Pir-e-Kamil

Pir-e-Kamil

Cover of English translation of novel
Author Umera Ahmad
Translator Umera Ahmad
Country Pakistan
Language English, Urdu
Genre Novel
Publisher Ferozsons
Publication date
Urdu: 2004
English: 2011
Media type Urdu: Hardback
English: Paperback
ISBN 978-969-0-02341-4
Followed by Aab-e-Hayat

Pir-e-Kamil (or Peer-e-Kamil)(Urdu: پیر کامل صلی اللہ علیہ و آلہ و سلم) meaning The Perfect Mentor, is a novel written by Pakistani writer Umera Ahmad. It was first published in Urdu in 2004 and later in English in 2011. The book deals with the turning points in intervening lives of two people: a runaway girl named Imama Hashim; and a boy named Salar Sikander with an IQ of more than 150. The story spans a time period of around ten years. It is Ahmad's most popular work. It is followed by a sequel Aab-e-Hayat.

Plot summary

The story's protagonist, Imama Hashim, belongs to an influential Ahmadiyya muslim family living in Islamabad. She decides to convert to Sunni Islam after being influenced by her friends. She attends her senior shabiha's lectures in secrecy from her family and her roommates, Javeria and Rabia. While studying in a medical school in Lahore, she falls in love with her friend Zainab's elder brother doctor Jalal Ansar. But Imama's family tries to coerce her into marrying her first cousin Asjad, which is unacceptable to her , her parents respond by grounding her and taking away her cellphone.

Imama seeks help from Salar whom she is antagonistic with since she is a religious girl and Salar is not. He is a rich boy with an IQ level above 150. Imama wishes to marry Jalal, but Salar lies to her that Jalal has married someone else. Imama is saddened and asks Salar to marry her so that her family will not be able to force her. Salar helps her and marries her but soon after loses contact with her.

Imama finds a sanctuary under Sibt-e-Ali and his family. She changes her name and completes her studies and starts working in a pharmaceutical company in Lahore. She hates Salar because he refused to divorce her as he had promised.

Salar later travels to New Haven for education, then he works for United Nations for some time before permanently settling in Lahore. Salar finally sees the errors of his ways and changes for good. Later, the scene shifts near to Kaaba, where Salar and Imama are sitting together worshiping God. Salar realizes that God has given him a blessed women to be his companion, and vows to protect her.

Criticism

Pir-e-Kamil has been criticized by many people as a novel that incites hatred against minority Ahmadiyya community of Pakistan.[1]

Characters

Protagonists

Major characters

References

  1. Criticism on, Novel Peer e Kamil. "Peer e Kamil by Umera Ahmed". Afsana Nagar. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
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