A Play on the Importance and Beauty of Dua Makaarimul Akhlaaq

SCENE 1

Alina and Mehak sitting and talking

Alina: I really want to go for the party at Kristin's house tonight, they were telling me that they were planning to go for the 10:30 movie to the cinema near her house.

Mehak: Yeah, but it is 21st night of ramdhan you know... wafaat and laylatul qadr.

Alina: Yeah but I really want to go.

Mehak: Yeah... we'll plan another date when even we can go

Alina: Yeah I guess.

Mehak: We'll try to watch the movie at home because you know in the cinema you can't really control the music and all that... it's better to watch it at home.

Alina: Yeah yeah whatever

Someone serves water

Mehak: Water?

Alina: Yeah please

They drink water. Dua starts

O God, bless Muhammad and his Household, cause my faith to reach the most perfect faith, make my certainty the most excellent certainty, and take my intention to the best of intentions and my works to the best of works!

During the Dua, Mehak gets a text and she runs out.

Alina thinks: Where did Mehak go? She probably went to the toilet.

O God, bless Muhammad and his Household, spare me the concerns which distract me, employ me in that about which Thou wilt ask me tomorrow, and let me pass my days in that for which Thou hast created me! Free me from need, expand Thy provision toward me, and tempt me not with ingratitude!

Alina thinks: Ah it's so hot here man. And all these people are squashing into me. I just wish they'd go away! How come Mehak hasn't come back? She can't be so long in the toilet. After the new toilets they've made, there shouldn't even be a queue. Ah but I preferred the older ones. At least we had mirrors. Where is this Mehak man? I am so bored listening to this dua about good behavior? She should have come back by now! What's taking her so long?

Spreading about good behavior, covering faults, mildness of temper, lowering the wing, beauty of conduct, gravity of bearing, agreeableness in comportment, precedence in reaching excellence, preferring bounteousness, refraining from condemnation, bestowing bounty on the undeserving, speaking the truth, though it be painful, making little of the good in my words and deeds, though it be much, and making much of the evil in my words and deeds, though it be little!

Alina thinks: I think Mehak has left. Why would she do that though? Wait a second I think she must have gone with Kristin. She didn't reply to me properly when I spoke to her earlier. I am sure she went there. She missed her amaal to go to the cinema, and that too after all her preaching about not going to cinemas. I don't believe this!

O God, and bless Muhammad and his Household the best Thou hast blessed any of Thy creatures before him and wilt bless any of them after him, and give to us in this World good, and in the next world good, and protect me through Thy mercy from the chastisement of the Fire!

Zahra walks to Alina

Zahra: Hey have you seen Mehak? I've been looking for her but couldn't see her

Alina: She left earlier. I think she went to with Kristin and them to the cinema.

Zahra: WHAT? Mehak went with Kristin to the cinema seriously!

Alina: Yeah I think so because they said they were gonna start watching a movie at 10 30. It was about 10 when she left

Zahra: Whoaa

Farwa: Hey guys, whats up

Zahra: Nah nothing much. We were just talking about how Mehak went to the cinema with her friends to watch a movie.

Girls start gathering around to say salam

Farwa: What? Mehak went to her cinema and didn't stay for the amaal?

Zahra: Apparently not.

Farwa: Whoa that's shocking

Alina: Anyways I gotta run, my parents are waiting for me.

Zahra: Yeah we are all leaving too. Haya kh

The next day Mehak comes to mosque looking rather haggard and tired but for some reason everyone is giving her the cold shoulder and she doesn't understand it. She goes to Mehdiya and asks her why everyone is being so rude.

Mehak: What have I done? Why is everyone giving me the cold shoulder?

Mehdiya: Oh come on you should know. How could you do that?

Mehak: Do what?

Mehdiya: You just left yesterday in the middle of amal to go for a movie. I can't believe you would do that especially since you are the one who is against going to the cinema to begin with.

Mehak: Excuse me?! My uncle came to Dubai from Dares Salam yesterday and they got into an accident so my dad messaged me that my uncle was in an ambulance and I should go pick my dad up and take him also to the hospital as the car was totally wrecked.

Mehdiya: Omg seriously! We all thought...

Mehak: (angry) Who started this about me and why?

Mehdiya: well... Alina saw you leaving yesterday and she... just presumed... maybe I should go and talk to her..

Mehak: my God I can't believe Alina did this, and I can't believe that everyone believed her, why would she make up something like this. I'm so mad right now I feel like I hate everyone. In the mosque they give me the cold shoulder for something that is not even that I didn't even do!

Mehdiya: you know there is a part of makarimul akhlaq which will help you reduce your anger.

Mehak: Zahra! You and your dua makarimul akhlaq! Although you are right I need to calm down... but man I really don't feel like reading it.

Mehdiya: (goes and opens the book to the page and gives it to Mehak): here you go this paragraph... Trust me you'll feel better.

Mehdiya leaves and Mehak just looks at the book and then starts reading..

