Abu: He is fine, I suppose. We don’t really hear from him either. Your mother worries about him a lot. It’s been almost four years now. I don’t understand why all my children choose danger over peace. May Allah keep you all safe for me.
Ummu: (coming out of the kitchen) Here is your pepper soup noodles. (she places it before her)
Khadijah: Thank you, Mum. You are the best. (she begins to eat quickly, like she hasn’t eaten in days)
Abu: (watching her closely) Look at her skin… so rough.
Khadijah: (smiles faintly) Abu, I’m fine.
Ummu: I hope you are enjoying it?
Khadijah: Mum, your cooking is always the best. I love it so much. (licks the spoon happily)
Rasheedah: Ummu, is there any left?
Ummu: Trust me, you won’t even be able to eat it if it remains.
Rasheedah: Why not? Is it not just noodles?
Ummu: Ashani, give her just one spoon to taste.
Khadijah: Ummu, no. If I let her taste it, I might lose interest. She should go and cook hers.
Rasheedah: Ah ah… pregnancy has really changed you.
Ummu: Leave her alone. You will understand very soon, in sha Allah.
Khadijah: Oh, that reminds me… you mentioned your introduction. When is it?
Ummu: Next month, in sha Allah.
Abu: Ashani, come here. Come and sit beside me.
Khadijah: (looks at her mother and sister, surprised) Okay, sir. (she sits beside him)
Abu: (takes a deep breath) What can you say about this duniya?
(Khadijah slowly drops her spoon, already sensing the weight of the conversation)
Rasheedah: (moves closer) I’m not missing this one.
Ummu: Me too. (she sits beside Rasheedah)
Abu: (smiling gently) I am always grateful to Allah for the kind of family He gave me. Especially a wonderful wife and a caring mother.
Ummu: Alhamdulillah for everything.
Abu: Now, Ashani… what does this duniya mean to you?
Khadijah: (clears her throat) It is a temporary place… a passage. A bridge we must all cross, either towards Jannah or Jahannam, which is our final destination.
Abu: Masha Allah. That is a beautiful answer. And you, prosecutor?
(They all laugh)
Rasheedah: Well, as the only prosecutor who never loses a case… and as the intelligent woman that I am…
Khadijah: Just answer the question.
Ummu: Too much talk.
Rasheedah: (smiling) This dunya is a beautiful illusion. Allah placed us here to worship Him and to test our faith and intentions. It is like an examination hall. The way we live, how we treat people, and how we worship Allah are the questions. And how we answer them will determine our results on the Day of Qiyamah.
Abu: Barakallahu feek. That is also a thoughtful answer. Now, what is Islam?
Rasheedah: Total submission.
Abu: Correct. Islam means total submission to Allah. All these material things we chase are distractions. We are already seeing signs of the end times. Immorality everywhere, corruption, people turning against each other…
As time goes on, halal becomes haram, and haram becomes halal. Look at marriage and adultery. They are opposites, yet today marriage is avoided while sin is embraced.
Rasheedah: That’s true, Dad. Even divorce rates are high.
Abu: (turns to Khadijah) The fact that we welcomed you back does not mean we are happy about what happened. We accepted you because you are our daughter. But you made a serious mistake in your choice, and I am disappointed.
(He pauses)
Abu: Tell me… what did the Prophet (SAW) advise us to look for in a spouse?
Khadijah: (quietly) Religion… character… beauty… wealth… and family background.
Abu: Then why did you choose wealth, beauty, and character… and ignore religion and family?
Khadijah: (head lowered) I’m sorry, Abu. It was a mistake.
Abu: Be honest with me. Why?
(Khadijah hesitates, then speaks through tears)
Khadijah: Because people say… it is better to cry in a mansion than to be happy in poverty.
Ummu: Subhanallah…
Rasheedah: (shocked) Wow…
Abu: (silent for a moment)
Khadijah: But I thought about it… I saw my friends. Those who married poor men are always complaining. The ones who married rich men seem happy… their lives look perfect.
Abu: (soft smile) That is what they choose to show you. People only reveal the parts of their lives they want others to see.
There is no perfect marriage. Even your mother and I have our flaws. What has kept us together is love and the fear of Allah.
Anything done for the sake of Allah brings blessings. But when you put worldly things first… you risk losing everything.
(He looks at her deeply)
Abu: You loved him, yes. And you hoped he would change. But guidance comes only from Allah. If Allah chooses to guide someone, nothing can stop it. And if He chooses otherwise, no one can force it.
Only Allah can change him. Not you.
(Ummu exhales softly)
Abu: In sha Allah, you will be fine.
Khadijah: (nods quietly)
Abu: And you, madam prosecutor… you are about to start your own journey. Remember whose daughter you are. Is your husband a righteous man?
Rasheedah: Yes, sir.
Abu: We can only know with time. May Allah ease your affairs.
(He turns back to Khadijah)
Abu: You will stay here for three to four months. If your husband comes for you, we will address it properly. But if he does not… you will have to let go.
Rasheedah: And I will handle the case too.
Ummu: (sharp look) Rasheedah.
Rasheedah: (smiling) I’m joking.
Abu: (shakes his head slightly) You are too confident. Remember, you are a woman. Marriage requires patience and wisdom. Learn from your sister’s experience.
(Khadijah breaks down in tears)
Khadijah: Abu… thank you so much…
Abu: Oh please… stop crying. Besides, I am about to become a grandfather. You will deliver safely, in sha Allah. Nothing will happen to you or my grandchild by the will of Allah.
