WANA (Mar 09) – These days, as the series Mu’awiya is being released on Saudi platforms with a $100 million financial backing from Saudi Arabia and the Al Saud family, it has sparked widespread criticism among Muslim countries—criticisms of both religious and political nature.

 

Why Was This Series Released Amid Regional Developments?

In the seven episodes aired so far, Al Saud has attempted to portray a cleansed, brave, and devout image of Mu’awiya, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

 

Saudi Arabia, which considers itself the leader of the Islamic world, had refrained from broadcasting this series for two years. However, this year, coinciding with developments in the Islamic world—particularly in Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon—it has decided to release it.

 

At this juncture, the name of the “Umayyad Mosque” in Damascus has once again become a trending topic on social media. Even Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had previously stated, “The day I pray at the Umayyad Mosque is near.”

 

Al Saud’s $100 Million Investment in a Narrative Shift

Al Saud has spent $100 million to present a different image of Mu’awiya—just as Mu’awiya himself, during his rule, utilized power, deception, and the media of his time to achieve his objectives.

 

A Tool for Shaping Public Perception

Like many controversial historical productions, this series goes beyond a mere historical narrative. It has become a media tool aimed at shaping public opinion and advancing political interests.

 

Saudi Arabia’s massive investment in this project indicates that it views the series not just as a historical drama, but as a strategic initiative.

 

Training the People for Silence

Hojjat al-Islam Hamed Kashani, a well-known religious speaker in Iran, commented on the objectives of the Al Saud regime in producing this series, stating: “A government that spends $100 million to create a series about Muawiyah aims to train its people to remain silent in the face of the Gaza atrocities.”

 

This statement highlights how massive investments in media projects, such as producing a series centered on a historical figure, can serve as a tool for shaping public perceptions and attitudes.

 

Reframing figures like Muawiyah can alter historical narratives to legitimize current political agendas. When the media presents a positive portrayal of the past, many people’s perspectives on historical figures and events shift—sometimes turning entirely favorable.

 

Highlighting and Misleading Public Opinion

One of the well-known strategies in cultural policies is the use of historical narratives to divert public attention from contemporary issues. Large-budget cultural projects that reconstruct historical accounts may be intended to distract the public from pressing and critical matters of today.

 

In this context, the $100 million investment in producing this series not only reproduces a specific historical narrative but also potentially desensitizes the public to the ongoing tragedies in the Islamic world.

 

This media investment is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to strengthen its political standing and convey ideological messages to society.

 

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This series has been banned in some Islamic countries, such as Iraq and Egypt, due to its impact on creating tensions and jeopardizing social cohesion. Therefore, Iran also announced on March 3, 2025, that it has banned the dubbing and any form of distribution of this content.