The production company claims the film is approved by the Azhar. The paper interviewed scriptwriters, directors, actors, and cartoonists on whether it was allowable to talk about Mohammed through a cartoon and whether the American production team were the most knowledgeable to produce such a film. Most of them felt Muslims should make such films, but it was acceptable to use non-Muslim technical expertise. The Grand Sheikh’s office issued a statement saying that no approval had been requested or given for the film and asking for the opinion of the Islamic Research Institute before the film is shown.