Production stopped when the financeers withdrew their support, leaving cast and crew stranded for two weeks in Morocco (in a hotel with broken air conditioning; they slept under wet towels). Financing was eventually supplied by none other than Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi.
This film was made in both English and Arabic with two different casts, the lone exception being Andre Morell who is credited as Abu-Talib in both versions. Scenes were shot back to back in both languages.
It took 4 ½ months to build the ancient city of Mecca.
Muhammad Ali expressed interest in playing the role of Bilal, but producer Moustapha Akkad refused, stating that such casting "would smack of commercialism."
The University of Al-Azhar in Cairo and the High Islamic Congress of the Shiat in Lebanon were involved in approving the accuracy of the film.