HOLY QURAN AWARD FOR GIRLS, 1998
These are your daughters.
The light of your graves.
And to them, you are a candle that illuminates their path.
Our fourth student is one that exceeded all expectations.
That student is Razan Mawruth, daughter of Mona Ras.
May you have a garden in heaven, dear.
MEMORIZERS
Rejoice, o' memorizer of the Quran,
the Holy Book,
the words of God almighty,
and yearn for his paradise,
to receive his prophet's blessings and the blessing of Holy Quran,
which you all made every effort and worked tirelessly to memorize.
Paradise shall be yours, inshallah.
May God illuminate…
Look, she had it all written on her desk.
What?
She didn't memorize anything.
Wait. Silence.
-I'd better tell them, right? -Of course, tell them.
She'd written all the verses on her desk.
Honestly, I'm really sorry to tell you this, but sorry.
Seriously?
I'm very sorry.
CRASHING EID
Hassan.
This marriage is not happening, right?
Of course not.
That man clearly has an agenda.
Agenda? What do you mean by agenda?
Didn't you sleep on the plane?
No.
And, uh, is my baby girl fasting?
Well, yeah. Aren’t you?
Of course I'm fasting, sweetie.
Since you're here, why don't you have iftar with us?
And get to see your sister, Fatima.
-Lamar… -Mom…
-Never mind, you go first. -No, no. You go first.
Go ahead.
I'm going to Dad's today, okay?
Okay.
Could you do me a favor?
No.
Listen, uh,
I want you to spend some time with grandma.
Lamar.
Dad?
Allahu Akbar.
Why is he praying here?
If you're waiting to talk to him about that marriage of yours,
it's not going to happen.
What you did yesterday was the absolute worst thing you've ever done.
Allahu Akbar.
I'd kill myself because of you.
Mom, suicide is not a joke.
Let's book you an appointment with a psychiatrist
if you're having suicidal thoughts, okay?
Ah, to give me medication and make me lose my mind so you can control your dad.
Grandma, there you are. What do I do now?
Lamar, what took you so long?
When someone is praying, you can't stand in front of them.
Oh, sorry.
It's okay. You weren't taught that.
Of course.
-Uh, Hassan. -Baba.
Do it for me.
-What do you have here? -A heart.
Is this a heart? It's broken.
It's smashed, pudding.
You need to insert this here, then take it out.
The needle goes from the underside, and then back out from the same spot.
-Hassan! -Grandma!
Tsk. Not now. Sit down.
Mona, I know what you're going to say.
Yesterday, we were all flustered.
But we should--
Let me finish, please.
We should think this one out.
Why do we always have to argue? Let me handle it, please.
-Please. -Okay.
I just wanted to remind you to go to the market.
This is the story of an Arab man
who was deceived when he married a Westerner.
I'll read you a passage.
"After they successfully recruited him through one of their operatives,
called Frances,
he went on to have a disabled child with her."
"She then returned to Germany,
and he was left to take care of his child's expenses."
Hmm.
Germany and other countries in the West…
have recruited many spies, not just one.
A British Pakistani who speaks Arabic…
who also works as a journalist.
He went to Indonesia,
and Kuwait, and even here.
This Sameer is definitely a spy.
I'm sorry, Baba. Of course not.
He's not a spy.
We've been close friends for two years.
Okay, forget about that.
Don't you know I'm mad at you?
Didn't we have an agreement that you'd come back home for good?
What changed?
I have a couple of reasons.
What are they?
The first reason…
Lamar's school.
She's enrolled in one of the top schools in the UK, as you know.
Why move her?
My dear, whatever she's studying there, she can study here.
What's wrong with you?
And she'll be better off being among family.
The second reason
is that I just found a job, you know, at college.
I conduct research and studies for a very good salary.
I mean, this is the job I dreamt about, Baba.
And what about that guy you brought here that you want to get married to?
How can I check him out? Is he any good?
Baba, haven't you always told me you could read people easily?
-Yeah. -Well, then,
why don't you read him as well?
-Hmm. -Give him a chance.
Tsk. Oh my.
