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Meri Zaat Zarra E Be Nishan/میری ذات زرہ بے نشاں

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This is one of stories written in the earlier stages of Umera Ahmed’s career and was an instant hit due to its strong message .It was later dramatized and had a magical impact on the viewers. The drama was as popular as the book, which is an unlikely thing. With a well knit plot and beautifully put crisp dialogues, the story revolves around Saba Kareem, who is so far the most unique and different character by the same author. Saba is married to Arfeen against the wishes of his parents. Being in love with Saba, Arfeen feels a strange unfathomable tinge of spirituality in her. Despite the displeasure of his parents they are happy and satisfied with their life. Overwhelmed by her hatred Arfeen’s mother plans to get rid of Saba by maligning her character. Saba falls prey to the vicious plot as she has no proof of her innocence and apparently all evidence is going against her. The situation gets complicated when the Holy Quran is brought forth for Arfeen’s mother’s testimony and the old lady blatantly takes the oath forcing Saba to back off. While Saba is shocked at the deceitful exploitation of the holy book, Arfeen divorces her assuming that she is guilty. Saba’s whole life is shattered in the course of a short span of time. She is deprived of every single thing that she owns and yet her faith in Allah is not shaken. Being least bothered about people and their opinions about her, she keeps on working on her connection with the creator. Saba Kareem is a very impactful and strong character. The path that she was forced to chose was full of agony and grief but blessed her with the gift of self discovery and inner peace. What goes round comes round hence her perpetrator have to face destiny, their karma. She is at the peak of mercy with a strange kind of detachment when her accusers ask for pardon. False Pride, cruelty and regret, are the subthemes that add strong shades to this powerful story.

176 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1999

110 people are currently reading
1825 people want to read

About the author

Umera Ahmed

91 books2,049 followers
Umera Ahmed is one of the most widely-read and popular Urdu fiction novelist and screenplay writer of this era.
She completed her Masters in English Literature from Murray College, Sialkot. Later she became an English language lecturer for the students of O and A levels at Army Public College, Sialkot. However she left the job a few years back in order to devote her full attention to writing.
She began her writing career in 1998 at a quite young age. Her initial stories were published in monthly urdu digests and later came out in the form of books. She has written about 16 books , comprising of complete novels and compilations of short stories. However it was her novel "Peer-e-Kaamil (S.A.W.W)" which became her identity.

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5 stars
820 (47%)
4 stars
496 (28%)
3 stars
301 (17%)
2 stars
73 (4%)
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43 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
Profile Image for Anum .
332 reviews94 followers
August 26, 2010
Three simple stories about three very complicated situations.

