EPISODE-24 “Mustapha’s Sandals”

Written by ADONG Lucy Judith

SCENE I

LOCATION: BUKULU MARKET-AFTERNOON

B/G SFX: MARKET CHATTER

CHARACTERS: SHEIKH UMAR, MUSTAPHA, SULA, MAN

MILDRED: (AS NARRATOR) They say what is done in the dark eventually comes to light. This was the case for Samira, the wife of Mustapha, a maker and vender of sandals. After the birth of her sixth child Samira started family planning with an injection. She did not tell her husband, though, and Mustapha was furious when he found out.One day Sheikh Umar, the imam of Bukulu Central mosque, unknowingly found himself in the middle of a domestic argument….

SFX: FADE UP MARKET SOUNDS UNDER NARRATION

MAN: Sheikh bags, wonderful bags, Sheikh. Buy hajat a bag.

S. UMAR: My wife is not a hajat.

MAN: Okay but the bag will be nice for her all the same.I have very unique designs, Sheikh.

S. UMAR: Maybe next time.

SULA: Sheikh wallahi I have wonderful groundnuts and honey. Wallahi.

S. UMAR: (LAUGHS) Sula, you don’t have to swear every time you see me. You are not even Muslim.

SULA: These groundnuts and the honey are good. Most especially the honey, wallahi, Sheikh.

S. UMAR: Maybe next time, Sula.

MUSTAPHA: Salaam alaikum, Sheikh Umar.

S. UMAR: Mustapha, wa’aleikum sallam warahmatulahi wabarkat.

MUSTAPHA: Please check out my collection. Am sure you will find something that interests you.

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S. UMAR: This is your stall?

MUSTAPHA: Yes it is, but I also do a little vending here and there.

S. UMAR: This is impressive, Mustapha. Where do you get all these sandals?

MUSTAPHA: I make them, from tyres and leather. With some help from my daughter,Fatima,of course.

S. UMAR: Allahu akbar! This is pure creativity. I had no idea there was such talent in Bukulu. (MOVING FROM MIC) I will definitely buy myself a pair the next time I come to the market with some money, insha-allah.

MUSTAPHA: Sheikh wait, don’t go empty handed when you have seen something you like. Take the sandals, you don’t have to pay.

S. UMAR: I couldn’t possibly take your sandals.

MUSTAPHA: Please, think of it as my sadaqa to you.

S. UMAR: No, no, no that would be selfish of me. The sandals must have taken you a considerable effort to make.

MUSTAPHA: But I don’t make them to look at them. I make them so that people like you can wear them.

S. UMAR: Yes, but after buying them. You are a hardworking man, Mustapha. And you have a big family to feed. Remind me, how many kids now?

MUSTAPHA: Six now.

S. UMAR: (LAUGHS) Mustapha, you are very passionate about children, very soon you will have a football team. Are you planning on having anymore?

MUSTAPHA: Actually, Sheikh, that is something I would like to talk to you about if you have a moment.

SFX: TRANSITION MUSIC UP AND OUT.

SCENE II

LOCATION: BUKULU MARKET-AFTERNOON

B/G SFX: MARKET CHATTER

CHARACTERS: SHEIKH UMAR, MUSTAPHA

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S. UMAR: Is the issue so delicate that you have to pull me aside?

MUSTAPHA: I just felt we needed to talk more privately, Sheik. You see I, this is really… I don’t know how to bring this up.

S. UMAR: Nothing is too hard to talk about, Mustapha. Bismillahi.

MUSTAPHA: Umar, Idiscovered that my wife had gone for (WHISPERS) modern family planning. Without consulting me!

S. UMAR: Subuhana-allah! Mustapha, what exactly did your wife do?

MUSTAPHA: (WHISPERS) She took an injection, Umar.

S. UMAR: Astagafrullah.

MUSTAPHA: And I only found out about this after three months. Because she had to go back to the clinic, she asked for my permission. Can you imagine?

