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 by | Akbar Ahmed |
| Characters | Abdullah Daoud Father Assad Hussein Ali Three soldiers Sheikh Moinuddin Disciple Deputy Minister Flunky Auntie Fatima Fadel Noor |
| Date premiered | 2007 |
| Place premiered | Theater J Washington, D.C. |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | Soldiers abduct Noor, a Muslim woman; Noor's three brothers debate what to do. |
| Genre | Drama |
| Setting | unnamed 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. At the same time, Ali recommends he use his connections in a government ministry, and Daoud implies an act of violence would be the best response.
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
External links
- Ted Merwin (July 26, 2007). "Akbar Ahmed's 'Noor,' a Paean to Religious Tolerance". The Washington Post.