Noor (play)

Noor is a two-act play by Akbar Ahmed about the abduction of a young woman named Noor and her three brothers who represent currents inside modern Muslim communities: a Sufi, a secular government bureaucrat, and an angry fundamentalist.

Noor
First Edition 2009 Saqi Books
Written byAkbar Ahmed
CharactersAbdullah
Daoud
Father Assad Hussein
Ali
Three soldiers
Sheikh Moinuddin
Disciple
Deputy Minister
Flunky
Auntie Fatima
Fadel
Noor
Date premiered2007
Place premieredTheater J
Washington, D.C.
Original languageEnglish
SubjectSoldiers abduct Noor, a Muslim woman; Noor's three brothers debate what to do.
GenreDrama
Settingunnamed city with a Muslim-majority population, modern day.

Characters
Main characters
  • Abdullah (oldest brother, professor, idealistic Sufi)
  • Daoud (middle brother, medical doctor, hardened religious literalist)
  • Ali (youngest brother, lawyer and government bureaucrat, relatively secular)
  • Father (Assad Hussain)
  • Auntie Fatima (father's sister)
  • Noor (youngest sibling, a bright college student)

Secondary characters

  • Three soldiers
  • Sheikh Moinuddin
  • Disciple
  • Flunky
  • Fadel (truck driver)

Plot

Act 1

It is Ramadan. Daoud comes home and talks with his brother Abdullah. Soldiers of unknown background have abducted their younger sister Noor. Daoud is angry and blames Americans for this and most of the world's other woes. Abduallah urges calm and compassion. Ali returns and recounts the abduction of Noor and his own detention. Aggressive soldiers break into the house to search it, then leave. About Noor, Abduallah proposes consulting a Sufi sheikh, while Ali recommends he use his connections in a government ministry, and Daoud implies an act of violence would be the best response.

Act 2

Scene One

In search of Noor, Abduallah consults a Sufi sheikh and Ali speaks with a government minister. Neither approach produces results.

Scene Two

Auntie Fatima, Noor's aunt and mother of Noor's finance Rahman, expresses concern that in detention Noor's "honor" may have been violated and has come to call off the engagement. The three brothers defend Noor and try to point out she loves Rahman and that love itself should triumph, and their father goes to talk to his sister Fatima. To bring back Noor, Abduallah prays, while Daoud blames "the Crusaders" and urges violence; they disagree about the true nature of Islam. Noor returns. She is strong and wise, and brings peace to the three brothers' disagreements.

Performances

The play Noor premiered at Theater J in Washington, D.C. in 2007.

References

Akbar Ahmed, Akbar Ahmed: Two Plays. London: Saqi Books, 2009. ISBN 978-0-86356-435-2

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