S. UMAR: Go back to the clinic! Why?

MUSTAPHA: To get another injection.

S. UMAR: Yaa Rabii, it’s unbelievable…your wife not saying a word to you all this time!

MUSTAPHA: It’s the truth!

S. UMAR: (ANGRY) This is unbelievable. What has this world come to? Since when did women begin deceiving their husbands? And going for family planning!

MUSTAPHA: Now you see why I needed to talk to you in private.

S. UMAR: I do. This is most improper. How can your wife act in such a selfish manner, without any consultation?

MUSTAPHA: Sheikh Umar, it’s so ashaming to say but this has caused a lot grief to my household. All these years I have never had any problem with my Samira but this… this betrayal. It’s too much.

S. UMAR: I understand how you feel… it is a very hurtful thing.

MUSTAPHA: I don’t know what to do. I have even considered divorcing her but I really can’t. She’s been a good wife and we have such young children.

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S. UMAR: (STILL PROCESSING ALL THIS INFORMATION) Yes, but wait…do not act in haste…The children. How old are they?

MUSTAPHA: The youngest is almost making a year and the next is only 2 years old. Only 18 months separate them.

SFX: SILENCE

S. UMAR: (SIGHS) This is disturbing.

MUSTAPHA: What should I do, Sheikh?

S. UMAR: Where did you say your wife had gone to get this injection for family planning?

MUSTAPHA: The health center where Nurse Mildred works.

S. UMAR: You know what Mustapha, calm down. I will go there and make some inquiries.

SFX: TRANSITION MUSIC UP AND SLOWLY FADES OUT

SCENE III

LOCATION: HEALTH CENTER-MORNING

B/G SFX: DISTANT CRIES OF CHILDREN

CHARACTERS: SHEIKH UMAR, NURSE BETTY

N. BETTY: (CALLING) Next please.

S. UMAR: Good morning, Nurse…?

N. BETTY: Betty.

S. UMAR: Yes Nurse Betty. My name is Sheikh Umar. Is this where Nurse Mildred works?

N. BETTY: Yes it is, Sheikh Umar. What are you suffering from?

S. UMAR: Am perfectly healthy, my problem is more of a psychological nature. Could I please talk to Nurse Mildred?

N. BETTY: Am afraid she is not available at the moment. But am sure I can address your psychological problem just like Nurse Mildred would have.

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S. UMAR: Am sure you can but I specifically want her. Can I wait for her?

N. BETTY: You can but I do not think she is going to be back any time soon.

S. UMAR: Why do you think that?

N. BETTY: She went to visit some women amongst the new settler communities to consult with them about modern family planning.

S. UMAR: I see. So if you don’t mind me asking, does Nurse Mildred do this a lot?

N. BETTY: Do what exactly?

S. UMAR: Go around preaching modern family planning?

N. BETTY: She is out amongst the poorer sections of the community at least once a week because there is a huge demand for family planning.

S. UMAR: Hmmm, I guess I may have to just go look for her then. Thank you, Nurse.

SFX: TRANSITION MUSIC UP AND OUT

SCENE IV

LOCATION: IMMIGRANT’S CAMP-AFTERNOON

B/G SFX: CASUAL SLUM COMMOTION, MUSIC

CHARACTERS: SHEIKH UMAR, NURSE MILDRED, WOMAN

MILDRED: The pills are an excellent choice for you. You take one pill everyday and that is it.

WOMAN: So I wouldn’t have to use condoms? Because my husband doesn’t like condoms…

MILDRED: Not unless you think he might have someone else….

WOMAN: Oh, no…my man is always faithful to me…

MILDRED: Still, it would be wise if the two of you tested for HIV before you stop using condoms completely. But,as long as neither of you is HIV positive you can take the pill and you wouldn’t have to use condoms. It is as simple as one pill daily.

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WOMAN: Okay, I will talk with my husband about testing. In the meantime, I would like to start using the pills.