Oh my.
Do you know what’s my life's biggest issue?
It's that I love you dearly.
And I love you too, Daddy. You know how much I do.
All right, all right.
I'll talk to him, but that doesn't mean that I approve.
-Deal. -We'll just talk.
-Okay. -Understood?
-Absolutely. -Nothing more than a chat.
-We'll just talk.
-Okay. -It's understood?
Understood.
-Now, yalla, get lost. -Thank you, Baba.
-Thank you. -Yalla, go now. Yalla.
-Thank you. -Go, or I'll change my mind.
Please, no. Bye.
SPY CHARACTERISTICS
Mona. Hey, Mona.
Think. We can't both be the bad guy.
We must be diplomatic.
Listen to my plan.
Let's give them the benefit of the doubt.
Okay. Whatever.
-Sit with the Pakistani. -Grandma!
You can't call him the Pakistani.
Well, isn't he Pakistani?
True, he's a British Pakistani,
but your tone of voice is kind of offensive.
Okay, Miss Tone Expert.
All right. Meet him, but on one condition.
That he become Saudi?
Just like your mother.
Look, I'm really happy they want to meet,
but we should probably give them some time, yeah?
We don't have time.
Your mom was very angry.
Mom will understand, because she herself had to move when she got married to Baba.
Besides, she won't even be there.
And Dad is a sweetheart, don't worry.
Okay, okay. Yeah, I've got this.
Um…
Hey, um…
What does one usually wear to something like this?
How's that?
We usually wear something formal,
but you can just wear trousers and a shirt.
You have black trousers and a white shirt.
Wear those.
Sameer, just relax.
Be yourself. You're amazing. It's gonna be fine.
Thanks. You're amazing too.
Oh.
As-salamu alaykum.
Wa 'alaykumu s-salam.
-And you are? -Abdul Aziz, the driver.
Are you Pakistani?
No, I'm actually British.
Yes, yes. Good for you.
Abdul Aziz?
-Real name? -Yes.
-You sure? -Of course.
Okay, and how do they treat you around here?
-I hope well. -Alhamdulillah.
Alhamdulillah. Tell me, did they take your passport?
Sameer! Sameer!
Come, come. Hurry up, hurry up. Yalla.
We can't keep them waiting.
I thought you told me it'll only be your dad.
Keep it short and sweet.
-Okay. -Go!
You're good, it's okay. Short answers. It's all good.
-Mr. Sameer. -Mm-hmm?
Each one of us has two questions.
I'll begin.
-Are you English or Pakistani? -Mom will begin.
Oh my God. Grandma!
-Shh! -No, it… It's all right.
Um, I am British, but my mom and dad are from Pakistan.
They moved to the UK in the '70s and they got their citizenship.
Hmm, '70s.
And if it's revoked, where will you go? Pakistan?
He'll go to Human Rights and report you, Grandma.
Um, they can't revoke the citizenship.
Uh, tell me, Sameer.
What topics do you cover as a journalist?
-Um… -Really!
…well, my latest article was about an African tribe
where the men took care of the children and not the women.
Men?
Yeah.
Taking care of the children?
Yeah.
-What type of men are they? -Just men.
Are you a true Muslim?
Mama, what are you doing?
That's what bothered you?
Um, I'm Muslim.
Uh, I pray, I fast.
But I'm not religious.
No cheating.
Uh, I am religious.
Tsk. Religious or not religious?
Uh, the term "religious" needs defining.
-That's right. -Mm. Mm.
-Do you drink? -Hmm?
Do you drink?
Uh…
-Do you drink? -No!
-You drink? -Of course not! We don't drink!
-What's wrong with you? -I don't. I don't drink. I don't.
Show me your Instagram.
Hassan, give me your phone.
-It's… -You can say no.
It's a public account. It's not private.
Mom, after you're done with all this,
Uncle Sofyan and I will take Baraa for a walk,
then he'll drop me off at Dad's.
Is that okay?
Great, take your uncle and go right now.
Uncle Sofyan, shall we go now?
Tsk-tsk.
Check it, Mama. Check it.
What? So what?
