> "By Allah! Salman, don't even think of marrying Salma and bringing her into this house as my daughter-in-law!"
"Let the heavens fall if they must!"
"Here is a well-bred girl who inherited wealth from generations, someone like you! But no—you insist on that wretched girl, that daughter of beggars who can’t even afford a bicycle, let alone a motorcycle!"
> "I just don’t understand what Salma has that Minal doesn’t! How can you reject someone so desirable for this ragged, poverty-stricken girl whose entire family has never known wealth?"
"By Allah, as long as I’m Hajia Mai Gado and I gave birth to you—you will not marry Salma. Minal is my choice for you, and that’s final. Get up and get out of my sight before I lose my temper completely. Don’t you ever mention her name again!"
Salman, kneeling before his enraged mother, raised his head, his eyes red like fire. He said calmly,
> "May Allah calm your heart, Mother. In shaa Allah, I will try my best to deny my heart what it desires and follow your orders."
As he finished his words in emotional pain, his mother pointed angrily toward the door.
> "Salman, leave now so I can find peace! You're still thinking about Salma instead of Minal? GET OUT!"
> "I’m very sorry, Hajia. In shaa Allah, it won’t happen again," Salman replied politely.
He quietly left the room, knowing full well how intense his mother’s temper could be.
He returned to his room, tears streaming down his face, tormented by his deep love for Salma and pure hatred for Minal.
> "Truly, I will never stop loving Salma for the rest of my life. She is my choice—not that shameless Minal."
He wondered where this dark ideology in his family even came from, and why they continued to uphold it.
> "May Allah show them the truth!"
A Life of Struggle: Salma and Her Mother
Salma sat in their modest courtyard, resembling ruins, soaking grain and sugar for breakfast.
Beside her was an elderly woman pounding grain, with the loud thumping of mortar and pestle filling the air.
Salma got up and offered to help,
> "Inna, let me take over. You can go rest; I’ve already pounded mine. You’re not even good at this anymore."
The woman, addressed as Inna, replied,
> "Leave it, Salma. This pounding is too much for you. You look so delicate, it’s like your body wasn’t made for hardship. I truly pity you, my dear."
Tears welled in her eyes.
Salma smiled painfully,
> "Please don’t worry about me, Inna. This is what Allah willed for us. Let’s be grateful for life and health—many rich people don’t have either. So truly, Allah has given us enough."
She took the pestle, her arms trembling with every stroke. Salma was never good at this, but she forced herself to do it to help her aging mother, who had grown old and frail due to poverty.
The pestle had already worn down from years of use. Grinding grains was the only way they could earn their daily bread.
Two Different Worlds: Minal and Salma
Minal sat cross-legged in a lavish living room, wearing tight green English clothes. The cool air from the AC perfumed the room. Earpiece in ears, she listened to Justin Bieber, swaying softly.
Her maid, Falmata, approached,
> "Your Highness, it’s time for prayer. Shall we go perform it?"
Minal scoffed,
> "What kind of idiot are you? Go do your prayers at your father’s house. Did you come here to pray or to serve me?"
> "Whatever. Pray when you get home. Honestly, I prefer combining three or four prayers together—it’s easier that way," Minal shrugged.
> "Yes, Anty," both maids answered, exchanging glances.
> "Lami, go to Mum’s wing and tell her I need her."
"Okay, Anty," Lami replied, rushing off.
Then Minal asked Falmata,
> "Hey stupid, how many prayers are there in a day again? Four or three?"
Falmata calmly replied,
> "No, Anty, there are five: Subh (2 units), Dhuhr (4), Asr (4), Maghrib (3), and Isha (4)."
> "Okay, good. So I’ve only been doing two for each—whatever."
Falmata was stunned. Even with her limited knowledge, she knew that wasn't right.
She thought to herself,
> "This girl doesn’t even act like a Muslim. Well, I shouldn’t be surprised—she didn’t grow up here. She studied entirely in London among Jews. She has the dunya, but nothing else. May Allah guide her."
Meanwhile, Minal continued listening to music and puffing on shisha, swaying to the beat.
Additional Insights: Character Backgrounds
Dr. Salman Tahir Galadima
A 30-year-old handsome doctor, educated in India, currently working at General Hospital Argungu. Raised by a wealthy but upright father and a proud, aristocratic mother, Hajia Bilkisu (Mai Gado), who dislikes the poor.
Barrister Minal Maina Sadauki
26-year-old London-trained lawyer, daughter of Justice Maina Sadauki. Though beautiful, she is spiritually and morally empty, knows little about Islam, and shows no remorse for her ignorance. Spoiled, rebellious, and lacks the qualities Salman desires in a wife.
Salma Abu Sufyan (Mai Waldah)
A humble, well-mannered, religious, and beautiful girl from a very poor home. Despite her poverty, she holds onto dignity and hope. She and her mother, Inna Baraka, live by grinding grain and welding—a harsh life. She met Salman during an illness, and a deep, genuine love blossomed between them.
