar..Uwais Al Qarni2013Film -Early history -Tabi'i and Muslim saint Uwais Al-Qarni.À la découverte de l'Aïd al-Adha2014DocumentaryFranceEid al-AdhaFarid Dms DebahFrench documentary on the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha.He Who Said No2014FilmIranEarly history -Battle of Karbala and the martyrdom of Husayn ibn AliMuhammad: The Messenger of God2015FilmIranLife of MuhammadBased on the early life of Muhammad. This film is controversial due to depiction of Islamic prophets amongst Muslims. See aniconism in Islam.One Day in the Haram Arabic: يوم في الحرم (فيلم) 2017DocumentaryUnited StatesMakkahArabia Pictures Al Reasah HaraminOn the Grand Mosque in the Holy Sanctuary at Makkah.The Imam2017TV Series -Early history -Life of the founder of the Hanbali school of law, Imam Ahmad ibn HanbalYou Will Die at Twenty2019FilmSudanSufismThe Empire (TV series)2021TV SeriesIndiaEarly historyDisney+ HotstarZahiruddin Muhammad Babur the founder of Mughal Empire.The Lady of Heaven2021FilmUKLife of MuhammadA film on the life of Muhammad and his daughter, Fatima.Muawiya2025TV SeriesSaudi ArabiaEarly HistoryMBCA series on the life of Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, the first Umayyad caliph and companion of Muhammad.Moses the Kalimullah: At Dawn2025FilmIranMoses

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. Direniş Karatay (Turkey, 2018) depicts Celâleddin Karatay and Ahi Evren. Malazgirt 1071 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. Uyanış: Büyük Selçuklu (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 The Ottomans: Europe's Muslim Emperors (BBC, 2013) on the Ottoman Empire. Rise of Empires: Ottoman (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 & Muhteşem Yüzyıl: Kösem (Turkey, 2015) on the life of Kösem Sultan. The Last Emperor (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. Diriliş: Ertuğrul (2014) and the sequel, Kuruluş: Osman (2019), Turkish series on Ertuğrul, Osman Gazi, and the founding of the Ottoman Empire. Barbaros: Sword of the Mediterranean (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. Buya Hamka (Indonesia, 2023), on the life of HAMKA (Haji Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah)

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 Yunus Emre: Aşkin Yolculuğu (Turkey, 2015) on Turkish Sufi poet Yunus Emre. Mavera (Turkey, 2021) on the life of Turkish Sufi Ahmad Yasawi. Haci Bayram Veli: Aşkin Yolculuğu (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. Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World (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