MILDRED: (HANDING HER THE PILLS) Here, remember to take them daily. If you miss you risk falling pregnant.

WOMAN: (MOVING FROM MIC) I will, thank you very much, Nurse Mildred.

MILDRED: The pleasure is all mine. (CALLING) Next please.

S. UMAR: (APPROACHING MIC) Nurse Mildred?

MILDRED: Yes, please have a seat, sir. How may I help you?

S. UMAR: Thank you, nurse. My name is Sheikh Umar, am the head Imam of Bukulu central mosque and the leader of the Muslim community in Bukulu.

MILDRED: Pleased to meet you, Sheikh Umar. Am surprised to see you here. You could have just gone to the health center for family planning advice.

S. UMAR: Actually,it’s you I want to talk to, that is if you are not so busy.

MILDRED: As you can see from the line behind you, Sheikh I am very busy but never too busy to turn anyone away, especially a man coming to the clinic.

S. UMAR: A man!

MILDRED: (JOKING) I just love it when men take an interest in planning their families (LAUGHS)

S. UMAR: (CATCHING ON) In that case, maybe you can tell me about a woman you treated some time back, someone called Samira.

MILDRED: Samira, Samira, Sa… it doesn’t ring a bell.

S. UMAR: She is Muslim.

MILDRED: (LAUGHS) Sheikh Umar, I have very many Muslim clients.

S. UMAR: You do? I didn’t know that.

MILDRED: Maybe you could try describing her to me.

S. UMAR: She… you know what, why don’t I come back when you are less busy.

MILDRED: Okay, we could talk tomorrow when am back at the health center. I can consult my records and may remember this Samira then.

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SFX: TRANSITION MUSIC UP AND SLOWLY FADE OUT

SCENE V

LOCATION: MUSTAPHA AND SAMIRA’S HOME-EVENING

B/G SFX: SOFT RADIO MUSIC

CHARACTERS: MUSTAPHA, FATIMA

MUSTAPHA: (OFF MIC) Allahu-akbar, am exhausted.

FATIMA: Dad, you’re back.

MUSTAPHA: Yes I am, Fatima. What? You didn’t want me home.

FATIMA: (LAUGHS) No of course not. Here, let me help you with your bag.

SFX: BAG DROPPING

MUSTAPHA: Thank you dear, that bag seems to get heavier by the day.

FATIMA: Salaam alaikum, dad.

MUSTAPHA: Wallaikum-salam.

FATIMA: How was your day?

MUSTAPHA: Long as usual, I had to walk all the way past the river, but it was fruitful.

FATIMA: Does that mean you managed to sell some of my women’s sandals today?

MUSTAPHA: I did indeed. Our regular customer Hadija bought two pairs and said next time I should take a few more pairs for her family.

FATIMA: That is great. But why didn’t she take more?

MUSTAPHA: She only had money for two pairs but she’s told me to go back at the end of the week so she can buy for the rest of the family.

FATIMA: That’s good news, dad. I have also been looking at some magazines from West Africa. There are some amazing styles I would love to copy.

MUSTAPHA: For Hadija?

FATIMA: Yes, am sure she would appreciate them.

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MUSTAPHA: I guess we would add those to the collection and entice her more.But only as long as you have time for your books.

FATIMA: Of course, dad.

MUSTAPHA: You are only 16. You have to remember that your studies come first.

FATIMA: Don’t worry dad, I will first finish studying then copy the new styles.

MUSTAPHA: That’s what I want to hear. Now where is your mother?

FATIMA: She is out back washing some of those heavy pots.

MUSTAPHA: Okay, let me go check on her.

SFX: TRANSITION MUSIC UP AND OUT

SCENE VI

LOCATION: MUSTAPHA AND SAMIRA’S BACK YARD- EVENING

B/G SFX: SOFT RADIO MUSIC

CHARACTERS: MUSTAPHA, SAMIRA

SFX: SCRUBBING OF POTS, WATER SPLASHING

SAMIRA: (ON MIC) Salam alaikum, Mustapha.