He's in a bar, but he's not drinking.
Look, Baba.
His friends are the ones with the glasses, and he doesn't have one.
-Should we stay at home and not go out? -All right, all right.
Lo-lo-lo-lo, enough.
Sameer, what else do you speak?
Uh, Urdu and Arabic and English.
And German.
German?
Uh, a little bit, but it's rusty.
Why didn't your parents come?
Uh, I wanted you guys to get to know me first.
Do you drink every day?
I don't drink.
He said he doesn't.
-Do you swear? -Swear!
-I swear. -Swear what?
I swear I don't drink.
-You don't drink what? -Uh, Sofyan, Sofyan.
-Dad, he was about to confess. -Confess what?
Let's be serious.
Sameer, who has your loyalty?
Dad!
Dad, Sameer isn't into politics, period.
Will you just let me talk with the man?
Stop interrupting.
Ask him something important, like, "How much do you make?"
My questions are important.
Your question, Uncle Hassan?
Your salary?
That's a personal question.
What do you mean, "personal"?
-Answer. -Sameer, if I'm proposing
and they ask me about my salary, I'll tell them.
Forty thousand. Answer.
-No, no, but… -Answer.
I understand you, all right? Razan even told me, uh…
Uh, that you left your family and came with Uncle Hassan to Jeddah
after you two got married.
It must have been hard without technology, that's…
Well, well.
Who do you think you are to allow yourself to judge me?
And it's not the same.
I never left my family. It's like I never left home.
Okay, I'll… Well, just… Sometimes…
Sometimes, when a person gets married,
they might need to move somewhere else with their new family.
Even when my sister lived somewhere outside Jeddah,
I still saw her every two weeks.
And she… And when she moved to Jeddah, it was for me.
-And now, I see her every other day. -Mom.
-And now we speak daily on the phone. -Enough, okay?
That's enough. Sameer, just answer the question.
What's your salary?
Um, 30,000 Saudi riyals per month.
-Thank you. -That's his salary.
Look, I just… I want to reassure everyone that with my income and Razan's,
we can live anywhere in the world.
-Ah-ha. -I knew it! He's after the money!
-That's… That's a good thing! -Ah, amazing.
So, you're after the money, huh? Nice. But, you're honest.
Uncle Hassan?
Uh, can I help you?
Um, I was actually looking for you…
because I want you to come with me.
-Where to? -To al halaga.
Uh, al halaga?
Oh, halaga is the vegetable market.
-Oh. Um, yeah, sure. All right, let's go. -Okay, okay.
Uh, now, okay?
-Oh, right now? -Yeah.
Okay. I'll be here.
-Yeah. -Okay.
Yesterday, you let a stranger in by mistake.
And now you tell me you take that stranger vegetable shopping?
Grandma, he's called Sameer.
You'll take Sameer the drinker to al halaga?
If you hadn't taken my phone, none of that would've happened.
Oh by the way, take a look.
Click on this account. I can't see well.
Her name is Tahany.
-Tahany. Hmm. -Mm.
She's pretty, Mom.
Mm, God bless.
-And fair-skinned. -Hey, hey, we're in Ramadan.
-We go see her? -Yes, to see her without filters.
Yeah, yeah. We'll go.
And tell your sister to come with us.
Leave me out of it. Spare me, I beg you.
So you can ask me to cook for you, find you a wife.
"Mom" this and "Mom" that all the time.
And when I ask you to do this one little thing for me…
-Yeah. -…you don't want to do it.
-Anything but this. -Why not?
Don't drag me into this, Mom. Please, drop it now.
I'm sorry.
What's with you now? Will you stop pouting?
I'll give him another chance.
He's taking Sameer to the market.
Are you serious?
Yes.
The market?
Because that's where I'm going. Come on, why aren't you leaving?
What will you wear?
Shall I iron a white headdress or a red one?
Dad, should I wear the red or the white one?
-I'll iron them both, okay? -Yeah.
And you can wear whichever. Choose what you want.
Okay.
Uh, Sofyan, wait. I'll go with you.
Wait for me, yeah?
Okay.
