Mushaf

Description

Mushaf is a novel written by the extremely popular Pakistani novelist, Nimra Ahmed. The title of the novel, Mushaf refers to the printed or hard copy of the Holy book of Islam, Qur’an. The book strongly relates religion with the struggle of modern life. A synopsis is as follows:

Plot Summary:
It is a story of a young girl called Mehmal Ibrahim, having all the qualities of being intelligent, though facing terrible personal and financial troubles. Since her death, Mehmal lives with her relatives treating her cruelly. In this piece of fiction, Mehmal is described as an end girl having lost faith in humanity and God to whom she believes isolated and helpless.

One day, while wandering, she meets a lady who introduces her to the Mushaf, a holy copy of the Quran. Mehmal is rather not cooperative and negative at first and starts reading it cautiously but slowly finds verses that address her personal battles and guide her through the trouble of life.

Book thus explores Mehmal’s transition, as she slowly comes to the conclusion that the power and wisdom lies with the Qur’an. Mehmal, in turn, pulls strength from it and acquires solutions for her problems after becoming increasingly attached to the Mushaf and learning that her fate is determined by forces larger than herself.

Themes:
The book focuses on the theme of reconnecting to faith in God, how the Qur’an is a guide in trying times.
Developing Humanness: The tale is about Mehmal who changed from hopelessness to hopeful expectation, from being lost to finding direction.
Elevation of Women Status: Through the character of Mehmal, the novel depicts how women emotionally may become very strong through beliefs in themselves and through self-ful consciousness .
Literary Style:
Nimra Ahmed is an interesting writer, who integrates mystery with emotions and philosophical questions about life, destiny, and the supernatural dimension. Suspense and drama are recurrent features of her style, so her novels become huge successes for readers of Urdu literature.

Effect:
The Mushaf has been quite widely appreciated on these grounds, which carry deep religious undertones, and in its content provokes readers to think twice about their personal relationship with religion, life, and the Qur’an.

This is a book that can now resonate with people who are searching for spiritual guidance and would want to dig into the deeper meanings in life under the lens of faith.