O God, bless Muhammad and Muhammad's Household and replace for me the animosity of the people of hatred with love, the envy of the people of insolence with affection, the suspicion of the people of righteousness with trust, the enmity of those close with friendship, the disrespect of womb relatives with devotion, the abandonment of relatives with help, the attachment of flatterers with love set right, the rejection of fellows with generous friendliness, and the bitterness of the fear of wrongdoers with the sweetness of security!

Mehak: wow I really needed to recite something to calm me down. Let me continue since I missed this dua last night...

She goes back into her book and the scene pans out.

Mehdiya goes to find Alina.

Mehdiya: Hey Salaam alaikum

Alina: Alaikum salam

Mehdiya: Alina how could you, you didn't even know the whole story and you just started spreading things.

Alina: Huh..?!?

Mehdiya: Mehak's uncle was coming from dar es salam yesterday and her dad had gone to pick him up from the airport and they got into an accident. Her uncle is in critical condition and that's why Mehak left during amaal time.

Alina: Oh My God. And I've.. I've.. umm.. Oh god!

Mehdiya: Exactly..!

Alina I'd better call and apologize.

Mehdiya: Be careful Mehak is in quite a temper.

Alina: Yea ok... kh

Mehdiya: kHz.

Alina is trying to call Mehak to apologize

Alina: Come on Mehak pick up your phone.. Ah I need to apologize but she isn't picking up..!

Alina: Oh God! I don't know why I did this. I really shouldn't have. Oh Allah I have committed such a sin that I cannot stand in front of you. Oh Allah, guide me through this and help me refrain from doing it again. Oh Allah.

O God, make the wishing, the doubt, and the envy which Satan throws into my heart a remembrance of Thy mightiness, a reflection upon Thy power, and a devising against Thy enemy! Make everything he causes to pass over my tongue, - the indecent or ugly words, the maligning of good repute, the false witness, the speaking ill of an absent man of faith or the reviling of one present, and all things similar - a speech in praise of Thee, a pursual of eulogizing Thee, an excursion in magnifying Thee, a thanksgiving for Thy favor, an acknowledgement of Thy beneficence, and an enumeration of Thy kindnesses!

Alina's phone rings.

Mehak: Hello

Alina: Salaam alike

Mehak: Alaikum salaam

Alina: Listen I'm so sorry

Mehak: Look I'm really angry right now and plus they need me at the hospital... I'll meet you tonight ok

Alina: Ok kh

Alina (falls to the ground): Oh Allah

O God, I come to Thy forgiveness, I go straight to Thy pardon, I yearn for Thy forbearance, and I trust in Thy bounty, but there is nothing with me to make me warrant Thy forgiveness, nothing in my works to make me merit Thy pardon, and nothing on my behalf after I judge my soul but Thy bounty, so bless Muhammad and his Household and bestow Thy bounty upon me!

SCENE 2

The next day, Alina calls Mehdiya.

Alina: Salaam alaikum

Mehdiya: Alaikum salaam

Alina: Listen can you please come over

Mehdiya: Yea sure everything ok?

Alina: Yea just come over

Mehdiya: Ok ill be there in 5 mins.

Mehdiya enters Alina's house.

Alina: Look I feel awful about what happened but man it was a mistake and I already talked to Mehak although she was too mad to talk to me at the moment but ill meet her tonight and if you could just stand there you know... moral support.

Mehdiya: Look you know Mehak she'll be mad for a bit and she'll get over it don't worry.

Alina: I know but I am scared to go to mosque.

Mehdiya: Look just have faith in Allah and you'll be fine. You have realized your mistake and things will be better soon.

Alina: I'm really worried man, you don't understand

Mehdiya: Read this dua on the way to mosque, it's from Dua Makaarimul Akhlaq which you decided not to hear yesterday!

Alina: Yea ok gimme

O God, make my speech be guidance, inspire me with reverential fear, give me success in that which is most pure, and employ me in what is most pleasing to Thee! O God, let me tread the most exemplary path and make me live and die in Thy creed! O God, bless Muhammad and his Household, give me to enjoy moderation, make me into one of the people of right behavior, the proofs of right conduct, and the servants of righteousness, and provide me with triumph at the place of Return100 and safety from the Ambush!

O God, take to Thyself from my soul what will purify it and leave for my soul that of my soul that will set it right, for my soul will perish unless Thou preservest it!

O God, Thou art my stores when I sorrow, Thou art my recourse when I am deprived, from Thee I seek aid when troubled and with Thee is a substitute for everything gone by, a correction for everything corrupted, and a change from everything Thou disapprovest. So show kindness to me with well-being before affliction, wealth before asking, right conduct before misguidance; suffice me against the burden of shame toward the servants, give me security on the Day of Return, and grant me excellent right guidance!

Mehdiya enters the mosque. Alina hides.

Mehdiya: Just go don't worry!

Alina: Bismillah

Alina approaches Mehak and Zahra

Alina: I am really sorry, I do realize my mistake and I wish I wouldn't have done such a mistake.

Mehak: You could have asked me once before spreading such rumors about me! Didn't you know me enough that I wouldn't do such a thing?

Alina: Yeah I know I know and I really feel miserable about it. Please forgive me?

Mehak: (Deep breath) Only if you buy me kamaal chicken!

Alina: It's on me!

They all hug!