Director Erma Fatima stressed that society today is easily deceived by promises and religious quotations due to a lack of knowledge in assessing the authenticity of verses from the Quran and hadith.
According to her, those who exploit religion are becoming increasingly common, as they use religion to manipulate society and take advantage of the public’s lack of knowledge.
Erma also criticised the attitude of society that becomes overly obsessed with certain individuals without using reason, thereby opening the door for religious exploiters to manipulate them.
“It is very important for a person to trust a religious teacher based on knowledge and also to use reason, not to blindly idolise someone who is not worthy,” she told BOOM!.
She was commenting on the phenomenon surrounding the drama Walid, which she wrote and produced, and which has captured viewers’ attention due to its unique storyline and the realistic social issues it portrays.
The sequel to Bidaah features popular actors such as Faizal Hussein, Aqasha and Fatiya Latiff.
Erma said the drama clearly portrays the reality of those who exploit religion, inspired by the real experiences of victims.
“I don’t regard Walid as an entertainment drama. It is a drama meant to expose the dark side of those who exploit religion and at the same time to present this reality to society,” she said.
Erma emphasised that the issue addressed in Walid is not about Islam itself, but about individuals who misuse religion for personal gain.
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She added that the drama serves as a form of art that is not merely entertainment, but also a form of preaching, aimed at opening society’s eyes to the risks of religious exploitation that are increasingly widespread today. – BOOM!