-You want me to talk to him? -No. Would you take your mother with you?
-You want to come? -No.
Have mercy.
You seem anxious. What's the matter?
It's nothing. Yalla, Mona. Don't you have work in the kitchen?
No, because I'm not cooking. I'll go iron my son's headdress.
Yeah, go iron it.
You're hiding something.
What would I be hiding? Just go. There's something going on.
Yalla.
HASSAN: FAROUK
FAROUK: HEY
FIND OUT WHO THIS MAN IS FOR ME
When did you last see Baraa?
-Lamar, you play basketball, right? -Oh yeah.
DON'T COME PICK BARAA UP FROM THE HOUSE
COME TO AL-YASMEEN MALL
Hey, you!
-I'll take that. I'll take it. -No, no.
Thank you.
-Thank you. -Afwan.
You looked uncomfortable back there. You didn't ask your questions.
Hmm, very good observation.
Uncle Hassan, you know, wallah,
I'm an open book.
You can ask me any question.
I love Razan, and I cannot live without her.
Sameer, do you know why Razan got divorced?
I do.
Razan chose to marry her cousin when they didn't have anything in common.
It was clear to her mother and I
that this marriage was never going to work.
Razan and I have so much in common.
What I mean is that Razan insisted on getting married back then,
just as much as she is now with you.
I know Razan. She's just like any other girl.
She wants to love and be loved.
But in most cases, it's just…
the excitement.
A spark, you know?
But after a while, it dies out, and…
she regrets it.
But she never learns.
She's always been flaky.
Razan was young then. We all make mistakes, right?
Right.
It's true.
But even if you're in love,
this fire will surely fade away with time.
And you will both want to go back home to your families and traditions.
My family is like yours.
We haven't seen them.
We've seen you.
And Sameer, no offense, we're not alike.
You have no problem with your wife providing for you.
And you came crashing all alone, like a wanderer.
You want to see my family? They'd be happy to meet you all.
Let's move on. Come on. Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
There's an order for Dareen here?
-Yes, one moment. -Are you for real?
It's for Baraa.
Sofyan, if you allow this, she'll keep using you.
Okay, listen, I just want to see Baraa.
Please don't interfere.
Of course I will. You know why?
Because you're my only brother and I care about you.
Okay.
We'll talk later.
Take this one.
Stop it, Razan.
Pay your son's stuff only. What will happen if you don't pay for her?
It's not your responsibility, after all.
Fine. Okay.
Take the purse out.
Hello, how can I help you?
I'm looking for a man's perfume.
A man's perfume?
-It's a gift, huh? -Yeah.
Okay.
Uh, so, what does the lucky guy like?
Never mind. What about his hobbies?
You two just met, right?
No. He's my father.
Okay.
All right.
I have a perfume for dads. You will love it. I'll be back.
He didn't need to come. I could've dropped you.
Mom, he said he was on his way. It was too late.
Sorry I'm late.
Here's your stuff.
Where's my son?
Where's the purse?
Get the purse, and you'll see your son.
So sorry.
Fine.
Uh, Dad's at the gate. I… I have to go.
-Wait, I'll walk you there. -No, no need to. It's only a short walk.
Okay, bye.
Bye, sweetie. Have fun.
-He looks exactly like you -Right?
Oh, hello.
I missed you a lot, my dear.
Your hair has grown. What's up?
Mom said not to shake hands with anyone.
-Do you wanna go play? -Mm.
-Shall we? -Mm-hmm.
-I'm your Aunt Razan. -The crazy one.
His mom, not me.
Come on, let's go play.
Come here, buddy. Come here.
Oh, I miss you so much.
I miss you.
Sofyan, will you do me a favor?
Ah.
-That's why you came. -No.
-But please talk to Mom. -It's none of my business.
Don't drag me into it, okay?
As always.
All right, listen, just try to make her happy somehow.
I haven't got a clue how to do that. How can I?
We're going to see a potential bride.
-Come along. -A bride? For you? Really?
Sofyan, you've just got divorced.
Really now?
Really.
Okay, my bad.
-Okay, I'll go. -Don't bother.