Umaira Ahmed starts with a preface admitting that there is nothing really all that special about her stories yet sometimes you have to write and read about ordinary people and their ordinary lives. However, the beautiful way in which she portrays her characters leaves no doubt in my mind that these three stories are nothing but special.
Profile Image for Shabana Mukhtar.
Author 81 books176 followers
August 28, 2018
Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan
Background
A digest read. I also watched the drama. This is one of those rare cases, where book adaption to drama is equally good.
Review
This story is about Saba and Arfeen, on surface. But there are so many layers.
It is about Saba and her steady faith in Allah.
It is about Arfeen and his helplessness in the given circumstances.
It is about Arfeen's mother who is willing to go to any length to get rid of Saba. I still vividly remember the scene (in book and in drama) when Saba is beaten by her father-in-law, out in the open and everyone watching.
It is painful, brutal, and will move you from your core.
Verdict
5 stars says it all. Don't miss it.
Profile Image for Indrani Sen.
388 reviews64 followers
May 5, 2016
I read the English translation in Juggernaut. A fast nice read. Not a classic. It's a nice change of pace to read about folks across the border.
Profile Image for Adeena Syed.
209 reviews19 followers
April 29, 2021
The starting two stories were okay-ish. But not something very amazing as usually Umerah Ahmed style is. I like the stories and the characters they presented.
I have an enormous love for Umerah Ahmed's writing style so that didn't change at all
Profile Image for Zainab Arif.
11 reviews
September 25, 2025
Like 'Zindagi Gulzar hai ' a woman's character was again dragged into the mud just to develop the storyline.
Saba was an intelligent, brave and bold girl. Why didn't she go back to that house and get her degrees to get a job according to her accomplishments?!
I don't understand how this notion was introduced into the minds of SO many people especially older gen that sabr is equal to accepting abuse?!
Allah does not want His servants to accept abuse. Yes he has asked us to be patient but he has also asked us to fight for our own right.
Didn't want to comment this but seriously the way this concept is consistent throughout so many Urdu novels is shocking.
I don't even want to talk about Arfeen.
How could he?
Seriously all these nappy changing babies need to leave their mothers and understand the concept of adulthood.
Still the story did hold my attention throughout.
Of course all the wrongdoers got their karma but it was too late and meant too little.
Profile Image for Mohammad Anas.
64 reviews4 followers
September 7, 2014
Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan by Umera Ahmed is collection of 3 Novellas. None of the 3 stories are interlinked. As the Preface states this book is about Ordinary people and theie Ordinary lives. Readers can indeed find themselves in these stories.
Profile Image for Zunaira Afzal.
9 reviews1 follower
January 13, 2013
It was good. Just like Umera Ahmed's all novels. Though the story is a bit unrealistic and very crucial, the execution is brilliant.
Profile Image for Alif.
1,217 reviews
August 19, 2024
one of the best and most heartbreaking books i’ve ever read!
i really would like to re-read it but himmat nahi hoti because of the raw pain i felt pehli baar padhte hue 😭
4 reviews
Read
March 2, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
AUTHOR:
UMAIRA AHMAD
BOOK:
Meri Zaat Zarra e Be Nishan
Publication:
Tariq Ismael Sagar’s Daughter
INTRODUCTION:
It is the most popular novel .The story revolves around Saba , who is torn between her faith loyalty and forgiveness . Afreen is the second main character of the story. He marries Saba against the wish of his mother .As a result , his mother will go to any lengths to get rid of Saba, even malign her character.
On the other hand, Saba faces everything patiently , remains tolerant and believes in Allah Almighty unwaveringly .At the end of the novel , Afreen decides to marry his son with Saba’s daughter .On the day of Nikah ,she ran away from the house because she came to know the truth of Afreen and his mother .But Afreen’s son found him and admonished her .Then they got married and began to live happily.
ARGUMENTS:
1. A person should not be as much hatred as Afreen’s mother. This gives the negative impact to the reader.
2. Saba’s daughter should not run from her marriage because her mother told her that after her death Afreen will be her guardian.



COCLUSION:
In this story we get to know that Allah The creater will be always with you no matter how much people blames you and make your life miserable. And He is very well known by the process of Makafaat e amal.

REVIEWER: QURAT-UL-AIN
UNIVERSITY: UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, TAXILA
Profile Image for Sami.
30 reviews3 followers
June 23, 2018


Umera Ahmad is the emerging and popular weiter in Urdu litreature she started writing in 1998 and now almost 35 novels has been complied by her some of them became very famous like Peer e Kamil,Aab e Hayat, and now she is considered as notable Urdu novelist.is a set of all the novels present. Her Novels used to publish in monthly digest. The writer holds a great repute owing to a vast readership especially in the youth of Pakistan. Her novels and stories are even projected on TV dramas and they also carve a great spot in the heart of viewers. Her novels are basically based on spirituality love emotions and humanity.The writer has also achieved lux award.She got married in 2014 and now living a happy life. freebooksmania provides the download link of all her novel in pdf format .
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Profile Image for Nivedita.
99 reviews
November 6, 2025
It's a masterpiece. It's a social emotional spiritual story. I cried by the story.
Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan (which means “My being, a particle without identity”) is a tragic and emotional story about a woman named Saba, who is wrongly accused of sin by her own family and society.
Because of a false accusation, Saba’s life is ruined — her husband divorces her, and she is abandoned by her loved ones. Despite all the injustice, Saba remains pure, patient, and faithful to God.
Years later, the truth comes out — everyone realizes she was innocent. But by then, her life has already been filled with pain, loneliness, and suffering.
There is a pakistani drama on same title .You may also watched it. It's so emotional to watch .
Profile Image for Omama..
709 reviews70 followers
September 3, 2019
Bitter realities of the society are depicted in this novel.
This also proves that woman is the worst enemy of woman. A woman can exceed so much in her jealousy and hate that she'd even take oath on the Holy Book.
Totally outrageous and eye-opening.

Profile Image for Adnan Haral.
1 review
August 25, 2019
I love this book yeh main sir se chup kr prhta tha jab main cadet college sargodha main prhta tha
Profile Image for Asma Zainab.
39 reviews41 followers
September 20, 2019
My first urdu book EVER.
Not very fond of the story but the writing is indeed gripping, the characters are beautiful and the dailogue is on point.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews

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