MUSTAPHA: (APPROACHING MIC) Walaikum salam.

SFX: MORE SCRUBBING

MUSTAPHA: I…. had a tough but productive day.

SFX: SILENCE

SAMIRA: (HESITANTLY) I see.

MUSTAPHA: How was yours, Samira?

SAMIRA: Does that mean you are no longer angry with me, Mustapha?

MUSTAPHA: (ANGRY) Don’t even start. Of course am still angry with you. How could you go behind my back like that and take family planning when it is clearly against Allah’s laws!

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SAMIRA: I am sorry, Mustapha. What more…/

MUSTAPHA: SORRY! Sorry for what? For disobeying Allah, for going behind my back or for lying to me?

SAMIRA: I have tried over and over to make up for what I did. What more do you want from me? I am sorry… why can’t you let up?

MUSTAPHA: Am trying. Am really trying to show a little mercy, Samira!

SFX: SILENCE

SAMIRA: So for how long are you going to keep being mad at me?

MUSTAPHA: I don’t know.

SAMIRA: At least am glad we are talking now. The silence and turning away from each other was really killing me. It was killing us, the children…/

MUSTAPHA: The children?

SAMIRA: Yes. They couldn’t understand how a happy home had turned sour of late.

MUSTAPHA: (PAUSE) Well you know why. Anyway as of today, things will change. We will make salaah together.

SAMIRA: That would be nice but I can’t. I just began my period.

MILDRED: (AS NARRATOR) Samira and Mustapha’s relationship was clearly shaken by what Mustapha felt was Samira’s deception. In the meantime, Sheikh Umar had not given up and as soon as I returned to the health center, he came to see me

SFX: TRANSITION MUSIC UP AND SLOWLY FADES OUT

SCENE VII

LOCATION: HEALTH CENTER-MORNING

B/G SFX: DISTANT CRIES OF CHILDREN

CHARACTERS: NURSE MILDRED, SHEIKH UMAR

S. UMAR: She is the wife to Mustapha.

MILDRED: Oh Samira. I remember her now. In fact, I remember her vividly.

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S. UMAR: Why is that?

MILDRED: The birth of her sixth child was difficult. The baby was fine but Samira took a while to heal.

S. UMAR: Allahu- akbar. That must have been terrible.

MILDRED: And on top of that, she developed mastitis.

S. UMAR: Masti-what?

MILDRED: Mastitis, her breasts got swollen and she had trouble breastfeeding.

S. UMAR: I see. So… at what point did family planning come into the picture?

MILDRED: Well, five months after birth her period came back and when she came and consulted me, I strongly recommended family planning.

S. UMAR: So it was your idea?

MILDRED: She was in no condition to have another baby any time soon. We consulted with her and she decided that she would have the injection because it would last for 3 months.

S. UMAR: You do not seem to see my concern here, Nurse Mildred.

MILDRED: What concern is that,Sheik?

S. UMAR: Samira is Muslim. Didn’t you know that when you advised her?

MILDRED: Of course I knew. I get lots of Muslim clients.

S. UMAR: And you advise them all in the same way?

MILDRED: I advise on the basis of their needs, Sheikh Umar, and in Samira’s case there was compelling reason for her to use family planning.

S. UMAR: What reason was compelling enough for her to use family planning?

MILDRED: She has 6 children.

S. UMAR: So?

MILDRED: To have had another, so soon, would have been dangerous.

S. UMAR: But what about her husband? Did she care to first even consult with him?

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MILDRED: Sheikh Umar, our counselors usually advise women to talk to their husbands but sometimes the women find that it is not possible. I am sure Samira was advised but just couldn’t tell her husband.