Description
A Mother's Fury and a Son's Loyalty
> "By Allah! Salman, don't even think of marrying Salma and bringing her into this house as my daughter-in-law!"
"Let the heavens fall if they must!"
"Here is a well-bred girl who inherited wealth from generations, someone like you! But no—you insist on that wretched girl, that daughter of beggars who can’t even afford a bicycle, let alone a motorcycle!"
> "I just don’t understand what Salma has that Minal doesn’t! How can you reject someone so desirable for this ragged, poverty-stricken girl whose entire family has never known wealth?"
"By Allah, as long as I’m Hajia Mai Gado and I gave birth to you—you will not marry Salma. Minal is my choice for you, and that’s final. Get up and get out of my sight before I lose my temper completely. Don’t you ever mention her name again!"
Salman, kneeling before his enraged mother, raised his head, his eyes red like fire. He said calmly,
> "May Allah calm your heart, Mother. In shaa Allah, I will try my best to deny my heart what it desires and follow your orders."
As he finished his words in emotional pain, his mother pointed angrily toward the door.
> "Salman, leave now so I can find peace! You're still thinking about Salma instead of Minal? GET OUT!"
> "I’m very sorry, Hajia. In shaa Allah, it won’t happen again," Salman replied politely.
He quietly left the room, knowing full well how intense his mother’s temper could be.
He returned to his room, tears streaming down his face, tormented by his deep love for Salma and pure hatred for Minal.
> "Truly, I will never stop loving Salma for the rest of my life. She is my choice—not that shameless Minal."
He wondered where this dark ideology in his family even came from, and why they continued to uphold it.
> "May Allah show them the truth!"
A Life of Struggle: Salma and Her Mother
Salma sat in their modest courtyard, resembling ruins, soaking grain and sugar for breakfast.
Beside her was an elderly woman pounding grain, with the loud thumping of mortar and pestle filling the air.
Salma got up and offered to help,
> "Inna, let me take over. You can go rest; I’ve already pounded mine. You’re not even good at this anymore."
The woman, addressed as Inna, replied,
> "Leave it, Salma. This pounding is too much for you. You look so delicate, it’s like your body wasn’t made for hardship. I truly pity you, my dear."
Tears welled in her eyes.
Salma smiled painfully,
> "Please don’t worry about me, Inna. This is what Allah willed for us. Let’s be grateful for life and health—many rich people don’t have either. So truly, Allah has given us enough."
She took the pestle, her arms trembling with every stroke. Salma was never good at this, but she forced herself to do it to help her aging mother, who had grown old and frail due to poverty.
The pestle had already worn down from years of use. Grinding grains was the only way they could earn their daily bread.
Two Different Worlds: Minal and Salma
Minal sat cross-legged in a lavish living room, wearing tight green English clothes. The cool air from the AC perfumed the room. Earpiece in ears, she listened to Justin Bieber, swaying softly.
Her maid, Falmata, approached,
> "Your Highness, it’s time for prayer. Shall we go perform it?"
Minal scoffed,
> "What kind of idiot are you? Go do your prayers at your father’s house. Did you come here to pray or to serve me?"
> "I’m sorry, Anty Minal," Falmata responded nervously.
> "Whatever. Pray when you get home. Honestly, I prefer combining three or four prayers together—it’s easier that way," Minal shrugged.
> "Yes, Anty," both maids answered, exchanging glances.
> "Lami, go to Mum’s wing and tell her I need her."
"Okay, Anty," Lami replied, rushing off.
Then Minal asked Falmata,
> "Hey stupid, how many prayers are there in a day again? Four or three?"
Falmata calmly replied,
> "No, Anty, there are five: Subh (2 units), Dhuhr (4), Asr (4), Maghrib (3), and Isha (4)."
> "Okay, good. So I’ve only been doing two for each—whatever."
Falmata was stunned. Even with her limited knowledge, she knew that wasn't right.
She thought to herself,
> "This girl doesn’t even act like a Muslim. Well, I shouldn’t be surprised—she didn’t grow up here. She studied entirely in London among Jews. She has the dunya, but nothing else. May Allah guide her."
Meanwhile, Minal continued listening to music and puffing on shisha, swaying to the beat.
Additional Insights: Character Backgrounds
Dr. Salman Tahir Galadima
A 30-year-old handsome doctor, educated in India, currently working at General Hospital Argungu. Raised by a wealthy but upright father and a proud, aristocratic mother, Hajia Bilkisu (Mai Gado), who dislikes the poor.
Barrister Minal Maina Sadauki
26-year-old London-trained lawyer, daughter of Justice Maina Sadauki. Though beautiful, she is spiritually and morally empty, knows little about Islam, and shows no remorse for her ignorance. Spoiled, rebellious, and lacks the qualities Salman desires in a wife.
Salma Abu Sufyan (Mai Waldah)
A humble, well-mannered, religious, and beautiful girl from a very poor home. Despite her poverty, she holds onto dignity and hope. She and her mother, Inna Baraka, live by grinding grain and welding—a harsh life. She met Salman during an illness, and a deep, genuine love blossomed between them.