-Really, I will. What time are you going? -Don't come. And forget your Pakistani.
Lamar, your sister Fatima. Fatima Tomato. Look at her cheeks.
And you remember my wife Haneen?
Welcome. Pleasure to have you.
Would you give me the flower? What you doing? Playing with the flower?
Hmm? Are you playing with your mom?
Yeah, yeah. I'll take her.
Now, let's all play with Lamar? Okay?
-Let's go play with Lamar. -Let's go.
-Come on, go to Mommy. -Come here.
Shall we?
I don't want to leave the car.
Why not, buddy?
Mom will be angry.
Why will she be angry?
-Because I had fun with you. -My beautiful boy.
And I had more fun than you.
Much, much more.
Look what I got you.
My dinosaur.
When will we go out again?
In the Eid holidays.
-And you'll get to see Lamar. -Okay.
That's my boy. Come on, let's go.
Whoa.
If you just consider it for, like, one second, it might make everything easy.
-I totally get it, but my family is-- -Razan!
I do not…
Razan!
Where did she go?
She's scary.
Please, God. Please, please, God. Protect us from the wicked and the evil.
Amen.
It's a good idea. Trust me.
Hey, she's inside.
No, Sameer. It's not a good idea.
Why do you want to involve more people? It will only make things more complicated.
Let me handle it.
And please take this. My hands are going numb. Okay?
This is the best sambusa ever.
You know, if you try this sambusa, you'll listen to me.
Always makes me smile when you say "sambusa."
We say "samosa," right?
Yeah, but no offense, honestly,
there is nothing like Saudi sambusa.
Well, it's almost the same name. It's fried, it's a Ramadan dish.
-It's more or less the same thing. -No.
Your filling has potatoes and peas, and your dough is thicker.
Yeah, but it's more the same than it's different, right?
-Okay, Sameer. -Yes?
Don't let your father call mine.
For now. Deal?
-Okay? -Yeah, okay.
-Promise? -Yes, yes, yes.
Thank you. Enjoy. Bye.
Did you tell him to forget about it?
I'm telling you, Mona, I literally said to him,
"This marriage will not be."
Did you talk to her?
Mm-hmm.
She said she's coming.
Oh really?
As-salamu alaykum.
His record is clean.
Thank God.
But who is this man?
Uh, he's just a new employee at the office.
Hmm.
Hassan, you know that you can't deny a foreigner
access to their passport, don't you?
Uh, yeah, sure, sure. Of course.
He could report you for that.
Yeah.
Goodbye. Thank you.
Uh, Dad, I got you a gift.
Oh honey, show me.
This is my favorite. How did you know?
Lamar, pass this, please.
Here.
From the top.
She didn't even teach you how to drink coffee?
I like my coffee with sugar too.
Mom.
We need to change our nose scratch sign.
It didn't work out last time.
Okay, as you wish.
Just make it clear to me if you like the girl
so I pass you the bracelet.
A cough?
Cough, touch your head, touch your neck.
Just give me a clear sign.
What if I get a real cough?
Oh, come on.
What's so funny, your highness? Don't like it?
What? Are we in the Middle Ages? Use WhatsApp.
Middle Ages.
Shut up now.
You really shouldn't have, my dear.
-Mashallah, may God bless you. -Thank you.
I heard that you recently got divorced.
My son, too. Same case.
What's wrong with this generation? They have no patience.
-Absolutely. -But they have common sense.
And where's our lovely bride-to-be?
Sure, let me go get Tahany.
How about we sit in the other reception, so they have some privacy?
Of course. Of course, dear.
Please.
-Let's leave them to it. -Let's go.
Have fun.
-Can you hold this for a sec? -Come on, please.
Who are you?
Ahmad.
They left so we can talk.
Since your brother is here to see Tahany, we might as well have a chat.
See if we match.
You didn't know?
-Mm. -They didn't tell you?
Ah, ah, they did.
So, you're the suitor?
Hopefully, yes.
Hmm.
Enough about my wife. What do you do?
So, tell me, was it an amicable divorce, or did you go to court?
We went to court.