Everyone: Ameen.
Ummu: I also have something to say.
Abu: Go on, my dear.
Ummu: Thank you. I want to explain why I accepted you back into this house.
(She sits properly, her tone calm but firm)
Ummu: In our tradition, a woman who leaves her husband’s house or gets divorced is often seen as a bad wife, no matter the reason. Many men use this as a weapon to mistreat their wives because they know the woman is afraid to leave.
(Khadijah lowers her gaze)
Ummu: I am not saying women are perfect. Some women are also at fault. But if a woman leaves her husband’s house because of small misunderstandings, she should be corrected and sent back to make peace.
(Brief pause)
Ummu: However, if she is being abused, neglected, or treated like nothing… then it is different.
Rasheedah: (nods slowly)
Ummu: The painful truth is that many parents force their daughters to endure everything in marriage, even when it is destroying them. They fear what people will say. They fear shame.
(her voice softens)
Ummu: And sometimes… that fear costs lives.
(Silence fills the room)
Ummu: When the woman dies, that is when regret comes. But it is already too late.
Abu: (takes a deep breath)
Ummu: Many parents say, “You chose him, so face it.” But does that mean she cannot have problems? Does that mean she should suffer alone?
(Khadijah wipes her tears)
Ummu: We, as parents, sometimes add more pain to our daughters’ lives instead of helping them.
(She pauses, then continues)
Ummu: I have seen many cases. Women who would rather die in their marriages than return home because they know they will not be accepted.
Rasheedah: That is true.
Ummu: I even have a friend, a Hausa woman. She is divorced, with six children, and she is living peacefully with her parents. They accepted her. Now she is about to remarry.
(looks at Khadijah)
Ummu: Why should she be sent back to suffering? Islam allows ease. It is people that make things hard.
(softly)
Ummu: That is all I wanted to say.
Abu: Masha Allah… my dear wife, you are wise. May Allah increase your knowledge.
Ummu: Ameen.
Abu: But we should also remember that some women lack good manners in communication. Some speak harshly, and it creates more problems.
(he raises a hand gently)
Abu: I am not supporting oppression. I am only saying we all have weaknesses. This should be a lesson for everyone.
Rasheedah: Honestly, I learn something new from you both every day. Maybe I should have been a writer instead.
Khadijah: (smiles faintly) It’s not too late.
(she turns to her parents)
Khadijah: Abu… Ummu… Jazakumullahu khairan for everything. Without you, I don’t know where I would be today. May Allah reward you and accept it as an act of ibadah.
Everyone: Ameen.
Rasheedah: What about me?
Khadijah: Please shift, let me finish my food. My noodles are getting cold.
(Curtain falls)
THREE MONTHS LATER
Three months passed, and life became heavy for Adekunle.
His friends tried to distract him, but only in the wrong ways. His mother never checked on him. He called Khadijah many times, but she never answered.
Each day, regret grew stronger.
He wished he could go back and fix everything, but he couldn’t.
Meanwhile, Khadijah missed him deeply. She prayed constantly, hoping he would come for her before it was too late.
Her parents had already started considering asking her to divorce him, something she did not want.
After many sleepless nights and too many regrets, Adekunle finally made a decision.
He would go and face her family.
At Khadijah’s Family House
Ummu: Rasheedah, where is your sister?
Rasheedah: She is in the bathroom… she is vomiting again.
Ummu: Okay.
(There is a knock on the door)
Abu: Habeebaty, I’m leaving. I’m already late for my meeting.
Rasheedah: Let me get the door.
(walks to the door)
Rasheedah: Who is there?
Adekunle: It’s me…
Rasheedah: Me who?
(she opens the door… freezes)
Rasheedah: What are you doing here?
(she slams the door immediately)
Adekunle: Please… I’m sorry… please open the door…
Abu: Who is there?
Rasheedah: Her husband.
Abu: Whose husband?
Adekunle: It’s me, sir… Lukman.
Abu: Then why didn’t you open the door for him?
(Rasheedah stays silent)
Abu: I’m coming.
(he opens the door)
Abu: Good morning.
Adekunle: Good morning, sir…
(Abu studies him quietly)
Abu: How may I help you?
Adekunle: (nervous) Sir… I know you are angry. I know I disappointed you. I should have come earlier, but I didn’t have the courage. I am deeply sorry.
(long pause)
Abu: Come in.
Adekunle: (relieved) Thank you, sir.
(he enters and sits, looking around, hoping to see Khadijah)
Abu: Who are you looking for?
Adekunle: My wife…
Abu: Your wife?
(brief silence)
Abu: Not anymore. I told her to prepare divorce papers by tomorrow.
(Adekunle freezes)
Adekunle: Sir… please… I am begging you. I don’t want a divorce. I want her back.
Abu: (watching him closely) Hmm.
(he raises his voice slightly)
Abu: Ashani!
Khadijah: (from inside) I’m coming, sir…
Abu: Hurry up, I’m late.
(Adekunle stands, nervous)
Abu: I am not done with you yet.
Adekunle: I’m sorry, sir…
(Khadijah enters… then stops suddenly)
(The cup in her hand slips and falls)
Khadijah: Adekunle…
Adekunle: (softly) Yes… it’s me. I’m sorry for everything.
(he steps forward to hug her)
Khadijah: Don’t come close.
(he stops immediately)
Khadijah: Stay right there. Even your perfume is irritating me.
Adekunle: (awkward, trying) If I take off my jacket… will that help?