S. UMAR: Why not? Because she knew he would advise her against it?

MILDRED: I can’t speak for Mustapha. But I know Samira did not want another pregnancy so soon and we administered the injection.

S. UMAR: So you just gave it to her without regard to whether it was right for her to do that?

MILDRED: I know it wasn’t the wrong thing to do. It was for her health and besides many women make choices to delay having children.

S. UMAR: Samira is not “many women”. She is a Muslim woman…/

MILDRED: (CALMLY) And I understand that, Sheikh Umar, but as far as I know, there is nothing wrong or un-Muslim about using family planning. It is a human choice. It is not as if we are destroying human life.

S. UMAR: Family planning does not destroy human life!

MILDRED: No it doesn’t. In fact, by using family planning we are giving women a chance to have better quality of life for themselves and their family.

S. UMAR: Even if that were true, your clinic cannot simply get Muslim clients to use family planning, go against Allah, their husbands anddestroy family values.

MILDRED: Neither I nor this clinic would ever set out to destroy family values, Sheikh.

S. UMAR: Then help me understand why you are trying to turn Muslim women against their Husbands.

MILDRED: Sheikh Umar, I am not trying to turn Muslim women against their husbands. I just want to offer them the same opportunities for a better quality of life as all other women in Bukulu.

SFX: TRANSITION MUSIC UP AND OUT

SCENE VIII

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LOCATION: SHEIKH HABIB’S HOME-AFTERNOON

B/G SFX: QURAN PLAYING ON RADIO

CHARACTERS: SHEIKH UMAR, SHEIKH HABIB

S. HABIB: Walaikum salam warhmatilahi wabarkatu. Come in, Sheikh Umar.

S. UMAR: Sheikh Habib, I hope I’ve not come at a bad time.

S. HABIB: There is never a bad time to entertain a brother in Islam and an Imam at that. (THEY LAUGH)

S. UMAR: Habib, I need your counsel on a delicate matter.

S. HABIB: Okay, tell me how I can help, Insha-allah.

S. UMAR: Well it’s more your Qur’an understanding I am looking for. Sheikh, have you heard about family planning?

S. HABIB: Who hasn’t? What about it?

S. UMAR: A disturbed friendcame to me with a problem concerning family planning. What exactly is the Qur’an’s ruling on it?

S. HABIB: That is a simple one. It is allowed if that is what you are asking.

S. UMAR: Excuse me?

S. HABIB: Yes, during the time of the revelation of the Qur’an, some of the companions of our beloved prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) used to practice it.

S. UMAR: And Al-Rasulu did not stop them?

S. HABIB: Exactly. He did not stop them or tell them it was wrong. Had they been doing something unacceptable to Islam, Rasulu-Allah would have said so.

S. UMAR: Indeed he would have. So family planning is allowed.

S. HABIB: Well that’s where the debate comes in. Al-Rasulu’s companions were using coitus interruptus.

S. UMAR: Withdrawing.

S. HABIB: Yes, which is different from the methods that are being used in modern family planning- the pills, injections and the like.

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S. UMAR: So what are you telling me, Sheikh Habib? That it’s allowed and not allowed?

S. HABIB: Look Umar, we should never do something that should stop a child from being born-na’am?

S. UMAR: Na’am.

S. HABIB: But just as we have to perform Hajj only if we have the means, so should we bring up children into the world when we can manage to care for them.

S. UMAR: You have a point there.

S. HABIB: There is no reason on earth why a couple should be compelled to have more children if, by delaying, they are bringing about a better quality of life to the entire family.

S. UMAR: What about sterilization, Habib?

S. HABIB: No, no, no, no. That is not allowed, unless the woman’s life will be endangered if she had another child.

S. UMAR: Then it is allowed!

S. HABIB: Islam encourages us to be balanced about these things. Don’t jeopardize the life of a mother just because it is her duty to have children.

S. UMAR: So you’d rather let her have the number of children that she and her husband have the means to raise and take care of.