Did you get custody?
No, they made him choose, and he chose his mom.
How about we just cut to the chase?
Great.
First of all, for me, my career and my job always come first.
I'm a doctor, and I spend long hours at the hospital.
So I prefer a working wife.
She wanted to take everything.
Huh? Everything.
She even wanted the furniture.
And you didn't want to leave it for the mother of your son?
But I paid for it.
But you're starting a new home. Won't you buy new furniture?
Why buy more when I have some?
I'm very independent.
I never depended on a man, and be sure I will never do that.
I love strong girls.
I'm not a girl.
-I'm a woman, huh? -Apologies.
You're right.
I don't ask for permission.
And I don't have time
to live someone else's life anyway.
I have a daughter.
I know. They told me.
You took the furniture to spite her.
No, no, there is something you don't understand.
The furniture is mine.
You use it to bully her.
I go out like this. I would never wear an abaya.
That's your choice.
I'm engaged.
Mm.
-I… -Can I have some coffee?
Uh…
Now that's a deal-breaker.
No.
Lamar, sweetie, I'm going to the mosque.
When is your uncle coming?
He is on the way.
-Lamar? -Hmm?
Those earrings are lovely.
Thanks.
And since they're lovely,
and very attractive…
you should cover them.
UNCLE SOFYAN, COME PICK ME UP RIGHT NOW!
Lamar?
Um, why don't you join us for iftar tomorrow.
It's also going to be your cousin Lina's birthday.
Ah, Sameer.
-As-salamu alaykum. -Wa 'alaykumu s-salam.
Would you like to meet my dad?
Uh, of course. Of course.
Come in, please.
Oh!
Sorry, I… I forgot something.
Just, uh, call him. I'll be right back, all right?
Okay. I can wait.
-Yeah, yeah. Sure. -Oh, all right.
As-salamu alaykum, Dad. This is Hassan.
And that's my father, Gholam.
Another mistake?
Um, this is, uh, Razan's mom.
Hello.
I see my son has traveled the seven seas for your daughter.
I'll never see a woman with you two again.
You ruined it, for God's sake.
And this is Razan's brother, Sofyan.
-Sit. -What are they doing?
Uh…
Mr. Gholam, have you ever…
-How is my British? -That was really good.
Have you ever come to Saudia, Mecca?
Not yet.
He said he's never been to Mecca.
Not real Muslims.
Uh, I thought if you all met, it could be easier.
Easier? Are you in trouble?
-What? -Uh, no, no, just…
Honestly, we also don't agree to this marriage.
-What? -What?
Uncle Gholam? Sameer?
Uh, Dad, we talked about this.
Yes, yes, I heard you. But she's from a different culture.
He said that Razan is from a different culture than theirs.
Hmm!
And as… As Muslims,
we should accept other cultures.
You have gone to Saudi once,
and you have become a sheikh?
Hassan, tell him we don't agree to this marriage.
Tell him, Hassan. Tell him.
All right.
-Razan is too dominant. -What?
-Why would you say that? -I'm not!
He says that Razan is a bit too controlling.
-Yeah, I couldn't argue with that. -He's right. He is.
She makes you make her tea.
Uh, no, she doesn't.
She doesn't make me do anything. I like making her tea. It's…
Tell him that she will make him her slave and she will run a very tight ship.
Cut it out.
And she's saying she'll be wearing the pants.
-I know what she's saying. -Sofyan!
-I know, I just wanted to make sure. -Thank you.
She proposed to you.
If that is not dominant, I don't know what is.
-What did he say? -Shh! Sofyan, no!
-What did he say? -Should I say?
He said your daughter was the one who proposed, not him.
She's my daughter now?
She comes from a place which looks down upon you.
Why would you marry someone like that
while you're a catch here in England?
What's he saying?
He's saying, "Why marry into a culture that looks down on you,
when back home you're a catch and can easily marry?"
Fine, so let him catch a plane back.
Please, Sameer, cut it.
Yeah, I'm sorry. This, uh…
This was a mistake.
A barrage of embarrassment.
Look who's talking, the queen of embarrassment?