Peer-e-kamil by Umera Ahmad

This was the first Urdu novel I read. This novel is the sole reason I started reading Urdu novels. I highly recommend this novel to everyone. Even to those who don’t have interest in reading. I remember the time when I wanted to read something I asked my friends and family for recommendation,  almost all of them suggested I read Peer-e-kamil. After getting the same recommendation I was like “Why this novel?” and they said “You will get the answer once you start reading it”. When I was finished the novel I was in love with it, this suddenly became my best novel. I have read a lot of novels now but Peer-e-kamil is still the best for me. This is a novel which had everything that we expect from a  good novel. There is emotion, feeling, love, climax, suspense, good story line, best scenes description and most important Islamic messages.  Each scene in the novel is described in the best way that when you read a complete imaginary movie running in your mind. This is a page tuner book.

According to me this is not just a novel this is a guiding book which can guide you between right and wrong, change the life of anyone who take its meaning deeply. The people who wants to know what is life, its purpose can read this novel because this novel help you to examine your own life and motivate to believe more strongly in Allah and P.B.U.H that Allah is always there to guide people to show them the right path for those who change their life for him and if one scarifies things for Allah, Allah will bless him with a more great thing which one cannot imagine. The ways writer describe the meaning of Peer-e-kamil refresh anyone Eman.

I call this novel the shine in the darkness. Peer-e-kamil is one of the inspiring and guiding book but for those who wants to get some inspiration and guideline from the message hidden in the novel. I am 99.9% sure anyone who read this novel surely love and inspired by this novel.

The story describes the journey of a man from wrong way to the right way( To the path of Allah).The story basically revolves around two individuals “Imama Hashim” and “Salar Sikandar”. Imama Hashim a student of F.S.C part 1 belongs to the influential Qaddiyani family of Islamabad who later convert her religion to Islam. Her life greatest desire was to become a doctor. She studied in a medical college in Lahore, where most of her friends were Muslim. While she was often criticized by her best friend Zainab and the people surrounding her for being Qaddiyani and was frequently suggested to embrace Islam, she started feeling about her religion, and read many Islamic books. During this time she met many religious people who portray the right picture of Islam in front of her. She also met “Jalal Ansar” brother of Zainab, who was doctor by profession and also recites Naat. Imama fell in love with Jalal because of his beautiful voice and his love for Islam and for Prophet(P.B.U.H).When she realized that she was following the wrong faith and due to the pressure of the society she accepted Islam. When her parents came to know about her activities they beat her and forced her to marry her cousin Asjad. She revolted and asked Jalal Ansar for the help, but Jalal refused to help her because he knows that Imama’s family hold a very influential position in society. Imama then ask Salar Sikandar for the help who was her neighbor.

On the other hand, Salar Sikandar (Imama’s Neighbour) son of a landlord of Islamabad with a 150+IQ level.Being well-off and belongs to a liberal family. Salar lives a lavish lifestyle and has committed every comprehensible sins. He tries to commit suicide several times because he wants to know the answer of these questions. what comes after ecstasy. Once, Imama saved his life when he tried to commit suicide. So he helped Imama in return by marrying her for a time being for the sake of adventure and helped her for running away from home. At this crucial time Imama’s friend Maryam and her father Dr. Sibt Ali helped her by giving her place in their home and treated her as a family member. After some months, when Imama Asked Salar for the divorce Salar refused to give divorce. With the passage of time this act of Salar put him into guilt. He does not find peace in anything. he went abroad for further studies where he met Saad Zafar who was totally opposite the way he pretends.He pretend to be a  very religious perso But he was involved in non-Islamic activities like he drink alcohol, eat haram food and was in illicit relationship with girls. This image of Saad annoys Salar. He start learning Quran by heart. After completing his education he came back. On his way to Pakistan he met Dr. Furqan a devoted Muslim and doctor and they become good friends. When Salar discussed his situation with Furqan, he takes him to Dr. Sibt Ali an Islamic Scholar. The personality and lectures of DrSibt Ali was so motivating which plays a important role to bring Salar to the right path.  His perception towards life changes He became religious, the transformation in his personality changes his attitude towards life. Somewhere in helping Imama, Salar fell in love with her.He desperately wanted Imama to be a part of his life.

In all that time Imama changed her name to Amina, completed her studies and started working in a pharmaceutical company in Lahore. She hate Salar because he refused to divorce her as he had promised.She started living with “Saeeda Amma” the first cousin of Dr. Sibt Ali. Saeeda Amma wanted Amina to get married so she find a groom for Amina, but at the time of Nikkah the boy refused to marry Amina. At that time Dr. Sibt Ali asked Salar to marry Amina. Salar wanted to refuse, because he loves Imama (his first wife) but he respect Dr. Sibt Ali so he agreed and married but both did not know that they are again going to marriage each other. When Imama came to know about the reality of Salar she told Dr. Sibt Ali the whole matter and told him that Salar Sikandar was not a good man. Dr. Sibt Ali clarified Imama’s perception regarding Salar and told her that he has changed a lot and became true muslim. Later when Salar went to Saeeda Amma house to told the truth about his first wife to amna he come to know that Amna was Imama his first wife, his life biggest wish and then live happy together.