S. HABIB: Precisely, let us not get things out of balance here. We know Allah welcomes children for every man and woman but let us give them a good life.

S. UMAR: Barakalahu fik, Sheikh Habib. You have given me great insight. My only question now is, what do I tell this man?

S. HABIB: He should know what every Muslim should know; family planning is not prohibited. It can be used when the woman’s life or health is endangered…/

S. UMAR: Or when a couple wishes to have fewer children that they can happily provide for.

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S. HABIB: Yes. Allah never wanted a man and a woman to be miserable or afflicted by having so many children that they cannot take care of or where a mother’s life might be endangered.

S. UMAR: Is that what I should tell this man?

S. HABIB: No.

S. UMAR: I should not tell him?

S. HABIB: (LAUGHS) You should tell it to everyone… just as I intend to!

SFX: TRANSITION MUSIC UP AND SLOWLY FADES OUT

SCENE IX

LOCATION: BUKULU CENTRAL MOSQUE-COMPOUND-AFTERNOON

B/G SFX: RECITATION OF QURAN ON SPEAKER

CHARACTERS: SHEIKH UMAR, MUSTAPHA

MUSTAPHA: Salam alaikum, Sheikh Umar.

S. UMAR: Walaikum salam warahmatulahi wabarkat, Mustapha. I see you are very aggressive with business as usual.

MUSTAPHA: My biggest sell is always on Fridays like this. Sometimes I even sell out.

S. UMAR: Were you here during the sermon?

MUSTAPHA: Sheikh! You don’t expect me, Mustapha of all people to miss juma prayer and still turn up to sell sandals. Anyway about your sermon, is that what is recommended?

S. UMAR: Na’am, it is Sunna. You know I purposely organized today’s sermon after consultation into your matter. I felt every Muslim should know about family planning.

MUSTAPHA: So Samira did not go against Islamic law?

S. UMAR: Your wife chose family planning for a reason. To have had another child would have endangered her health. But she should have told you. I recommend that you talk to her.

MUSTAPHA: I will.

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S. UMAR: Oh and I think I carried enough money on me today. I will take those sandals after all.

SFX: TRANSITION MUSIC UP AND OUT

SCENE X

LOCATION: MUSTAPHA AND SAMIRA’S HOME-EVENING

B/G SFX: SOFT RADIO MUSIC

CHARACTERS: MUSTAPHA, SAMIRA

SAMIRA: How many pairs did you sell, Mustapha?

MUSTAPHA: 22 today, Samira. Mostly after juma prayer. And I had a useful discussion with Sheikh Umar.

SAMIRA: The Imam.

MUSTAPHA: The very same. Apparently, there is no problem with family planning. You just can’t terminate an already existing pregnancy or sterilize.

SAMIRA: I knew all that but am still sorry all the same for not telling you about it.

MUSTAPHA: You knew and you didn’t tell me! Why, Samira?

SAMIRA: Honestly, Mustapha, I wasscared that you would say no and I did not want to become pregnant again otherwise I might have become really sick.

MUSTAPHA: (SIGHS)I understand but you should speak to me in future about such things.

SAMIRA: I will as long as you promise to listen and understand.

MUSTAPHA: Have I ever been anything but understanding?

SAMIRA: So will my understanding husband let me go back to the health center for another injection?

MUSTAPHA: Hmm. I don’t see why not….

MILDRED: (AS NARRATOR) It’s good to get clarity on these things. Sometimes people react angrily because they don’t know what their faith says about family planning. But as Sheikh Habib says, use family planning sensibly. It’s not about getting rid of children as if they were vermin. Family

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planning is about spacing between pregnancies and about avoiding unwanted pregnancies. Better to give a child a great big welcome into this world than to have a child that nobody really wants or can take care of, and, of course, a woman’s life should never be put in danger from pregnancy …

SFX: TRANSITION MUSIC UP AND SLOWLY FADES OUT

OUTRO…

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