REVIEW OF 'A LETTER TO THE MAKER OF LAWS'

A Letter to the Maker of  Law is a fascinating comedy about a young girl, barely sixteen years of age, whose passionate feelings for her Islamic belief moved her to express her sentiments and the sentiments of others through a letter addressed to the government. It’s astonishing to believe there are many others who felt the same as she and even older than her, but she felt a responsibility to be carried out on behalf of the entire Muslim Ummah, even though she was young. She could have ignored addressing the government just as many have, but because of her strong passion for what she believes in, she confidently carried a part of the load on herself through writing a letter to the government, demanding the government to acknowledge the right and freedom to worship.

Fatimatu Zahra was the name of such gallant and passionate girl who made that immense endeavour. Meanwhile, a lot of incidents had happened which made her had an informed decision to write the letter. Some of the incidents were the awful experiences she had as a student  and the discriminatory experiences of others including her closed relatives. There has been discrimination of her Islamic beliefs for so long a time, but this was the moment she uncomfortably felt so many thorns in her body and would have to let the government be aware of the discrimination that is suffered by the Muslim Ummah. Though she initially doubted how she was going to achieve that alone, she still felt she needed to and later had others to offer her unflinching support to realize her intention.

Interestingly, the play had much figurative essence which I really admired. There were stage flashbacks to show some of the past incidents recalled by the subject on her decision to write the contents of the letter. This figurative essence made the audience realize what she wanted to write in the letter. The flashbacks were demonstrated awesomely by means of having the light off and coming back on a new setting depicting past incidents of which she had in memory and had to write about.

Also, the narrator’s presence had involved the audience much, which makes the audience have a real time feel of the incidents and perhaps may be thinking of contributing their part to intention the subject had. Most of the hilarious incidents had Kramo, a servant in the subject’s household, creating much amusement.

An English teacher to the subject in the play was initially a villain who aggravated tension because of the misconceptions he had about Islam and so abused the right of some of the Muslims. After the English teacher’s encounter with an influential Muslim, who intended to prosecute him, he regretted having verbally abused the man. The subject in a way took that opportunity to enlighten the English teacher about Islam. Eventually, he changed his attitude towards the Muslims and later helped in the course of the subject by distributing the copies of the letter. An incident when the English teacher realized to seek the help of the subject’s parent to resolve issues with that influential Muslim man was emotionally heart-touching. Here, it was discovered by the subject’s parent that she wrote to the English teacher the letter with words that appealed to their hearts and even moved her mother to shed tears.

Her parents had felt really incredible for the thoughts their daughter had in addressing her English teacher. A lot of suspense was created whenever the narrator comes on stage and the actors in a setting on stage become motionless depicting a soliloquy which seemed the narrator was talking alone. Fatimatu Zahra, the subject, demonstrated her immense passion of her beliefs of the Islamic creed and implemented them. One of her intriguing characters was smiling to even non-believers: the English teacher and Patrick, her class mate.

The play had some cantatas, having some of the actors sing in relation to the incidents they depicted and served interludes to the audience.

Frankly, the play was awesomely written by the playwright with a theme that is inspiring. It tells us- the passionate ones who have the religion at heart- to contribute our quota by presenting the true religion of Islam to the world. It makes me think that
no matter the size of a person and problems one faces, for as long as they believe in what they do with passion; they would eventually have a following that would support and help them to accomplish what they believe in.

Parents such as Lawyer Musa and Mma Safia Nurse would certainly be grateful to God for such a wonderful daughter who accomplished something in life. For all those who help the subject to accomplish that task would also be proud with their relationship with the subject. And to whomever the affairs of the Muslim Ummah concern, he or she would love to be a part in accomplishing the course that would bring to light the right of a Muslim to practice his religion without fear of being discriminated.

Actually, I liked the play because it was inspirational. It made me felt an awakening of my spirit to stand and take action even with a little bit I have to represent Islam. It emotionally touched my heart, thinking of the passion exuded by a young girl to the astonishment of others including her parents. I liked the fact that a young girl’s faint voice was about to be heard by the whole nation by addressing the maker of the nation’s law through a letter and her effort about to result in a liberation of Muslims to practice their religion. This indeed should have been spearheaded by the Muslim leader, but no, it taught me taking leadership in my own small ways to enact change since I am also part of the makers of law.

 Muhammad Taha Shuaib

Lab Technologist